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PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.aua.am/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/American-University-of-Armenia/159219260801636
November 12, 2014
Oral Health Seminar at AUA Sparks Ideas for Nationwide Changes
YEREVAN, Armenia - On October 29th, 2014, the American University of
Armenia (AUA) hosted Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., for
an all-day seminar on `Oral Health for Inter-Professional Development.' The
seminar was designed to train physicians and nurses, general dentists,
dental providers, and other health professionals on successful preventive
strategies for children's oral health.
The seminar was part of a much larger oral health education project
envisioned and initiated by Dr. Jack Koumjian, an AUA supporter. With the
financial support of the Bay Area Friends of Armenia (BAFA), Dr. Koumjian
visited and provided preventive oral care to a village in Armenia, where he
recognized that prevention is the key to maintaining lifelong oral health.
In order to accomplish this goal on a national scale, he decided that
educating healthcare providers through seminars and other forms of advocacy
was an essential first step.
Dr. Alisa Badalyan, Deputy Director at Karagyozyan Medical Center and an
attendee of the seminar, stated, `It was one of the best seminars of my
life. Lectures like this are very important for both pediatric dentists and
students. I also think the future of pediatric dentistry is in prevention
and minimal invasiveness. As a pediatric dentist, I would like to take a
part in this project.'
Dr. Koumjian stated, `We were really pleased with the enthusiasm and
interest we received from the seminar.'
Dr. Koumjian is working in partnership with Dr. Ramos-Gomez and Dr.
Francois Antounian, another AUA supporter who is an orthopedic surgeon and
represents BAFA, to assess the situation in Armenia and create a plan of
action. Together, they aim to bring awareness and information to the
citizens of Armenia about the growing oral health problems that the country
faces. The focus is on treating children and using preventive measures to
ensure that future generations of Armenians do not suffer from preventable
oral health diseases.
Dr. Ramos-Gomez, who has traveled the world treating young children and
promoting preventive oral health care, sees many problems, especially in
the villages outside of Yerevan. He states, `It's a combination of several
things. First, a lack of knowledge from parents about good oral health.
Second, people don't usually don't seek oral care for maintenance, but
rather only when something hurts. Third, oftentimes the providers lack
information or they're not skilled to treat pediatric patients.'
He is still hopeful for a positive change, especially in a small country
like Armenia. `My dream is to go to every single Ministry of Health and see
how we can implement change in a country that is manageable,' he stated.
During their time in Armenia, the partners met with Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan,
Associate Dean of the AUA School of Public Health, to discuss possibilities
for collaboration and AUA's future involvement in their plans for
nationwide change and advocacy.
Dr. Antounian explained that, `The AUA Public Health Department can play a
big role in the promotion and advocacy of preventative oral health care in
Armenia. We hope to work interactively with various educational
institutions, civil organizations, and the government of Armenia to produce
long term change for the country.'
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service =80=8Band
democratic values.
DIANA MANUKYAN | AUA PR
Office of Communications
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. | Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
Tel: +374 60 612 522; Email: [email protected] | www.aua.am
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.aua.am/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/American-University-of-Armenia/159219260801636
November 12, 2014
Oral Health Seminar at AUA Sparks Ideas for Nationwide Changes
YEREVAN, Armenia - On October 29th, 2014, the American University of
Armenia (AUA) hosted Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., for
an all-day seminar on `Oral Health for Inter-Professional Development.' The
seminar was designed to train physicians and nurses, general dentists,
dental providers, and other health professionals on successful preventive
strategies for children's oral health.
The seminar was part of a much larger oral health education project
envisioned and initiated by Dr. Jack Koumjian, an AUA supporter. With the
financial support of the Bay Area Friends of Armenia (BAFA), Dr. Koumjian
visited and provided preventive oral care to a village in Armenia, where he
recognized that prevention is the key to maintaining lifelong oral health.
In order to accomplish this goal on a national scale, he decided that
educating healthcare providers through seminars and other forms of advocacy
was an essential first step.
Dr. Alisa Badalyan, Deputy Director at Karagyozyan Medical Center and an
attendee of the seminar, stated, `It was one of the best seminars of my
life. Lectures like this are very important for both pediatric dentists and
students. I also think the future of pediatric dentistry is in prevention
and minimal invasiveness. As a pediatric dentist, I would like to take a
part in this project.'
Dr. Koumjian stated, `We were really pleased with the enthusiasm and
interest we received from the seminar.'
Dr. Koumjian is working in partnership with Dr. Ramos-Gomez and Dr.
Francois Antounian, another AUA supporter who is an orthopedic surgeon and
represents BAFA, to assess the situation in Armenia and create a plan of
action. Together, they aim to bring awareness and information to the
citizens of Armenia about the growing oral health problems that the country
faces. The focus is on treating children and using preventive measures to
ensure that future generations of Armenians do not suffer from preventable
oral health diseases.
Dr. Ramos-Gomez, who has traveled the world treating young children and
promoting preventive oral health care, sees many problems, especially in
the villages outside of Yerevan. He states, `It's a combination of several
things. First, a lack of knowledge from parents about good oral health.
Second, people don't usually don't seek oral care for maintenance, but
rather only when something hurts. Third, oftentimes the providers lack
information or they're not skilled to treat pediatric patients.'
He is still hopeful for a positive change, especially in a small country
like Armenia. `My dream is to go to every single Ministry of Health and see
how we can implement change in a country that is manageable,' he stated.
During their time in Armenia, the partners met with Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan,
Associate Dean of the AUA School of Public Health, to discuss possibilities
for collaboration and AUA's future involvement in their plans for
nationwide change and advocacy.
Dr. Antounian explained that, `The AUA Public Health Department can play a
big role in the promotion and advocacy of preventative oral health care in
Armenia. We hope to work interactively with various educational
institutions, civil organizations, and the government of Armenia to produce
long term change for the country.'
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service =80=8Band
democratic values.
DIANA MANUKYAN | AUA PR
Office of Communications
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. | Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
Tel: +374 60 612 522; Email: [email protected] | www.aua.am