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AMIC's Newsletter, Montreal, Canada
AMIC's Info-Flash
369 Frontenac Drive,
D.D.O. Qc.,
H9G 1R4, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.amic.ca
December 2012,
Article 1: Professor the Lord Ara Darzi Speaks about Health Care Reforms
Article 2: Medications Shipments to assist Armenians in Syria
Article 3: Neurology
Article 4: Individual membership to AMIC?
Article 5: Hagobian Memorial lecture in London January 19
**************************************
1. Professor the Lord Ara Darzi Speaks about Health Care Reforms
This last issue of the INFO-FLASH/ 2012, was written by AMIC's president,
Dr. Jerry Manoukian. Aida Boudjikanian, suffering of a nasty flu for the
last 12 days would like to thank him and hopes that all the usual readers of
the INFO are in good health and are getting prepared for the next joyous and
festive hours.
YEREVAN-On October 30, the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of
Health Sciences, in collaboration with the National Competitiveness
Foundation of Armenia, organized a public health seminar on healthcare
reform in Armenia featuring Professor Lord Ara Darzi of Denham.
The event, held in AUA's Manoogian Hall, was attended by a capacity crowd
that included officials from the Ministry of Health, physicians,
professionals in the field of public health and medicine, as well as AUA
students, faculty, researchers, and members of the broader AUA community.
Attendees were given an opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from
Professor Darzi during an active question and answer session following his
presentation. A reception at AUA's Akian Gallery prior to the seminar
provided the opportunity for informal interactions between Professor Darzi
and attendees of the seminar.
A distinguished physician in the United Kingdom, Provessor Darzi shared his
wealth of experience in health care reform with the audience, emphasizing
the need to prioritize improving the quality of health care in Armenia.
During the presentation, Lord Darzi stressed the importance of streamlining
patient access to medical care as well as the need to focus more on
promoting preventive public health measures to improve overall health
outcomes and quality of life.
Professor Darzi, who was in Armenia at the invitation of the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, presented case studies showing how
reforms directed towards a more equitable, integrated patient-centered
health care system, could significantly improve overall health outcomes. In
drawing parallels between the United Kingdom and Armenia, he shared the
outcome of reforms that were implemented in the UK when he was the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health-a
position equivalent to the Minister of Health in Armenia.
Professor Darzi holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College
London. He is an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Hospital
National Health Service (NHS) Trust Hospital and Royal Marsden Hospital and
holds the Chair of Surgery at the Institute of Cancer Research. In October
2010 he was appointed as Chairman for the Institute of Global Health
Innovation at Imperial College. In 2012 Lord Darzi took up the role of
Chair, Imperial College Health Partners.
He was knighted for his services in medicine and surgery in 2002; in 2007 he
was introduced to the United Kingdom's House of Lords as Professor the Lord
Darzi of Denham and appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the
Department of Health. As a Minister he successfully set the strategy for the
NHS for the decade ahead - one of the greatest policy transformations ever
undertaken in the UK. He relinquished this role in July 2009 when he was
appointed the United Kingdom's Global Ambassador for Health and Life
Sciences, a role reconfirmed in 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron. Lord
Darzi was appointed as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy
Council in June 2009.
The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent
university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated
with the University of California. Through teaching, research, and public
service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality,
graduate and undergraduate education, encouraging civic engagement, and
promoting democratic values.
The American University of Armenia is accredited by the Accrediting
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association
of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501,
510-748-9001.
2. Medications shipments to assist Armenians in Syria
Aid to Armenians living in war-torn Syria is as critical as ever. In
addition to money collected for food and supplies, medication is needed as
it is in short supply and difficult to purchase at any price within Syria.
In addition to medications which have been sent from Armenia, medication
from Diasporan sources has been collected as part of the "Help Your Brother"
project coordinated by the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
Two shipments of medications have been sent in late December, from the San
Francisco Bay1 Area and from UMAF-Lyon. While the Lyon shipment was
delivered to ARS without incident, the shipment from San Francisco was
temporarily held at the Customs at Zvartnots Airport.
