Month: February 2020

First Ophthalmologist from AECP’s Next Generation Fellowship Program Arrives in U.S. for Training; Remaining Fellows to Arrive Within the Year

The Armenian EyeCare Project has begun 2020 with some great news to mark the extra-special year for the organization and significant number (20/20) in the eye care industry. The first ophthalmologist from the AECP’s Next Generation Fellowship Program, Dr. Vahan Papoyan, has arrived in the U.S. from Armenia and is currently completing his medical fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

Made possible by the AECP and donors to the program, Dr. Papoyan’s fellowship focuses on his specialized field of glaucoma and allows the Armenian physician to learn nuances and train alongside some of the best eye care specialists in his field. This advanced education and training will allow Dr. Papoyan to then return to Armenia to treat his patients with the highest level of care.

“As a physician, you try to do everything you can to offer the best possible care to your patients,” Dr. Papoyan said. “So when you have the opportunity to go to the most advanced country and one of the finest medical institutions to learn cutting-edge techniques in glaucoma and eye care, it’s an incredible feeling,” Dr. Papoyan said. “It has been the best experience of my life.”

AECP launched its first Fellowship Program in 1997 and over the next decade brought eight ophthalmologists to America for specialty training in retina, glaucoma, cornea, low vision, pediatric ophthalmology, and neuro ophthalmology. These original Fellows were sponsored with the help of the late Kirk Kerkorian, who felt medical training of local Armenian physicians would contribute greatly to the elimination of preventable blindness in Armenia, the mission of the AECP.

Following their fellowships, these physicians later returned to Armenia to establish and head Subspecialty Clinics in Yerevan in their fields of expertise, training hundreds of other medical personnel in Armenia on the most advanced techniques in eye care along the way. This includes the AECP’s NextGen Fellows, who have all observed and learned under the direction of the organization’s past Fellows for several years before their opportunity to continue their training with U.S. fellowships of their own.

Today, the AECP’s Next Generation Fellowship Program offers six of Armenia’s top-performing ophthalmologists – selected and mentored by the organization’s original Fellows – the opportunity to travel to the U.S. for three-to-six-month fellowships. During their fellowships, these ophthalmologists will receive advanced medical education and training at some of the best-known U.S. ophthalmic institutions in their respective specialties.

For Dr. Papoyan, this exchange of knowledge and information from a range of physicians – including first-generation AECP Fellow Dr. Lilit Voskanyan in Armenia to now several glaucoma specialists in the U.S. – has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Different doctors have different techniques, so it’s interesting to observe them all and see what works for you and what you can adopt for yourself,” noted Dr. Papoyan. “Learning these techniques is so important, because I can then utilize them when I return to Armenia to treat my own patients and help my country.”

Dr. Papoyan also considers the chance to witness these surgeries from some of the most renowned ophthalmologists in the U.S. an unbelievable advantage. “Having the unique access to see these surgeries is exciting because you know how revered these doctors are in their field,” he says. “To be able to see their work is incredible.”

Through donor fundraising for the program, the EyeCare Project was able to bring Dr. Papoyan to the U.S. as the organization’s first NextGen Fellow. The nonprofit also plans to bring its remaining five NextGen Fellows to the U.S. for their specialty fellowships throughout 2020.

Dr. Tatevik Adamyan will train in her specialty of retina at Retinal Consultants of Nevada in Las Vegas, as well as Haik Humble Eye Center in Louisiana in March; Drs. Zara Dravajyan and Araks Davtyan will train in their specialty of cornea at the University of California, Los Angeles’ Jules Eye Institute by April; Dr. Narine Makyan is expected to train in her specialty of pediatric ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by summer, and Dr. Artak Kirakosyan is expected to train in his specialty of oculoplastics at Harvard University’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston by fall.

“I am extremely happy for this opportunity, but I also feel a great responsibility to make those who have put so much confidence and investment in me proud,” remarked Dr. Papoyan. “I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this Next Generation Fellowship Program from AECP Founder Dr. Roger Ohanesian, to Armenia’s Chief Ophthalmologist Dr. Alex Malayan, to AECP Fellow Dr. Lilit Voskanyan, who has been my mentor in Armenia. And of course, to all the donors of this program who have made my training possible. I would quite literally not be here in the U.S. learning all that I am learning if it were not for you.”

