FAR Supporting an International Symposium in Memory of Dr. Aram Chobanian

On June 1st, the second Post-Graduate Medical Education & Continuing Professional Development Conference took place online, bringing together over 500 participants from Armenia and around the world. The event was held in honor of the remarkable legacy of Dr. Aram Chobanian, a pioneer in medical education and a longtime friend and visionary leader in guiding FAR's healthcare mission in Armenia.

Organized by the International Center for Professional Development (ICPD) and supported by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the conference was held under the compelling theme: "Optimizing Postgraduate Continuing Medical Education through Innovative Learning Strategies." The goal was to explore and promote cutting-edge approaches to medical education through expert-led panels and vibrant virtual networking sessions.

The participants had the chance to learn about modern teaching techniques and how they can be applied to improve the training of healthcare professionals in Armenia and beyond. Featured speakers included internationally respected figures such as Dr. Ara Tekian, Dr. Caren Antman, Dr. Stephen Ludwig, Dr. Zalim Balkizov, Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, Dr. Ara Babloyan, and Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan, among others.

“This was an incredibly informative and inspiring seminar,” said Hambardzum Simonyan, FAR’s Health Programs Director. “FAR has been one of the pioneering organizations providing Continuing Medical Education (CME) since the early 1990s. We are proud to continue the legacy of our great mentors, Dr. Edgar Housepian, Dr. Aram Chobanian, and Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, through our partnership with ICPD. This conference offered not only modern tools and strategies for continuing professional development, but it also opened new doors for future collaboration. While one event alone can’t cover everything, this was a strong step forward, and a signal that more is yet to come.”

FAR supports the ICPD through the generosity of the families of Dr. Aram Chobanian, Dr. Edgar Housepian, and Dr. Raffy Hovanessian. Since 2020, the ICPD has engaged over 6,000 healthcare professionals through conferences and webinars, addressing critical issues like COVID-19 and post-conflict rehabilitation, with the goal of advancing healthcare education in Armenia and beyond.