A Brief History of the Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario

Why Armenian, why Armenia? Because there occurred once a major crime against humanity, which still awaits recognition, redress. Those of us who survived represent that fraction of humanity bearing the burden of this task, for the sake of humankind, a task that can only be achieved with a strong and healthy Armenia. Why Armenia? Because out of the ashes of Armenian Genocide, we were forced to participate in the doomed communist experiment. Because we were then struck by the deadliest earthquake of modern times. Because we were then blockaded by powers who disdained our people's right to self-determination. Because, finally, the need is there and if good does nothing, evil will surely win.

The early years

ACMAO was the child of the earthquake. On the eve of December 8, 1988, forty Toronto health care providers met and formed the association with Dr. Jirair Ternamian as its first chairman. That same night $35,000 was raised. In the next two years $2,000,000 worth of medical supplies were sent to the earthquake region. Initiated by Dr. Gaspar Israelian, an epilepsy centre was established at the Erebouni Medical Centre. Professor Shake Toukmanian established a pediatric psychology training and care program to address the psychological toll of earthquake and coincident other national tragedies. Dr. Ara Keresteci, Mr. Hrant Bardakjian, Mrs. Sona Sarkissian and others, with the untiring support of Dr. Ternamian, arranged multiple training opportunities for Armenian doctors and nurses in order to transfer Canadian expertise to Armenia. In addition, the first ever formally trained health administrators of the burgeoning republic obtained their training in Canada through this effort. The executive established a reference library at the National Institute of Health of Yerevan with a catalogue of more than 3000 contemporary textbooks and educational videos translated under the guidance of Dr. Avedis Bogosyan. Finally, Mrs. Houri Najarian was instrumental in establishing a diabetes education centre at the Republican Hospital in Yerevan.

Four of countless children maimed by the earthquake were brought to Toronto and operated on by Dr. Ronald Zuker, then the head of the Division of Plastic Surgery at The Hospital for Sick Children. Along with the children, came an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Garen Koloyan, who studied avidly under Drs. Zuker and Salter. Garen is now in Armenia, and runs a state of the art children's orthopedic department, which practically meets the entire country's pediatric orthopedic needs.

The ACMAO executive, then and since, has firmly believed in concerted efforts in the assistance of the homeland. ACMAO is a founding and fervently supporting member of the Armenian International Medical Committee (AMIC), which strives to coordinate, streamline and facilitate medical help to Armenia and Artsakh. Drs. Zareh Ouzounian, Berge Minassian and Avedis Bogosyan presently serve on the executive of AMIC.

Dental projects

Dental projects began immediately following the earthquake under the supervision of Drs. Chouldjian and Keleshian. Dr. Ouzounian then spearheaded the establishment of the dental division of ACMAO, while at the same time creating the international dental division of AMIC. Between 1992 and 1995, large amounts of dental materials, instruments and supplies were provided to the Echmiadzin and Artic (the latter in the earthquake zone) dental clinics along with a rich education program in Yerevan, Gyumri and Artsakh. In 1997, Dr. Ouzounian's team helped organize the First International Dental Conference in Yerevan with over 500 participants.

A project of great pride to ACMAO, and especially its dental division, has been the establishment, in May 1998, of the first-ever dental clinic in the strategic liberated town of Shushi in Karabakh. Our dentists, through their personal means and creative fundraising strategies, maintain the ongoing activities of this clinic, which provides free and comprehensive preventive and general service dental care to Shushi and its environs.

Recent Past, Present and Future

After 10 years of dedicated, creative and productive leadership, Dr. Ternamian passed the baton, in 1999, to Dr. Ara Keresteci. Dr. Keresteci's executive soon received a request by AMIC's board to organize the next Armenian Medical World Congress in Toronto. This was an immense challenge for a community of our size, but we took it on. Under the indefatigable presidency of Dr. Avedis Bogosyan, two years of assiduous and diligent activity followed, by numerous members of the community, including many non-medical volunteers. The list of names is too long to print here, but their contributions are marked in our archives and hearts. Key individuals on the organizing committee were Dr. Berge Minassian (scientific program chair), Dr. Zareh Ouzounian (public relations chair), Dr. Hagop Boyrazian (fundraising committee chair), Mrs. Houri Najarian (social program chair), Dr. Hasmig Aynacyan, Mr. Hrant Bardakjian (accounts management chair), Dr. Shake Toukmanian, Dr. Ara Keresteci, Mrs. Sona Sarkissian, Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Mr. Michael Iskedjian, Dr. Taline DerMegerditchian, Dr. Ani Hasserjian, Dr. Herag Hamboyan, Mrs. Noush Tahtajian, Miss Lena Ishkhanian, Miss Susan Karakashian and many others. The 8th Armenian Medical World Congress (AMWC2001) in Toronto has been recognized by all as the largest and highest caliber such conference to date, with more than 600 health care providers attending.