While the Armenian EyeCare Project is well underway of bringing its next generation of ophthalmologists over from Armenia for their U.S. fellowships, the organization is still in need of support in order to continue this program and allow the remaining Fellows to complete their training.

You can help support this critical medical education and training program by sponsoring a Fellow in full or in part; underwriting a Fellow’s expense while they are in the U.S.; or donating what you can to the AECP’s Medical Education and Training Fund. You can be the reason an ophthalmologist in Armenia gets the advanced training they need to provide quality eye care to residents in their country.

Learn more about the AECP’s Next Generation Fellowship Program by visiting the website. If you would like to get involved, please contact the AECP office at 949.933.4069 or email [email protected].

LOS ANGELES—Elen Asatryan’s campaign for Democratic County Central Committee continues to receive resounding support from organizations, elected officials, and community leaders.

Joining the coalition of supporters are the East Area Progressive Democrats, the largest Democratic club both in California and Los Angeles County, the Southern California Armenian Democrats, the first and largest regional Armenian-American Democratic Club in Southern California, Glendale Democratic Club, an organization that promotes the candidates and values of the Democratic Party locally, and the Armenian Rights Council of America, championing the causes and concerns of the Armenian-American community.

“We are proud that Elen is stepping up to be a local leader in our Democratic Party, which stands for women’s rights and respect for immigrants, decency, and diversity. She is among dozens of members of EAPD who showcase the skills of a new generation of grassroots leaders while building an inclusive party,” stated EAPD President Hans Johnson.

“Elen’s roots run deep in Glendale. She’s a proven, tenacious leader with a strong track record of activating voters, standing up for and giving a voice to the most underrepresented, and bringing diverse people, organizations, and interests together to work towards a common goal. The GDC is proud to endorse one of its own, Elen Asatryan for DCCC,” stated GDC President Caro Avanessian.

“Elen is a trusted community leader and public servant who advocates for issues of concern relating to the Armenian-American community. Her work aligns with the mission of ARCA and our efforts in championing the causes and concerns of the Armenian-American community within local, state, and federal governments. We are excited to endorse Elen Asatryan in the upcoming elections for the Democratic County Central Committee,” stated Raffi Balian, Chair of ARCA.

“I am grateful for the confidence and support of EAPD, Glendale Democratic Club, SCAD, and ARCA. I take great pride in our shared vision of a nation that serves the people,” stated Asatryan.

Dedicated to advancing progressive values, Elen has been a long time member of EAPD, SCAD, California Armenian American Democrats, Glendale Democratic Club, and San Fernando Valley Democrats. She currently serves as a delegate for the CA Democratic Party, where she continues to be involved in shaping the party platform and advocates for issues of importance in protecting the rights and advancing the interests of underrepresented and underserved communities including women, minorities, and the working class.

As an advocate for women’s rights and social justice, in 2010 Elen founded the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force—bringing together Glendale based nonprofits to help identify areas of cooperation and assistance in matters relating to domestic violence.
In her mission to ensure that all voters have equal access to the democratic process, Asatryan developed and implemented voter registration and ‘Get Out the Vote’ initiatives, resulting in over 50,000 newly registered voters and record-breaking voter turnout in some of the most competitive and heated local, state, and national elections.

“Elen Asatryan is both a friend of the Armenian community as well as a proven leader and activist with a successful track record of serving her community. SCAD unequivocally endorses her for Democratic County Central Committee,” said SCAD Political Director Manuel Magpapian.

Some of her proudest accomplishments include leading the struggle to achieve equal representation in government entities, Armenian Genocide recognition in every state in the region, incorporating Genocide education in the statewide high school curriculum, mobilizing 166,000 participants in the historic March for Justice for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and championing to gain recognition for Artsakh’s right to self-determination for which she was presented the Artsakh “Gratitude” Award by the President of the Republic of Artsakh.

