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LATEST DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCED TO ARMENIA
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/05/17/latest-digital-mammography-technology-introduced-to-armenia/
Posted on May 17, 2012 by Editor
The Wellness Center's radiologists and technicians during their
training for the operation of the 3D Rit CN Ca 3. Digital Mammography
Systems. LARRY MOWAT PHOTO
By Negar M. Joy
WASHINGTON - The women of Armenia received an early Mother's Day gift
this year from the Armenian American Cultural Association, Inc.
(AACA). With a value of more than $1 million, the gift is the latest
Three- Dimensional (3D) Digital Mammography System, sent to the
Armenian American Wellness Center in Yerevan.
"In March 2012, less than a year after an innovative 3D Digital
Mammography technology received FDA approval in the United States,
AACA brought this groundbreaking imaging system to Armenia, by
acquiring two 3D Digital machines from Hologic Corporation," said
Rita Balian. She is the president and CEO of AACA and founder and
co-president of the Wellness Center, along with Hranush Hakobyan,
the current minister of diaspora.
Dr. Ani Hakobyan, chief radiologist at the Wellness Center, stated,
"This new equipment vastly improves the accuracy of the screening
and increases our ability to distinguish between cancerous and
non-cancerous cells, thus, detect- ing breast cancer much earlier."
Thanks to the Wellness Center, Armenia has made tremendous strides
over the past 15 years in improving awareness and public education
for early detection. By offering women this latest technology, the
Wellness Center furthermproves its ability to detect breast cancer
at a much earlier stage.
"Another big improvement for the patient is fewer call-backs for
additional images," said Dr. Ann Archer, chair of the US Medical
Advisory Board of AACA and the Wellness Center. Archer, a radiologist
and a breast screening and diagnosis specialist, was part of the
first medical team that traveled to Armenia when the Wellness Center
was established in 1997. Ever since, she has traveled to Armenia
on many occasions to train the Wellness Center's medical staff,
including during her latest visit in mid- December, when she briefed
and prepared the center's radiologists on the transition from the
analog to digital mammography system.
Many people contributed to the success and completion of this
acquisition. "Not enough can be said about the role of the Hologic
Corporation," said Balian. "The senior leadership of Hologic worked
tirelessly to present the best options to AACA and have been very
generous with their guidance, insights and resources."
There are fewer than 100 of such systems installed throughout the
United States. Armenia has now two such systems.
"Thanks to grassroots donors and family foundations from the community,
as well as the grants we receive from the United States Government
[USAID], we are able to pay for such sophisticated equipment,"
said Balian.
Since 2004, AACA has partnered with the USAID to expand the Wellness
Center's work and to get the latest technology and expertise to
Armenia. Furthermore, USAID grants helped in the construction,
renovation and seismic reinforcement of the six-story building,
which has now become a state-of-the-art facility with its seven
medical departments. "Each visitor from the diaspora or Armenia,
who enters the building is amazed at the quality of the work that
has been accomplished to date," added Balian.
Larry Mowat, a biomedical engineer from Hologic USA and a member
of the US Medical Advisory Board, coordinated the installation and
training process of the 3D Digital systems. Biomedical engineers and
trainers from Hologic Europe flew to Armenia to complete the required
work. The specialists were impressed at the aptitude and knowlege of
the center's staff. Mowat, who was on the original team that installed
the very first mammography machine in Armenia and has since visited
Armenia 12 times, stated, "There is no question in my mind that the
quality of medical care offered [at the Wellness Center] to the women
of Armenia is light years ahead of any care I have seen anywhere else
in Armenia. It is a very impressive facility. I am amazed at how,
despite construction, you are able to win the battle to keep the
department clean. It actually sparkles."
For the past 15 years, the Wellness Center has brought western
technological advances to Armenia, as it is for providing
opportunities for medical exchanges between Armenian and western
health care professionals. For many professionals, the interaction
with the Wellness Center's staff is their first and only exposure
to he country. "Not only we are saving the lives of Armenian women
through high quality healthcare services, one at a time, we are
also introducing the world to Armenia, one person at a time," said
Hranush Hakobyan.
The Wellness Center's efforts have revolutionized the healthcare
delivery system in Armenia. Fifteen years ago, there was not a single
mammography machine in the country. People had not heard the word
"mammography" and the doctors had no notion that mammography screening
could be used for early detection. Through the vision, dedication and
efforts of the Wellness Center's founders, Rita and Vartkess Balian,
assisted by a US medical team, the first two analog mammography units
were installed in Armenia in 1997. These two machines were later (in
2009 and 2010) upgraded into three advanced analog systems, and this
year in March, they were replaced with the latest 3D Digital models.
Since 1997, close to 200,000 patients have visited the Wellness Center
and of these, more than 125,000 have been screened at the Radiology
Department. To date, more than 3,000 lives have been saved through
early detection. More than 2,500 patients visit each month, out of
which nearly 1,500 women come for their annual mammograms.
"Introducing the latest Digital Mammography Screening Technology to
the women and mothers of Armenia, the Wellness Center is once again
at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer, which is still
the number one cause of cancer deaths among women in Armenia," said
Khachanush Hakobyan, the center's executive director. "We cannot
be more grateful to our founders' invaluable dedication and to the
thousands of US donors for their continued generosity to provide us
with the capacity to save lives and bring joy to Armenian families."