Meanwhile our materials transfer to Armenia continued. Drs. Minassian and Toukmanian transferred electroencephalography equipment. Mrs. Sarkissian was able to obtain large amounts of medical instruments and expensive equipment urgently needed. During the very busy days of AMWC2001 an opportunity arose to obtain the contents of an entire hospital (Branson). Our own resources stretched to the limit, we recruited the help of our businessmen colleagues. Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Susan Kololian, Mr. Kevork Kololian, Mr. Vazken Terzian, and Mr. Jirair Torikian, we were able to obtain and transfer the entire hospital.

Since January 2002, a new executive was voted in chaired by Dr. Berge Minassian. Excited by the dedication of our dental division, the executive embarked on the ambitious goal of working towards not only maintaining our commitment to dental care in central Artsakh (Shushi clinic), but expanding this care to all the other regions. Already, Lachin is served by our Boston counterparts. Through Dr. Ouzounian's efforts, collaboration has been cemented with our Montreal colleagues, and a dental centre was built in the Hadrout region in 2003. In 2004, a major push was made to complete the circle of dental care in Karabagh. Through a special fundraiser, amounts were raised to build two additional clinics, one in Mardagert, the other in Marduni. These clinics are now completed and functioning. Finally, through Dr. Raffi Chouldjian, a most generous contribution was secured from the Rotary club, which allowed us to construct a mobile dental clinic. This clinic is circulating and providing care in all the regions of Karabagh not served by the stationary centres. In the short time the clinic has been operational, we are proud to announce that our dentist, Dr. Vahag Ghazaryan has already served the following villages to the tune of three weeks in each village: Aykestan (population: 900), Tashbulagh (population: 400), Badara (population: 850), Khentsoristan (population:800), Khatchen (population: 400), Kashlagh (population: 250). It is a point of great pride for Toronto and Ontario Armenians that our little community can now say that it provides almost the entirety of dental needs, free of charge, to the people of Karabagh. Our mobile clinic just one the first prize ($3000) in Karabakh as the first charitable organization.

Another major area, identified to us by the authorities in Karabagh, is the issue of women's reproductive health. Sexually transmitted disease has become very common. Improperly assisted abortions are on the rise causing irremediable damage to young women and their future prospects of healthy pregnancies. Our executive took up the challenge of working towards establishing a Women's Health Clinic in Stepanakert to provide free and confidential care to the women of Artsakh. The clinic committee, Drs. Avedis Bogosyan and Taline DerMegerditchian, Mrs. Sonia Sarkissian and Miss Susan Karakashian, succeeded in this laudable task, and Dr. Bogosyan proudly served to open the clinic doors in October of 2004. The need was evidently immense. Our clinic sees 350 patients a month in average. You will be happy to learn that because of our services three cases of infertility were treated and three healthy babies were born as a direct result! Once again, the care is free of charge. This clinic's funds come from a group of 10 Toronto couples, who in lieu of giving each other birthday gifts, donate $100 each at each birthday, for a yearly budget of 10,000$. Indeed an exemplary friendship!

Since the year 2002, ACMAO's shipments of medical supplies and equipment to Armenia have reached over $500,000 per annum. Our shipments are as diverse as the needs of health care workers in Armenia. They have included books, journals, educational materials and microsurgery instruments for the Plastic Reconstructive Surgery & Microsurgery University Centre, located at the University Hospital # 1 in Yerevan; medical and dental supplies for our dental clinics and Women's Health Clinic in Karabakh; ventilators distributed to several hospitals in Armenia and Karabakh; ultrasound machines for the Hadrout Hospital in Karabakh, as well as our Women's Health Clinic; medical supplies, equipment and hospital furniture from benefactors Mrs. Nanig Artinian and late Kevork Kololian to charitable organizations and hospitals in Armenia; and an entire complete Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, obtained from The Hospital for Sick Children by Dr. Berge Minassian (original cost $500,000).

At this juncture it is crucial to recall that none of these material and equipment transfers would be possible without the generous contribution of Mr. Sarkis Yacoubian. He has placed his warehouse at our disposal and takes care of all shipment costs within Toronto and on to New York city, where the United Armenian Fund or the Fund for Armenian Relief take charge of the transfer to Armenia.

Near Future

Our immediate goal is to continue the maintenance of our established clinics and build upon these successes to extend our care as the need arises.

Read more about our current projects.

© 2004-2009. Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario