MEDICAL PROTOCOLS / SERVICES

"The most rewarding aspect of the Wellness Center is to witness the onset of the awareness of preventive medicine and the importance of early detection in treating illnesses. One of themost pleasant outcomes, in addition to other health benefits, is for many Armenian families to enjoy the blessing of having children." - Dr. Emma Zargarian, OB/GYN (Baltimore, MD)

Breast Imaging, Diagnostic and Screening Services

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Armenia. In response to the compelling need for accurate and cost-effective diagnostic services for its detection, AACA partnered with American medical professionals from Akron, Ohio and Washington Hospital Center (DC) to establish the Armenian American Mammography University Center in 1997 (renamed the Armenian American Wellness Center in 2002).

Services include annual screenings and demonstrations of monthly Breast Self Examinations (BSEs), Breast Imaging (through mammography and ultrasound) and Diagnosis (through biopsies) for the early and accurate detection of breast cancer. The Wellness Center currently screens 40-70 patients/day and up to 100 patients/day during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Basic Gynecology

The second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Armenia is cervical cancer. Prior to 2001, regular cervical cancer screening was not widely available in Armenia. AACA arranged for a partnership between the Wellness Center and Dr. Emma Zargarian of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (affiliated with Johns Hopkins University), to provide basic services for the detection and prevention of cervical cancer. In June 2001, the GYN Department was established with a US-trained gynecologist and furnished with modern medical technology and expertise.

Today, services include the detection, diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions through annual checkups and Pap smears, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and infertility caused by chronic infections; family planning through education and counseling; and addressing menopausal issues – the first ever such service in Armenia.

As a result of Dr. Zargarian’s extensive training work in conjunction with the latest technology, the Center has been instrumental in the birth of 43 “Miracle Babies” born to 43 couples who had lost hope as they struggled with infertility for 4-12 years. They were able to conceive through treatment of their chronic sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

"Previously, women in Armenia were blamed for their infertility, particularly by their mothers-in-law. By treating both the husbands' and wives' chronic STIs, the Center has helped couples from throughout Armenia become proud parents, bringing tremendous joy to these new families." - Rita Balian, President and CEO, AACA and Founder of the Welness Center

Lab Services

To facilitate the accurate and cost-effective diagnoses of the breast tissue and Pap smears, the Pathology Lab for histology (analysis of tissue) and cytology (analysis of cells) was created in June 2001 through a partnership with Dr. Julia Albright from the George Washington University Hospital, who provided training, and International Relief & Development (a DC-based nonprofit), which provided equipment and supplies.

Under the guidance of Dr. Camilla Cobb and Katherine Berberian of the University of Southern California’s (USC) Department of Cytopathology, cytology was introduced at the Wellness Center in 2002. Three Welllness Center doctors received additional training at USC in cervical and breast cytology and fine needle aspiration (FNA) procedures for breast cancer biopsies.

In addition, the Wellness Center has the only sperm analysis machine – to diagnose infertility - in Armenia.

Family Medicine

In July 2003, AACA partnered with Dr. Vicken Poochikian, a specialist in internal medicine from the Washington, DC metro area, to begin providing general family medical services for preventive health care at the Gavar Satellite Clinic. In June 2004, the Wellness Center began to offer basic Family Medicine at the Yerevan Center as well, with additional medical training provided by Drs. John Poochigian and Christina Avakoff of San Francisco.

Services include annual check-ups, diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses, as well as public education of healthy lifestyles through distribution of informative literature/brochures.

Osteoporosis Screening

As part of its 9th Medical Mission to Armenia, AACA installed the first-ever DEXA machine in Armenia at the Wellness Center in Oct. 2006. Generously donated by Hologic, Inc., of Bedford, MA, this non-invasive, digital unit represents a breakthrough for osteoporosis detection in Armenia. The donation, installation and subsequent training of the Center’s biomedical engineers was led by Larry Mowat, RT, Hologic Inc.’s Senior Applications Specialist and also a member of the Center’s US Medical Advisory Board. Mowat has been instrumental in the Wellness Center’s development and growth since its opening in April 1997.

Record Keeping

A detailed medical file is maintained on every patient at the Wellness Center.

For a comprehensive list of departments for various medical protocols/services at the expanded Wellness Center, please click here.