Tweet
Santa Monica Mirror
Oct 15 2013
SANTA MONICA PLASTIC SURGEON VOLUNTEERS TIME FOR SURGICAL MISSION
Posted Oct. 15, 2013, 9:30 am
Mirror Staff
Santa Monica plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian recently returned
from a surgical humanitarian mission to the Central Republic Hospital
in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
The medical mission marked a cornerstone in establishing state of
the art surgical facilities in a region that was devastated by war
in the post-Soviet period.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic shares a common border with Armenia and is
populated by ethnic Armenians.
The purpose of the surgical mission was to assess current standards for
surgical care at the Central Republic Hospital and to share standards
of surgical expertise in the field of plastic and reconstructive
surgery.
The two surgeons were received by the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
Minister of Health Dr. Sergei Movsesyan and Deputy Minister of Health
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan and actively participated in a transfer of surgical
expertise with NKR surgeons.
The trip marks the second surgical mission for the surgeon, who holds
active privileges at St. John's Hospital.
"We often take the level of medical and surgical care that we have
readily available for granted," said Dr. Karamanoukian. "In recent
years, St. John's Hospital has helped me personally donate much needed
equipment and supplies to Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Haiti."
Dr. Karamanoukian was welcomed by the entire surgical and medical
community at the Central Republic Hospital and participated in numerous
surgical forums.
Medical directors, including those in the fields of vascular surgery,
plastic surgery, urology, and anesthesiology proactively interacted
with the surgeons during their visit.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian and wife Silvia donated specialized
microsurgical and plastic surgery instruments in order to help
establish a microsurgery reconstructive program at the Central
Republic Hospital.
The microsurgery instruments were received by Chief of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Igor Zakharyan in association with the Deputy Minister of Health,
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan.
An established microsurgery center will allow for patients with
complex injuries resulting from trauma or cancer to be treated with
their own tissue, lending to a more functional recovery.
One of the highlights of the trip, according to Dr. Karamanoukian,
was to exchange surgical knowledge in the management of a volunteer
who had sustained trauma while defusing a landmine.
"The expert had identified the landmine and was about to diffuse the
unit when he tripped and lost his balance," he said.
"The Central Republican has faced enormous challenges over the
last two decades as a result of limited infrastructure and supply
capabilities. The sharing of surgical expertise across continents
allowed for a productive exchange of information and collaboration."
Two decades ago, the hospital was bombarded during the war and suffered
irreparable damage.
The surgeons of the hospital were forced to treat the wounded in the
basement operating rooms.
"It is not only refreshing, but life changing to see and participate
in the progress being made in the medical arena in Stepanakert," Dr.
Karamanoukian said.
http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Santa-Monica-Plastic-Surgeon-Volunteers-Time-For-Surgical-Mission/38628
Oct 15 2013
SANTA MONICA PLASTIC SURGEON VOLUNTEERS TIME FOR SURGICAL MISSION
Posted Oct. 15, 2013, 9:30 am
Mirror Staff
Santa Monica plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian recently returned
from a surgical humanitarian mission to the Central Republic Hospital
in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
The medical mission marked a cornerstone in establishing state of
the art surgical facilities in a region that was devastated by war
in the post-Soviet period.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic shares a common border with Armenia and is
populated by ethnic Armenians.
The purpose of the surgical mission was to assess current standards for
surgical care at the Central Republic Hospital and to share standards
of surgical expertise in the field of plastic and reconstructive
surgery.
The two surgeons were received by the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
Minister of Health Dr. Sergei Movsesyan and Deputy Minister of Health
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan and actively participated in a transfer of surgical
expertise with NKR surgeons.
The trip marks the second surgical mission for the surgeon, who holds
active privileges at St. John's Hospital.
"We often take the level of medical and surgical care that we have
readily available for granted," said Dr. Karamanoukian. "In recent
years, St. John's Hospital has helped me personally donate much needed
equipment and supplies to Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Haiti."
Dr. Karamanoukian was welcomed by the entire surgical and medical
community at the Central Republic Hospital and participated in numerous
surgical forums.
Medical directors, including those in the fields of vascular surgery,
plastic surgery, urology, and anesthesiology proactively interacted
with the surgeons during their visit.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian and wife Silvia donated specialized
microsurgical and plastic surgery instruments in order to help
establish a microsurgery reconstructive program at the Central
Republic Hospital.
The microsurgery instruments were received by Chief of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Igor Zakharyan in association with the Deputy Minister of Health,
Dr. Karen Ghukasyan.
An established microsurgery center will allow for patients with
complex injuries resulting from trauma or cancer to be treated with
their own tissue, lending to a more functional recovery.
One of the highlights of the trip, according to Dr. Karamanoukian,
was to exchange surgical knowledge in the management of a volunteer
who had sustained trauma while defusing a landmine.
"The expert had identified the landmine and was about to diffuse the
unit when he tripped and lost his balance," he said.
"The Central Republican has faced enormous challenges over the
last two decades as a result of limited infrastructure and supply
capabilities. The sharing of surgical expertise across continents
allowed for a productive exchange of information and collaboration."
Two decades ago, the hospital was bombarded during the war and suffered
irreparable damage.
The surgeons of the hospital were forced to treat the wounded in the
basement operating rooms.
"It is not only refreshing, but life changing to see and participate
in the progress being made in the medical arena in Stepanakert," Dr.
Karamanoukian said.
http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Santa-Monica-Plastic-Surgeon-Volunteers-Time-For-Surgical-Mission/38628