These endorsements follow endorsements from Senator Anthony Portantino, former CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and its local chapters Glendale, Burbank, Crescenta Valley, and Hollywood, Los Angeles City College Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman, Vice President Steve Veres, and Trustee Mike Fong, Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Jennifer Freemon and members Shant Sahakian and Nayiri Nahabedian, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Scott Schmerelson, Glendale Community College Board Trustee Ann Ransford and Former GCC Board of Trustees President Anita Gabrielian, Burbank Board of Education President Armond Aghakhanian and member Steve Ferguson, Burbank Teachers Association President Diana Abasta, and others. The full list of endorsements is available online.

The election for the Democratic County Central Committee will take place between February 22 and March 3 at 1,000 vote centers across L.A. County. Registered Democrats residing in State Assembly District 43, and those who have declined to state a political party but have requested a Democratic ballot, will see Asatryan’s name on their ballot.

For voters who have selected the option to vote by mail, ballots started arriving in mailboxes as of February 4. Elen Asatryan’s name may be found on page 3 or 4 of the ballot.

In order to vote by mail, you must be registered by February 18. Same-day voter registration is available in person at any vote center between February 22 and March 3. To register to vote, update voter information and political party preference, request a vote by mail ballot or find your nearest vote center.

The DCCC is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Los Angeles County. It is also the largest local Democratic Party entity in the United States, representing nearly 2.7 million Democrats in the 88 cities and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County – a population larger than 42 individual states.

The 43rd State Assembly District encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, and parts of Los Angeles including Hollywood Hills, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Franklin Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Atwater Village (90027, 90029, 90068 and most of 90039).

To learn more about, get involved in, and contribute to Asatryan’s campaign, visit the website. For up to the minute updates, follow the campaign’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ElectElen.

ARTIK, Armenia—A new daycare center was officially inaugurated today in the town of Artik, in Armenia’s Shirak province, by “Family and Community,” a non-governmental organization. The new center, renovated by the Tufenkian Foundation, will provide daycare for children who come from vulnerable families.

Artik’s center became the fifth hub in the NGO’s map, alongside ones in Armavir, Metsamor, Noyemberyan, and Ijevan. The center opened its doors for the children of Artik due to a generous donation from Ralph and Armik Yirikian. The opening ceremony has united the residents of Artik as well as Ralph Yirikian, the Foundation’s executive director Raffi Doudaklian, Governor Tigran Petrossian, Member of Parliament Sofya Hovsepian, and other government officials.

The center is first of its kind in Artik and surrounding villages. For the current year, about 100 children will be able to visit the center after school hours and participate in various extracurricular classes and activities such as singing, pottery, drawing, and more.

“Such centers are significant for our society, as they keep children away from the streets and help them become good people and citizens. We are delighted and proud that children in Artik will now have such an opportunity,” remarked Ralph Yirikian, the primary sponsor of the construction. The center will operate in an old Soviet-era building that went through a complete reconstruction and renovation organized by the Tufenkian Foundation earlier in 2019. The municipality of Artik has provided the building for the center.

“We are trying to expand the network of such centers in Armenia, and we are glad that the decision fell on opening the new one in Artik, as Gyumri is the only city in the region that has such centers. Once again, we are thankful to our donors, the team that worked hard to make this center a reality, and, of course, we are happy for the children of Artik, who will have the opportunity to receive various social services from a team of expert social workers,” stated the Executive Director of Tufenkian Foundation, Raffi Doudaklian.

“Family and Community” currently runs four other centers in four towns of Armenia: Metsamor, Armavir, Ijevan, and Noyemberyan. The core idea in the philosophy of the organizatoin is the concept of family. “The environment that a family creates for a child leaves an impact on them [the child] for the rest of their life. We strongly believe in the values that come with the idea of family,” said Knarik Garanfilyan, the director of the organization.

After the welcoming speeches, the local children participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony, officially launching the operations of the center. Soon, the center will operate in its full capacity.

“Family and Community” NGO is one of the main beneficiaries of the Tufenkian Foundation. The organization implements programs for social and psychological support, empowerment of families, capacity building for the youth, identification, and development of their resources, development, and empowerment of communities, and organizes daycare for school-aged children. While working together, the lives of many children have changed for the better. The Foundation currently runs online fundraising for further development of the center.

Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur James Tufenkian, the Tufenkian Foundation has worked in Artsakh for over 15 years. Its on-the-ground efforts feature the promotion of resettlement, infrastructure, healthcare, and other development programs.

LOS ANGELES—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s Education Committee announced that filmmaker Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian will deliver the keynote address at the 4th Annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon. This year, the luncheon will be held on Saturday, March 7 at the De Luxe Banquet Hall, located at 237 E Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91502.

Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian will lead this event, which celebrates and honors K-16 educators from public schools who have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that the next generation is well informed and aware of the history of the Armenian Genocide and its lasting legacy. Hovannisian-Kevorkian is the daughter of this year’s Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award recipient, Dr. Richard Hovannisian whose lifetime efforts have pioneered Armenian Studies for students of all ages.

“The ANCA-WR Education Committee is proud to have Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian as a keynote speaker and honored guest at the 4th Annual Armenian Genocide Awards Luncheon. Ani’s commitment to documenting and preserving our history is critical work,” remarked Alice Petrossian, Chair of the ANCA-WR Education Committee.

Over the span of her professional career, Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian has produced and directed hundreds of inspiring true stories for television and other international audiences. Most recently, after four journeys deep into Historic Western Armenia – two with her father – she has just completed her first feature documentary. “The Hidden Map” depicts the gripping encounters of an American-Armenian traveling through Turkey in search of her forbidden ancestral home and a solitary Scottish explorer she meets along the way. Together, the duo digs beneath the surface of modern-day Turkey, discovering lonely relics, silenced voices, and stories of an ominous past while unearthing buried secrets and the hidden map.

“This is living history,” Hovannisian-Kevorkian said. “Everywhere we turned, people and ruins and stones came alive with stories to tell… undeniable, breathing stories and evidence of magnificent creation, merciless destruction and even hopeful redemption.” Now beginning to debut in festivals, the film has been recognized with an ImpactDocs Award, Independent Shorts Silver Award, Toronto Pomegranate Film Festival Best Documentary and Audience Choice Honorable Mention Awards, and Official Selection of the ARPA International Film Festival. The Hidden Map will be featured at the inaugural Montreal Pomegranate Film Festival on March 1.

Active in the Armenian-American community since childhood, Ani was a news anchor and reporter at TeleNayiri and Horizon Armenian Television in Los Angeles for more than a decade, and remains closely involved with the Armenian and wider communities. A member of the Directors Guild of America, Television Academy, and International Documentary Association, she continues to produce stories that weave the Armenian experience into the global human landscape. Ani graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Los Angeles with a BA in Mass Communications, and from the University of Southern California with an MA in Broadcast Journalism. She and husband Armenio Kevorkian have two children, Sophene and Daron, named after the native Armenian lands of their great-grandparents.

All community members are invited to the 4th Annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon, to show their appreciation, and celebrate and honor educators for their dedication to teaching about the Armenian Genocide. This year’s luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at De Luxe Banquet Hall in Burbank, CA. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online. Please reserve your tickets immediately as last year this event sold out early. For additional information, visit the ANCA-WR website or call (818) 500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

ARIZONA—Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian paid a working visit to the State of Arizona, where he held meetings with state and city senior officials, as well as with Arizona’s Armenian-American community.

In Phoenix, Ambassador Baibourtian met with Arizona’s state House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers. They discussed various ways of boosting relations between Armenia and Arizona and outlined areas of mutual interest. Special attention was paid to the mining industry in the State of Arizona, and in particular copper mining. At the request of Consul General Baibourtian, Speaker Bowers referred to the highest environmental standards that the local mining industry adheres to. Bowers expressed readiness to share the best practices in responsible mining applied in Arizona’s local mining industry, which are based on stringent environmental regulations. The interlocutors agreed that it would be useful to put Armenian government experts in touch with Arizona’s corresponding departments. Rev. Zacharia Saribekyan, the parish priest of Arizona’s St. Apkar, and Chairman of the Parish Council Rafi Hagopian also took part in the meeting.

