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Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ No6 No6 No6 No6 Ü Ü Ü Ü Ü

December 2009

THE AMIC NEWSLETTER

Editor’s Note: AMIC’s office computer had a major crash which paralyzed our work during the entire month of November. Only the purchase of a new computer helped us finally save the situation (and the files) and resume the publication of Info-Flash.

I- AMIC’s TENTH ARMENIAN MEDICAL WORLD CONGRESS: Dr. Vazken Der Kaloustian’s lecture

It was only some 5 months ago (July 1-4, 2009), that the Tenth Armenian Medical World Congress took place in New York, with great success, organized by the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO). Although since then many other important events and dates have marked the Armenian World and Armenians’ minds, Info-Flash continues in this issue – as in future issues- to present some of the plenary sessions’ major lectures, propagating thus and sharing the latest scientific knowledge in particular areas of specialty. As Dr. Lawrence Najarian (Co-Chair of the Congress) declared in his closing remarks: "We must understand the real purpose of these congresses... We must understand the power and obligation we have to bring modern healthcare to Armenia and make a difference in the lives of Armenians everywhere".

Dr. Der Kaloustian’s (McGill University, Montreal, Canada), lecture title was "Medical Genetics in the 21st Century: Perspectives and Challenges". Starting the lecture by looking at the Past (Darwin 1859, Mendel’s Laws 1900, the Double Helix 1953, Human Genome Project 2005, which taught us by the way that we humans have only around 30,000 genes), Dr. Der Kaloustian went on explaining the great number of hereditary conditions, the genetic heterogeneity, the rarity of many single gene disorders (from cases where one gene can cause one disorder to cases where one gene can cause various disorders to cases where various genes are necessary to cause one disorder). Deafness is an example of more than 80 different genes that cause, with their various mutations, a single clinical disorder. The great rapidity of progress was also emphasized.

In several categories of diseases that the lecturer used as examples such as hypertension, cancer (particularly the genetic susceptibility to breast cancer), obesity, psychiatric disorders (and more specifically mental retardation, autism, schizophrenia, manic depressive psychosis, Alzheimer’s disease) there may be the dual action of genetic predispositions and of the environment. Genes mutate, and the genetic make-up of some individuals renders them substantially more vulnerable than others to develop symptoms of specific illnesses. In the last part of the lecture it was emphasized that the advances and the rapidity of research in genetics should soon allow personalized genetic medicine and gene therapy.

II- The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)

In its previous issue Info-Flash had briefly presented The Children of Armenia Fund activities, created and presided by Dr. Garo Armen, Ph.D. COAF’s latest project (after renovating and refurbishing many health care centers and polyclinics in Armenia’s rural areas) is located in the Baghramyan sub-region of Armavir marz, which has a population of over 22,000.

COAF is so dynamic and so well organized in its fund-raising activities that it is "self-sufficient" as far as financing of big projects goes. Its needs are more of a technical and scientific nature. AMIC’s Executive would like to help COAF and encourages its member associations to get into contact with COAF by writing either to Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan (ngharakhanyan@coafkids.org) or to the AMIC office (amic@amic.ca) which will transmit any necessary information.

a) Training sessions: COAF’s medical staff needs training; they need OB/GYN, ophthalmology, ultrasound/radiology, laboratory diagnostics trainings. The idea would be to have experts in those fields in Armenia to train local doctors.

b) List of medical items needed: the list below consists of small and simple items that health care specialists can even take with them in their luggage, when leaving for Armenia.