Clearly we have much to do in creating a protocol for sending medication
collected in the Diaspora to Yerevan. Since the Armenian government,
including the Ministry of Health, are trying to maintain neutrality in the
Syrian conflict, these shipments must be coordinated directly with the ARS.
As a minimum, lists of medications should be submitted to ARS in advance,
including the quantity of each drug, the overall wholesale value of the
shipment, and attestation that this is a donation from the Diasporan
organization. In the case of the medicines seized at Zvartnots, each bottle
of medication was also labeled with the Armenian Relief Society address and
the Help Your Brother designation.
******************************
3. Neurology
Efforts to unite neurologists in Armenia with their counterparts in the
Diaspora are championed by Dr. Berge Minassian of Toronto and Dr Viken
Babikian of Boston. Dr. Minassian has compiled lists of neurologists in
various subspecialties. This work is still in its infancy, and interested
parties should contact Drs Minassian and Babikian, [email protected]
[email protected]
***************************
4. Individual membership to AMIC?
The Armenian Medical International Committee is composed of representatives
from Diasporan organizations throughout the world. We're also moving to
include individuals who are not affiliated with any given Diasporan
organization (in countries and cities where there are no Armenian health
care associations). We plan to have a formal process in place by our next
general meeting during the 11th Armenian Medical World Congress in Los
Angeles this coming July. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
********************************
5. Hagobian Memorial Lecture in London January 19
The Armenian Medical Association-Great Britain proudly presents the 6th
Hagobian Memorial Lecture on 19 January 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Navasardian
Centre at 223 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London W13 9QU.
Dr. Ara Nahabedian, an orthopaedic surgeon from Crewe, Cheshire. His
presentation entitled "Five Souls", relates his experience traveling to
Armenia for voluntary orthopedic consultancy over a period of 16 years.
A Reception begins at 7:00 PM followed by the lecture at 8:00 PM and a light
buffet supper at 9:00 PM.
RSVP toErman Melikyan [email protected] or telephone 07777643568
From: A. Papazian
AMIC's Info-Flash
369 Frontenac Drive,
D.D.O. Qc.,
H9G 1R4, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.amic.ca
December 2012,
Article 1: Professor the Lord Ara Darzi Speaks about Health Care Reforms
Article 2: Medications Shipments to assist Armenians in Syria
Article 3: Neurology
Article 4: Individual membership to AMIC?
Article 5: Hagobian Memorial lecture in London January 19
**************************************
1. Professor the Lord Ara Darzi Speaks about Health Care Reforms
This last issue of the INFO-FLASH/ 2012, was written by AMIC's president,
Dr. Jerry Manoukian. Aida Boudjikanian, suffering of a nasty flu for the
last 12 days would like to thank him and hopes that all the usual readers of
the INFO are in good health and are getting prepared for the next joyous and
festive hours.
YEREVAN-On October 30, the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of
Health Sciences, in collaboration with the National Competitiveness
Foundation of Armenia, organized a public health seminar on healthcare
reform in Armenia featuring Professor Lord Ara Darzi of Denham.
The event, held in AUA's Manoogian Hall, was attended by a capacity crowd
that included officials from the Ministry of Health, physicians,
professionals in the field of public health and medicine, as well as AUA
students, faculty, researchers, and members of the broader AUA community.
Attendees were given an opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from
Professor Darzi during an active question and answer session following his
presentation. A reception at AUA's Akian Gallery prior to the seminar
provided the opportunity for informal interactions between Professor Darzi
and attendees of the seminar.
A distinguished physician in the United Kingdom, Provessor Darzi shared his
wealth of experience in health care reform with the audience, emphasizing
the need to prioritize improving the quality of health care in Armenia.
During the presentation, Lord Darzi stressed the importance of streamlining
patient access to medical care as well as the need to focus more on
promoting preventive public health measures to improve overall health
outcomes and quality of life.
