by Roman Rollnick
The Diocesan Fund for Armenia's Recovery (DFAR), in cooperation with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) sent a medical team of 17 surgeons and nurses to Yerevan, Armenia, to perform complex surgical procedures and train local physicians. The team left New York for Yerevan on January 5, 1993.
During the 10 day stay, surgeons and nurses saw 500 patients and performed 40 operations for complex injuries combining neuro-orthopedic and plastic surgery techniques. Patients were earthquake survivors and casualties of the Karabagh conflict-men, women, and children. Many had severe injuries from bomb blasts and machine-gun fire. The surgeons performed procedures including closure of wounds, treatment of broken and shattered bones in the head, hands, and arms, as well as administering to burns, nerve damage and severe eye injuries.
The volunteer medical team worked under great hardship, little heat, and limited supplies. However, the physicians and nurses coped extremely well. A good working relationship developed between the volunteers and their Armenian and American counterparts at AGBU's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center (PRSC) at the Mikaelian Institute.
Dr. Edgar Housepian, Medical Director of DFAR, headed the medical group: "Our surgical mission proceeded better than we could have expected. This operation has provided an incredible moral boost for program directors, the Armenia Health Ministry and American doctors and nurses. I am incredibly proud of the team who, in good spirit, worked very hard without complaint."
The visiting surgical team members were professionals who work in major teaching hospitals in New York City. Through colleagues and, in some cases through firsthand experience, they knew of Armenia's difficult conditions and its desperate medical situation. They wanted to ease the situation in some way.
Plans for this project began in September at the request of the Armenian Health Ministry. Ared Bulbuljian, DFAR General Manager, Annette Choolfaian, DFAR Board member, and Dr. Ohannes Nercessian, DFAR Medical Committee member, went to Armenia at that time to select a hospital and patients. The DFAR group working closely with Regina Ohanyan, Director of AGBU Medical Programs, selected AGBU's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center at the Mikaelian Institute. After extensive planning, meetings and conference calls with the Institute's Director, Dr. Hamlet Tamazian, the project was finalized.
The joint efforts of many groups brought this project to fruition. The medical team worked at the AGBU's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center at the Mikaelian Institute alongside the Center's staff. The Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, which donated medical equipment, was instrumental in helping DFAR locate additional discounted equipment and medical supplies. Some of the physician-volunteers also arranged for donations. The entire effort was greatly facilitated by substantial shipments of medical supplies by a variety of American governmental agencies.
Members of the Visiting Medical Team: Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, Neurosurgery; Dr Ohannes Nercessian, Orthopedics, Dr. James Correll, Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery, Dr. Steven Shulman, Dr. John Merriam, Ophthalmological surgeon, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; Dr. Ted Chaglassian, Plastic Surgery; Drs. Lloyd Gayle, Norick Bogossian, and Ed Athanasian, Orthopedics, Dr. John Davis, general surgeon, Cornell; Dr. Levon Capan, Anesthesiology, New York University Hospital; Mr. John Armada and Mary Guluzian, operating room and Mary Maloney and Stella Goudie, Intensive Care; Dr. John Downey, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; Ms. Georgia Riedel, Registered Physiotherapist.
The Armenian and American staff at the AGBU/PRSC included Dr. Gagik Stamboltsyan and Dr. Garegin Babloyan, Plastic surgeons, Dr. Armenouhi Kharatian and Dr. Karen Manvelyan, Anesthesiologists, Anna Abrahamian, Gayane Armenakian, Tamara Gricorian, Rimella Hayrapetian, Hasmik Mikaelian, Gayane Militonyan, Araxia Muradian, Carolyn Pritchyk, and Maryann Hess, ICU, operating, ICU and floor nurses, and Mr. Mike McIntyre, administrator.