LIST OF SUPPLIES AND TESTS FOR AN ANNUAL USE
N	Description	Necessary quantity
1	Ice packs for trauma treatment	10
2	Containers for analyses, plastic	1000
3	Bandage, none-sterile, different sizes	20
4	Plaster bandage, different sizes	20
5	Martense's bandage, different sizes	20
6	Bandage elastic, reticular, pipe, different sizes	20
7	Bandage elastic, adhesive, cotton	50
8	Bandage elastic, strip, talocrural, different sizes	10
9	Bandage elastic, pipe, for elbow joint, different sizes	10
10	Bandage elastic, different sizes	10
11	Bandage elastic, reticular, different sizes	10
12	Cotton, sterile	5000
13	Cotton, non-sterile	4000
14	Cotton discs	300
15	Cotton sticks	200
16	Wet tissues, alc.	5000
17	Wet tissues, antisept.	5000
18	Medical socks, different sizes	200
19	Torniquet, i/v manip.	5
20	Needles, different sizes	8000
21	Needles for glucometers * 50	50
22	Catheter i/v, w/port, different sizes	500
23	Medical cap	200
24	Esmarkh's mug, different sizes	4
25	Plasters	50
26	Plasters, tissued	50
27	Plasters, polymeric	40
28	Plasters anti-bacterial	40
29	Plaster water-proof	40
30	Plaster silk, Shiffa	40
31	Plaster, cloth material	40
32	Gauze, in meters	200
33	Masks, 3-fold	100
34	Measure glass cup	30
35	Measure plastic cup	20
36	Knee cover, different types and sizes	20
37	Gloves, observetional, latex, different sizes in packs (100)	50
38	Gloves, surgical, sterile, different sizes	300
39	Belt, shoulder, different sizes	20
40	Drapes, absorbing, different sizes	400
41	Tissues, sterile, two-fold, different sizes	300
42	Infusion sets, w/filter	300
43	Depressor, tongue	5000
44	Syringes, insuline	2000
45	Syringe, dispos, luer,2ml.ster/Box-100	2000
46	Syringe, dispos,luer,5ml.ster/Box-100	2000
47	Spounge surgical	500
48	Bottle, plastic,250ml, w/spot, sterile, Aspirator	300
49	Speculum nasal	500
50	Speculum, ear, Gruber/SET-4	300
51	Speculum, vaginal (disposable)	1000
52	Bowl, round, small 600ML stainless steel,4L	10
53	Tape, Surgical Adhesive	100
54	Pillow, Pneumatic	4
55	Uniform, cotton fabric	100
56	Uniform, surgical	6
57	Gel for ultrasound	30
58	Gastric tube	1000
59	Tube rectals	1000
60	Urethral catheter	500
61	X-ray films	800
62	Condoms	20000
63	Tooth brush	many
64	Tooth paste	many
65	Optical frames	many
66	Hand brush, surgical	50
67	Newborns kits	70
68	Vacutainers	500
69	Intubation pipes	100
70	Spatula (wooden Ayre)	700
71	Citobrush	700
72	Urine strips (pack - 100)	4
73	Streptococcus -tests (pack - 100)	3
74	Glucose strips (50 in pack)	20
75	HIV/AIDS/TB/HEP B rapid tests	1000
76	Troponin-strips	200

III- A message sent by Mr. Erik Grigorian about Medical Vibe’s Scholarship Fund

Dear Career Service Administrators, Pre-Health Advisors, and Pre-Health Associations,

We are excited to offer two $1,000 Medical Vibe Education Scholarship to students interested in healthcare!

The Medical Vibe Educational Scholarship Fund helps qualified Medical Vibe users to reach both educational and professional goals. The Medical Vibe Scholarship Fund will provide $1,000 towards a student's education in any health care related field to be used for tuition, books, or living expenses (room and board) at any technical school, college, or university. Medical Vibe users eligibility criteria include educational history, academic achievement and professional successes. Any country is eligible!

Upon free registration for the website, please complete the application questions on the Scholarship link and upload directly via website portal. Please visit: www.medicalvibe.com/V2 to register. To apply for the scholarship, please visit http://www.medicalvibe.com/V2/scholarship.php

Distribution of funds is contingent on acceptance or matriculation in a school with a degree or qualification in a health care field. An official letter must be supplied from the respective school noting acceptance to a school or being in good standing at a program. Letters must be scanned and sent to scholarships@medicalvibe.com. Please complete the application questions and send to upload directly via website portal.

ESSAY

In less than 300 words tell us why you want to pursue a career in healthcare. Please email document to scholarships@medicalvibe.com with your name at the top of the essay

Medical Vibe is a social networking website geared toward people in all aspects of healthcare worldwide. The site allows you to meet people from all over the world, find jobs, listen to music, apply for educational scholarships online, get the latest in news and events, participate in cool humanitarian missions, hang out with your friends through instant messenger and video conferencing, and much more. Medical Vibe aims to help its members find, nurture and organize their talents to achieve their individual goals. Ultimately, our goal is to have an impact worldwide by striving to promote and help its members find avenues to help the underserved and disadvantaged through connecting people and organizations.