Professor Darzi, who was in Armenia at the invitation of the National
Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, presented case studies showing how
reforms directed towards a more equitable, integrated patient-centered
health care system, could significantly improve overall health outcomes. In
drawing parallels between the United Kingdom and Armenia, he shared the
outcome of reforms that were implemented in the UK when he was the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health-a
position equivalent to the Minister of Health in Armenia.
Professor Darzi holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College
London. He is an Honorary Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College Hospital
National Health Service (NHS) Trust Hospital and Royal Marsden Hospital and
holds the Chair of Surgery at the Institute of Cancer Research. In October
2010 he was appointed as Chairman for the Institute of Global Health
Innovation at Imperial College. In 2012 Lord Darzi took up the role of
Chair, Imperial College Health Partners.
He was knighted for his services in medicine and surgery in 2002; in 2007 he
was introduced to the United Kingdom's House of Lords as Professor the Lord
Darzi of Denham and appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the
Department of Health. As a Minister he successfully set the strategy for the
NHS for the decade ahead - one of the greatest policy transformations ever
undertaken in the UK. He relinquished this role in July 2009 when he was
appointed the United Kingdom's Global Ambassador for Health and Life
Sciences, a role reconfirmed in 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron. Lord
Darzi was appointed as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy
Council in June 2009.
The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent
university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated
with the University of California. Through teaching, research, and public
service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality,
graduate and undergraduate education, encouraging civic engagement, and
promoting democratic values.
The American University of Armenia is accredited by the Accrediting
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association
of Schools and Colleges, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501,
510-748-9001.
2. Medications shipments to assist Armenians in Syria
Aid to Armenians living in war-torn Syria is as critical as ever. In
addition to money collected for food and supplies, medication is needed as
it is in short supply and difficult to purchase at any price within Syria.
In addition to medications which have been sent from Armenia, medication
from Diasporan sources has been collected as part of the "Help Your Brother"
project coordinated by the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
Two shipments of medications have been sent in late December, from the San
Francisco Bay1 Area and from UMAF-Lyon. While the Lyon shipment was
delivered to ARS without incident, the shipment from San Francisco was
temporarily held at the Customs at Zvartnots Airport.
Clearly we have much to do in creating a protocol for sending medication
collected in the Diaspora to Yerevan. Since the Armenian government,
including the Ministry of Health, are trying to maintain neutrality in the
Syrian conflict, these shipments must be coordinated directly with the ARS.
As a minimum, lists of medications should be submitted to ARS in advance,
including the quantity of each drug, the overall wholesale value of the
shipment, and attestation that this is a donation from the Diasporan
organization. In the case of the medicines seized at Zvartnots, each bottle
of medication was also labeled with the Armenian Relief Society address and
the Help Your Brother designation.
******************************
3. Neurology
Efforts to unite neurologists in Armenia with their counterparts in the
Diaspora are championed by Dr. Berge Minassian of Toronto and Dr Viken
Babikian of Boston. Dr. Minassian has compiled lists of neurologists in
various subspecialties. This work is still in its infancy, and interested
parties should contact Drs Minassian and Babikian, [email protected]
[email protected]
***************************
4. Individual membership to AMIC?
The Armenian Medical International Committee is composed of representatives
from Diasporan organizations throughout the world. We're also moving to
include individuals who are not affiliated with any given Diasporan
organization (in countries and cities where there are no Armenian health
care associations). We plan to have a formal process in place by our next
general meeting during the 11th Armenian Medical World Congress in Los
Angeles this coming July. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
********************************
5. Hagobian Memorial Lecture in London January 19
The Armenian Medical Association-Great Britain proudly presents the 6th
Hagobian Memorial Lecture on 19 January 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Navasardian
Centre at 223 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London W13 9QU.
Dr. Ara Nahabedian, an orthopaedic surgeon from Crewe, Cheshire. His
presentation entitled "Five Souls", relates his experience traveling to
Armenia for voluntary orthopedic consultancy over a period of 16 years.
A Reception begins at 7:00 PM followed by the lecture at 8:00 PM and a light
buffet supper at 9:00 PM.
RSVP toErman Melikyan [email protected] or telephone 07777643568
From: A. Papazian