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ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY HONORS DR. FRIEDA JORDAN
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-12-16-armenian-professional-society-honors-dr--frieda-jordan-
Published: Friday December 16, 2011
Dr. Jordan pictured in Artsakh last year.
Glendale, Calif. - The Armenian Professional Society hosted its annual
Professional of the Year event honoring Dr. Frieda Jordan, Co-Founder
and President of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).
The 53rd annual event event was held on November 5, 2011 at the
Armenian Society of Los Angeles in Glendale, California. Mark Geragos,
ESQ., Chairman of the ABMDR and past APS Professional of the Year
recipient, was Master of Ceremonies at this year's APS Professional
of Year Event.
The evening started off with a meet and greet with Dr. Frieda
Jordan over Hors d'oeuvres and champagne. When the doors of the
banquet opened, guests were welcomed in. Taking the stage, Shahan
Minassian, President of the APS, started the evening's program by
welcoming the group of supporters, thanking them for their continued
support, and acknowledged the current members of the Executive Board:
Angelo Ghailian as First Vice President, Taline Hanna as Second Vice
President, and Sarko Nalband as Treasurer. Minassian also recognized
Seta Khajarian as Scholarship Chair and Christina Tokatlian as
Subcommittee Chair and thanked Margaret Lalikian and Julie Berberian
for their efforts in participating in organizing the event. Minassian
also welcomed all past APS presidents who were in attendance.
Minassian continued with a summary of recent events hosted by the APS.
Some of the events included the installation event of the new
Executive Board, a mixer held at the Edison in Downtown to generate
APS awareness, a dinner lecture discussing the nuclear disaster in
Japan, as well as a movie clip highlighting the Santa Barbara wine
tasting trip to view works by Charles Garabedian. Minassian went on to
discuss the goals of the Armenian Professional Society and commitment
to giving back to promote fellowship amongst Armenians through its
annual scholarships.
Dr. Seta Khajarian, the Scholarship Chair, presented the recipients
the scholarship awards of 2011, on behalf of the Armenian Professional
Society. Dr. Khajarian spoke about the numerous applications that
were received and discussed the criteria of selection that include
financial need, scholastic achievements, faculty recommendations, and
involvement in the community. Five applicants demonstrated excellence
in the applicable areas noted above. This year's scholarship recipients
were: Nelli Martirosyan, Ara Rostomian, Sharlene Gozalians, Hovannes
Kulhandjian, and Armen Derian. Each recipient came to stage to discuss
their career objectives and gratitude to the Armenian Professional
Society in receiving the scholarships
Haig Yuroz Gevorgian, a talented acoustic guitar player played 2
songs as guests indulged in coffee and dessert. As the music came
to an end Angelo Ghailian took stage to thank Dr. Frieda Jordan for
her immense contributions she and the ABMDR have made in dedicating
their time and effort in positively impacting and saving the lives of
those affected with life threatening blood-related illnesses. Angelo
Ghailian, Taline Hanna, And Christina Tokatlian each read a moving
testimonial of patients and families whose lives have been touched
by the ABMDR. The testimonials were followed by a very powerful and
emotional video highlighting the functions of the ABMDR with real
life testimonials of donors as well as patients.
Mark Geragos continued the evening's program discussing the long
history he has had with the APS. He noted many of the accomplishments
the APS has made within the past 53 years. As Chairman of the ABMDR
Geragos was greatly touched in the honor the APS bestowed on Dr.
Frieda Jordan. Geragos went further to say the Armenian Professional
Society was the first Armenian organization in the United States to
bestow this honor to Dr. Frieda Jordan. As Geragos explained, due to
the unique genetic make-up of Armenians, it is nearly impossible to
find suitable matches among the existing international registries and
stressed the importance the ABMDR has on Armenians worldwide. Geragos
praised Dr. Jordan's tireless efforts in presiding over the ABMDR
and welcomed Dr. Frieda Jordan to the stage.