Mr. Erik Grigoryan’s email address is: erik.grigoryan@gmail.com

IV- An invitation sent by Dr. Seda Boghossian, President of our member association of Great Britain.

Honorary President

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, PC, KBE, Hon FREng FMedSci,

Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery, Imperial College,

Hon. Consultant St. Mary’s and Royal Marsden Hospitals NHS trust

Dear Colleague

You are cordially invited with a guest to attend the 4^th

Hagobian Memorial Lecture

By Philip Agop Philip, MBChB, PhD, FRCP(UK)
Professor of Medicine and Oncology Karmanos Cancer Center
Wayne State University, USA Titled War On Cancer: Small but Definite Gains

Saturday 16^th January 2010 Reception; 7:30pm The lecture; 8:00 - 9:00pm Buffet Dinner 9:00 - 11:00

Venue

The Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU

RSVP. Please reply to this e mail or to any one of the addresses below

Or ring 07939908894 or 01932230162

Chair: Dr. Seda Boghossian-Tighe; setchrn@tiscali.co.uk

V. Chair: Mr Vahan Kaplan; dpj100@hotmail.co.uk - Dr. Sonia Vartoukian: sonia.vartoukian@kcl.ac.uk

Secretary: Dr. Erman Melikyan; emelikyan@yahoo.com - Miss Ovsanna Atanosian; ovsanna_ga@yahoo.co.uk

Treasurer: Dr. Sonia Wartan; sonia.wartan@btinternet.com ; Mr Varaq Atanosian; atanosian_varag@hotmail.com

Professor Philip Agop Philip,

Biography

Philip is a professor of medicine and oncology at the Karmanos Cancer Center and the School of Medicine at the Wayne State University in Detroit. Philip graduated from the University of Baghdad. He completed a PhD in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of London and accreditation in Medical Oncology from the Royal College of Physicians in the UK. He is a fellow of the RCP and is also board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He trained in the UK at Charing Cross, Christie and Churchill / John Radcliff Hospitals. His major research interest is in the new drug development of targeted anticancer agents for the treatment of patients with Gastro intestinal cancers. He has led several studies as a principal investigator. Philip directs the gastrointestinal cancers program at his institution and is a national and international thought leader in GI cancers, with specific interest in pancreas cancer. He has more than 130 publications that include peer reviewed articles, invited reviews and book chapters. He has lectured extensively in the USA and other countries. Philip lives in Farmington Hills (Michigan, USA) with his wife Viva and daughters Carolyn and Celene.

V- What is AMIC?

The Armenian Medical International Committee (AMIC) was created 19 years ago. It is an umbrella organization that unites and promotes Armenian medical associations throughout the Diaspora, creating thus a large network through which information and data are exchanged.

AMIC organizes Armenian Medical Congresses. So far ten have been held in different cities of the Diaspora, the latest being the one held in New York from July 1 to July 4, 2009.

In 2007, the "Second International Medical Congress of Armenia" organized by Armenia, was held in Yerevan (June 28 to June 30). The third one will be organized in 2011.

Since 1998 AMIC has published an online newsletter which is sent free of charge to all Armenian Health Care Professionals. If you are a health care professional and are interested in receiving Info-Flash, please send us your email address (aida@amic.ca). To all those who already receive the Info, please do not forget to send us your new e-mail address when you change it. Info-Flash is posted on GROONG, but with a different format, and often with less data and graphics, due to GROONG’s rules. To receive it individually in full size and content, please contact AMIC office (aida@amic.ca). For further information, visit our website: www.amic.ca

As of 2005, AMIC in collaboration with Regimedia, publishes a scientific journal, the “Armenian Medical Review”. The fourth issue is out. To subscribe please contact aida@amic.ca or visit www.amic-review.com

Useful information to remember: You can send free of charge from wherever you are located, medical equipment/medicine through the services of the United Armenian Fund: Contact: U.A.F. President Mr. Harout Sassounian (sassoun@pacbell.net)