Consul General Baibourtian’s next meeting was with Tony Rivero, Chairman of the Arizona House State and International Affairs Committee. The interlocutors discussed the steps for developing bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Baibourtian emphasized that, in the spectrum of activities of the Consulate General of Armenia, the task of developing relations with different Western U.S. states, in addition to California, is viewed as a priority. He presented mutual advantages of establishing relations with Armenia.

Ambassador Baibourtian also had a meeting with Mayor of Scottsdale W.J. “Jim” Lane. During their meeting, they exchanged views on efficient ways of establishing partnerships between cities, including “sister city” relations. Mayor Lane presented his city’s appropriate experience in developing effectual framework for constructive cooperation. The Consul General specifically mentioned the role of the Armenian community in advancing bilateral relations with the state of Arizona. He also emphasized that Armenia’s strategic geographical location could become a platform for mutually beneficial business interactions between business communities of Armenia and Arizona, especially in the fields of tourism and services, where Scottsdale gained an extensive experience. Rev. Zacharia Saribekyan and Dr. Stephen Ovanessoff also attended the meeting. The City of Scottsdale has over a quarter million residents. Each year, Scottsdale hosts 9 million visitors. That’s a bright example of utmost efficiency in local tourism governance. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as a “desert version of Miami’s South Beach.” Built in 2009, St. Apkar Armenian Church is located in Scottsdale.

During his visit to Arizona, Ambassador Baibourtian was also hosted at the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies of the prestigious Arizona State University. The President of the Advisory Board of the Melikian Center, Ramona Lee Melikian, and her mother Emma Ordjanian Melikian welcomed the Armenian Consul General and, along with the administrative leadership of the Center, briefed him on its programs. The Center received its name in 2007, in recognition of the generous support of Commander Gregory Melikian and his spouse Emma Ordjanian Melikian.

Ambassador Baibourtian also visited the Armenian Genocide memorial at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza. The plaza is located directly across the Arizona State Capitol in Downtown Phoenix.

At St. Apkar Armenian Church, Ambassador Baibourtian met with the Armenian-American community of Arizona. The Consul General delivered an extensive speech, in which he highlighted the role of the Armenia community in establishing multifaceted bonds of cooperation between Arizona and Armenia. Ambassador Baibourtian presented to the community the profound changes taking place in the homeland, as a result of which Armenia has found itself in the positive focus of the international community. The Consul General also discussed the economic environment in Armenia, existing business opportunities, and prospective areas for conducting business in the homeland. He also answered a number of questions presented by the public. At the end of the program, Ambassador Baibourtian commended parish priest Rev. Zacharia Saribekyan for his dedication and outstanding service, after which he presented an official certificate of appreciation to the Reverend.

Arizona is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous (7.2 million) of the 50 U.S. states. The state’s major industries include healthcare, mining (copper, gold, and silver), tourism (40 million visitors annually), transportation, IT, and electronics. More than 12,000 Armenians live in the State of Arizona.

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles City College has announced that it will be hosting an Armenian Cultural Day. The event will be held on Thursday, February 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Student Union Building at L.A. City College, located at 855 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029.

Outstanding guest speakers of the cultural day include Professor Siobhan Nash-Marshall and L.A. County Chief Deputy Anna Mouradian. Featured guests include Hratch Demiurge from Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School and Rev. Serop Megerditchian of the Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church.

Professor Siobhan Nash-Marshall has been part of efforts to support Armenians in Artsakh by sending American educators to lead courses in English, Logic, and Ethics. An experienced educator, Dr. Siobhan Nash-Marshall holds the Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy at Manhattanville College and degrees from Fordham University, Universita Cattolica di Milano, New York University and Universita di Padova.

Anna Mouradian is Chief Deputy to L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. With the Supervisor’s involvement, she recently visited Armenia with an official California state delegation, helped raise $1 million in support of Glendale’s Armenian American Museum, and helped host the official visit of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Los Angeles.

Hratch Demiurge will present his published translation of “Pagan Songs” by Daniel Varoujan. Varoujan was brutally murdered following his arrest on April 24, 1915.

Rev. Serop Megerditchian, who pastored an Armenian church in Aleppo, Syria from 1997 to 2015, will give a presentation on Vartanantz Day and its modern meaning.