Dr. Jordan discussed how the ABMDR originated when patient Alique
Topalian was diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing that she might need
a bone marrow transplant, and unable to find a matching donor in
existing bone marrow registries of the world, her parents contacted
Dr. Frieda Jordan, then Head of Laboratory Services at the Anthony
Nolan Institute. Fully aware of the unique genetic makeup of ethnic
Armenians that made it nearly impossible for Armenian patients to
find matches among non-Armenian bone marrow registries, Dr. Jordan
approached Dr. Sevak Avagyan, and together they spearheaded the
creation of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor. Dr. Jordan discussed how
registry has recruited over 20,000 donors in 13 countries across 3
continents, identified 2,023 patients, found 1,700 potential matches,
and facilitated 13 bone marrow transplants. Dr. Jordan concluded with
recognizing a list of long-term supporters and volunteers who have
made the ABMDR what is today.
Dr. Jordan was presented with a plaque by APS along with letters from
dignitaries praising her for her accomplishments. Taline Hanna read
from the inscription from the plaque that was presented. As a surprise
token, world-renowned artist, Yuroz took stage to present to Dr.
Frieda Jordan a moving work of art he crafted. Yuroz congratulated Dr.
Jordan and described the meaning the work of art depicted in its
relation to the cause and strength of the ABMDR. Dr. Jordan happily
thanked Yuroz and dedicated the painting to be displayed at ABMDR's
state-of- the-art Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan, Armenia. The
evening's program came to close as Dr. Frieda Jordan cheerfully thanked
all the guests in attendance, all of the ABMDR supporters as well as
the Armenian Professional Society.
The Armenian Professional Society is an independent, non-partisan
organization founded in 1958 to promote fellowship among Armenian
professionals and to encourage and foster higher education in young
Armenians. APS activities include annual grants and scholarships
to universities in Armenia, and to graduate students in the United
States; conducting regularly scheduled meetings that cover a range of
professional, cultural, and other topics of interest to its membership;
sponsoring social events; and holding an annual banquet to honor
a Professional of the Year who has provided outstanding service to
the Armenian community. To date the Armenian Professional Society
has granted over 300 scholarships and grants to students pursuing
higher education. Join us in our continued pursuit in strengthening
our heritage and community.
Additional information about The Armenian Professional Society and
upcoming events is available at (818) 685-9946, [email protected],
www.apsla.org, or by writing to: APS, P.O. Box 10306, Glendale,
CA 91209.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-12-16-armenian-professional-society-honors-dr--frieda-jordan-
Published: Friday December 16, 2011
Dr. Jordan pictured in Artsakh last year.
Glendale, Calif. - The Armenian Professional Society hosted its annual
Professional of the Year event honoring Dr. Frieda Jordan, Co-Founder
and President of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).
The 53rd annual event event was held on November 5, 2011 at the
Armenian Society of Los Angeles in Glendale, California. Mark Geragos,
ESQ., Chairman of the ABMDR and past APS Professional of the Year
recipient, was Master of Ceremonies at this year's APS Professional
of Year Event.
The evening started off with a meet and greet with Dr. Frieda
Jordan over Hors d'oeuvres and champagne. When the doors of the
banquet opened, guests were welcomed in. Taking the stage, Shahan
Minassian, President of the APS, started the evening's program by
welcoming the group of supporters, thanking them for their continued
support, and acknowledged the current members of the Executive Board:
Angelo Ghailian as First Vice President, Taline Hanna as Second Vice
President, and Sarko Nalband as Treasurer. Minassian also recognized
Seta Khajarian as Scholarship Chair and Christina Tokatlian as
Subcommittee Chair and thanked Margaret Lalikian and Julie Berberian
for their efforts in participating in organizing the event. Minassian
also welcomed all past APS presidents who were in attendance.
Minassian continued with a summary of recent events hosted by the APS.
Some of the events included the installation event of the new
Executive Board, a mixer held at the Edison in Downtown to generate
APS awareness, a dinner lecture discussing the nuclear disaster in
Japan, as well as a movie clip highlighting the Santa Barbara wine
tasting trip to view works by Charles Garabedian. Minassian went on to
discuss the goals of the Armenian Professional Society and commitment
to giving back to promote fellowship amongst Armenians through its
annual scholarships.