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/05/17/latest-digital-mammography-technology-introduced-to-armenia/
Posted on May 17, 2012 by Editor
The Wellness Center's radiologists and technicians during their
training for the operation of the 3D Rit CN Ca 3. Digital Mammography
Systems. LARRY MOWAT PHOTO
By Negar M. Joy
WASHINGTON - The women of Armenia received an early Mother's Day gift
this year from the Armenian American Cultural Association, Inc.
(AACA). With a value of more than $1 million, the gift is the latest
Three- Dimensional (3D) Digital Mammography System, sent to the
Armenian American Wellness Center in Yerevan.
"In March 2012, less than a year after an innovative 3D Digital
Mammography technology received FDA approval in the United States,
AACA brought this groundbreaking imaging system to Armenia, by
acquiring two 3D Digital machines from Hologic Corporation," said
Rita Balian. She is the president and CEO of AACA and founder and
co-president of the Wellness Center, along with Hranush Hakobyan,
the current minister of diaspora.
Dr. Ani Hakobyan, chief radiologist at the Wellness Center, stated,
"This new equipment vastly improves the accuracy of the screening
and increases our ability to distinguish between cancerous and
non-cancerous cells, thus, detect- ing breast cancer much earlier."
Thanks to the Wellness Center, Armenia has made tremendous strides
over the past 15 years in improving awareness and public education
for early detection. By offering women this latest technology, the
Wellness Center furthermproves its ability to detect breast cancer
at a much earlier stage.
"Another big improvement for the patient is fewer call-backs for
additional images," said Dr. Ann Archer, chair of the US Medical
Advisory Board of AACA and the Wellness Center. Archer, a radiologist
and a breast screening and diagnosis specialist, was part of the
first medical team that traveled to Armenia when the Wellness Center
was established in 1997. Ever since, she has traveled to Armenia
on many occasions to train the Wellness Center's medical staff,
including during her latest visit in mid- December, when she briefed
and prepared the center's radiologists on the transition from the
analog to digital mammography system.
Many people contributed to the success and completion of this
acquisition. "Not enough can be said about the role of the Hologic
Corporation," said Balian. "The senior leadership of Hologic worked
tirelessly to present the best options to AACA and have been very
generous with their guidance, insights and resources."
There are fewer than 100 of such systems installed throughout the
United States. Armenia has now two such systems.
"Thanks to grassroots donors and family foundations from the community,
as well as the grants we receive from the United States Government
[USAID], we are able to pay for such sophisticated equipment,"
said Balian.
Since 2004, AACA has partnered with the USAID to expand the Wellness
Center's work and to get the latest technology and expertise to
Armenia. Furthermore, USAID grants helped in the construction,
renovation and seismic reinforcement of the six-story building,
which has now become a state-of-the-art facility with its seven
medical departments. "Each visitor from the diaspora or Armenia,
who enters the building is amazed at the quality of the work that
has been accomplished to date," added Balian.
Larry Mowat, a biomedical engineer from Hologic USA and a member
of the US Medical Advisory Board, coordinated the installation and
training process of the 3D Digital systems. Biomedical engineers and
trainers from Hologic Europe flew to Armenia to complete the required
work. The specialists were impressed at the aptitude and knowlege of
the center's staff. Mowat, who was on the original team that installed
the very first mammography machine in Armenia and has since visited
Armenia 12 times, stated, "There is no question in my mind that the
quality of medical care offered [at the Wellness Center] to the women
of Armenia is light years ahead of any care I have seen anywhere else
in Armenia. It is a very impressive facility. I am amazed at how,
despite construction, you are able to win the battle to keep the
department clean. It actually sparkles."
For the past 15 years, the Wellness Center has brought western
technological advances to Armenia, as it is for providing
opportunities for medical exchanges between Armenian and western
health care professionals. For many professionals, the interaction
with the Wellness Center's staff is their first and only exposure
to he country. "Not only we are saving the lives of Armenian women
through high quality healthcare services, one at a time, we are
also introducing the world to Armenia, one person at a time," said
Hranush Hakobyan.
The Wellness Center's efforts have revolutionized the healthcare
delivery system in Armenia. Fifteen years ago, there was not a single
mammography machine in the country. People had not heard the word
"mammography" and the doctors had no notion that mammography screening
could be used for early detection. Through the vision, dedication and
efforts of the Wellness Center's founders, Rita and Vartkess Balian,
assisted by a US medical team, the first two analog mammography units
were installed in Armenia in 1997. These two machines were later (in
2009 and 2010) upgraded into three advanced analog systems, and this
year in March, they were replaced with the latest 3D Digital models.
Since 1997, close to 200,000 patients have visited the Wellness Center
and of these, more than 125,000 have been screened at the Radiology
Department. To date, more than 3,000 lives have been saved through
early detection. More than 2,500 patients visit each month, out of
which nearly 1,500 women come for their annual mammograms.
"Introducing the latest Digital Mammography Screening Technology to
the women and mothers of Armenia, the Wellness Center is once again
at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer, which is still
the number one cause of cancer deaths among women in Armenia," said
Khachanush Hakobyan, the center's executive director. "We cannot
be more grateful to our founders' invaluable dedication and to the
thousands of US donors for their continued generosity to provide us
with the capacity to save lives and bring joy to Armenian families."