About us
A network of multidisciplinary professionals who are interested in enhancing rehabilitation and disability services for Armenians. We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our Mission
The mission for Therapists for Armenia (TFA) is to advance the fields of occupational, physical, and speech therapy, promote accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities, and foster well being within Armenian communities through educational outreach, service, collaboration, and advocacy.
Meet the Board of Trustees
V. Armineh Babikian, MS, OTR/L
Founder, Executive Director, Occupational Therapist
New York, USA; Toronto, CA
Armineh Babikian is an occupational therapist specializing in intellectual and developmental disabilities through the lifespan. Armineh is currently pursuing her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences and Global Health at University of Toronto. She is passionate about advocacy and inclusion of people with disabilities in Armenian communities. She was awarded of the Birthright Armenia Next Step Grant to publish the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion in Armenian and English, which is the first Armenian therapeutic activity book for caregivers of children with disabilities. She is the co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Fellowship for Armenia and Artsakh, the first Armenian post-professional educational program in adult and post-conflict rehabilitation. Armineh is the recipient of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award, the AOTA International Service Award, and the Columbia University Distinguished Alumna Award in recognition of her outstanding professional achievements and humanitarian work.
Melina Allahverdian, OTD, OTR/L
Vice President, Occupational Therapist
California, USA
Dr. Melina Allahverdian is a board certified occupational therapist and graduated with her doctorate in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). She completed her clinical residency at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice where she trained and specialized in Lifestyle Redesign®. This lifestyle-based intervention focuses on supporting patients with symptom management secondary to a chronic condition. Melina is motivated to help individuals find balance in their lives and establish routines that help promote health and wellness in order to make space for the occupations they value most. Melina completed her yoga teacher training in 2017 at Power of Your Om yoga studio in Santa Barbara, California. She is passionate about continuing her work within the Armenian community and has volunteered with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in Los Angeles as well as Birthright Armenia.
Corinne Ozbek, MS, OTR/L
Secretary, Occupational Therapist
New York, USA
Corinne Ozbek obtained her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University and has over 7 years of clinical experience in the field. Her immense passion for working with people with disabilities fuel’s her continuous pursuit to make a big therapeutic impact. Corinne’s professional expertise stems from pediatric populations in various settings, such as sensory gyms, clinics, preschools and high schools. She currently works for the NYC Department of Education in a Special Education program for high school students, where she strives to uphold and facilitate functional independence amongst her students in the highest regard. Corinne serves as an active leader in the Armenian community as a board member of the AGBU Young Professionals of New York. She has also volunteered in Yerevan, Armenia through ABGU’s YSIP program where she worked with children with disabilities in an orphanage and developed a special education curriculum to teach the English Language.
Nayiri Adessian, MS, CCC-SLP
Treasurer, Speech Language Pathologist
California, USA
Nayiri Adessian earned her M.S. Communication Disorders and Sciences from California State University, Northridge. She currently works as a speech-language pathologist at the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and sees clients with neurogenic communication disorders including dysphagia, voice, articulation, fluency and cognition. Mrs. Adessian has a special interest in working with people with aphasia and traumatic brain injuries.
Lusine Karapetyan, BS, MSHA, PT, DPT
Fundraising Coordinator, Physical Therapist
California, USA
Lusine Karapetyan is a doctor of physical therapist from Los Angeles, California who was worked in the rehabilitation sector for over 10 years. She has provided physical therapy services in an inpatient setting, outpatient, and skilled nursing to a variety of patients with the overall goal of regaining function and returning back to their home setting. She has expanded her love of therapy and teaching to her current position of teaching physical therapy to physical therapy assistant students in a vocational school setting.