Dr. Seta Khajarian, the Scholarship Chair, presented the recipients
the scholarship awards of 2011, on behalf of the Armenian Professional
Society. Dr. Khajarian spoke about the numerous applications that
were received and discussed the criteria of selection that include
financial need, scholastic achievements, faculty recommendations, and
involvement in the community. Five applicants demonstrated excellence
in the applicable areas noted above. This year's scholarship recipients
were: Nelli Martirosyan, Ara Rostomian, Sharlene Gozalians, Hovannes
Kulhandjian, and Armen Derian. Each recipient came to stage to discuss
their career objectives and gratitude to the Armenian Professional
Society in receiving the scholarships
Haig Yuroz Gevorgian, a talented acoustic guitar player played 2
songs as guests indulged in coffee and dessert. As the music came
to an end Angelo Ghailian took stage to thank Dr. Frieda Jordan for
her immense contributions she and the ABMDR have made in dedicating
their time and effort in positively impacting and saving the lives of
those affected with life threatening blood-related illnesses. Angelo
Ghailian, Taline Hanna, And Christina Tokatlian each read a moving
testimonial of patients and families whose lives have been touched
by the ABMDR. The testimonials were followed by a very powerful and
emotional video highlighting the functions of the ABMDR with real
life testimonials of donors as well as patients.
Mark Geragos continued the evening's program discussing the long
history he has had with the APS. He noted many of the accomplishments
the APS has made within the past 53 years. As Chairman of the ABMDR
Geragos was greatly touched in the honor the APS bestowed on Dr.
Frieda Jordan. Geragos went further to say the Armenian Professional
Society was the first Armenian organization in the United States to
bestow this honor to Dr. Frieda Jordan. As Geragos explained, due to
the unique genetic make-up of Armenians, it is nearly impossible to
find suitable matches among the existing international registries and
stressed the importance the ABMDR has on Armenians worldwide. Geragos
praised Dr. Jordan's tireless efforts in presiding over the ABMDR
and welcomed Dr. Frieda Jordan to the stage.
Dr. Jordan discussed how the ABMDR originated when patient Alique
Topalian was diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing that she might need
a bone marrow transplant, and unable to find a matching donor in
existing bone marrow registries of the world, her parents contacted
Dr. Frieda Jordan, then Head of Laboratory Services at the Anthony
Nolan Institute. Fully aware of the unique genetic makeup of ethnic
Armenians that made it nearly impossible for Armenian patients to
find matches among non-Armenian bone marrow registries, Dr. Jordan
approached Dr. Sevak Avagyan, and together they spearheaded the
creation of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor. Dr. Jordan discussed how
registry has recruited over 20,000 donors in 13 countries across 3
continents, identified 2,023 patients, found 1,700 potential matches,
and facilitated 13 bone marrow transplants. Dr. Jordan concluded with
recognizing a list of long-term supporters and volunteers who have
made the ABMDR what is today.
Dr. Jordan was presented with a plaque by APS along with letters from
dignitaries praising her for her accomplishments. Taline Hanna read
from the inscription from the plaque that was presented. As a surprise
token, world-renowned artist, Yuroz took stage to present to Dr.
Frieda Jordan a moving work of art he crafted. Yuroz congratulated Dr.
Jordan and described the meaning the work of art depicted in its
relation to the cause and strength of the ABMDR. Dr. Jordan happily
thanked Yuroz and dedicated the painting to be displayed at ABMDR's
state-of- the-art Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan, Armenia. The
evening's program came to close as Dr. Frieda Jordan cheerfully thanked
all the guests in attendance, all of the ABMDR supporters as well as
the Armenian Professional Society.
The Armenian Professional Society is an independent, non-partisan
organization founded in 1958 to promote fellowship among Armenian
professionals and to encourage and foster higher education in young
Armenians. APS activities include annual grants and scholarships
to universities in Armenia, and to graduate students in the United
States; conducting regularly scheduled meetings that cover a range of
professional, cultural, and other topics of interest to its membership;
sponsoring social events; and holding an annual banquet to honor
a Professional of the Year who has provided outstanding service to
the Armenian community. To date the Armenian Professional Society
has granted over 300 scholarships and grants to students pursuing
higher education. Join us in our continued pursuit in strengthening
our heritage and community.
Additional information about The Armenian Professional Society and
upcoming events is available at (818) 685-9946, [email protected],
www.apsla.org, or by writing to: APS, P.O. Box 10306, Glendale,
CA 91209.