In the News
Breaking Barriers: Armineh’s Impact on Inclusion in Armenia
September 12, 2023In a world where cultural ties often stretch across continents, organizations like Birthright Armenia serve as a bridge connecting young Diasporan Armenians with their ancestral homeland. Armineh Babikian, a passionate occupational therapist from Queens, New York, embarked on a life-changing journey with Birthright Armenia in 2017. Her volunteer experience not only deepened her connection to her roots but also led her to make a significant impact on Armenia’s disability support and inclusion efforts. Following her Birthright Armenia journey, Armineh’s commitment to making a difference only intensified. She co-founded Therapists for Armenia, uniting volunteers from various therapy fields to support rehabilitation and disability services in Armenia and Artsakh.
Վերականգնողական բժշկության միջմասնագիտական վերապատրաստման ծրագրով հայ բժիշկներ են վերապատրաստվել
August 15, 2023Այսօր ՀՀ ԱՆ Առողջապահության ազգային ինստիտուտում տեղի ունեցավ «Վերականգնողական բժշկության միջմասնագիտական վերապատրաստում» ծրագրի ամփոփումը։ Սա առաջին հայկական միջմասնագիտական կրթական ծրագիրն է՝ ուղղված հետպատերազմական շրջանում մեծահասակների և փոքրահասակ երեխաների վերականգնողական ծառայություններին՝ նպատակ ունենալով զարգացնել ոլորտը և բարելավել ծառայությունների որակը շարունակական խնամքի միջոցով, ինչպես նաև աջակցել տեղի մասնագետներին ու դասախոսներին՝ վերականգնողական ծառայությունների ոլորտում Հայաստանը տարածաշրջանային առաջատար դարձնելու համար:
A Noble Occupation | V. Armineh Babikian’s quest to revolutionize rehabilitation for Armenians with disabilities
June 1, 2023CAMP NUBAR ALUMNA and AGBU Scholarship recipient V. Armineh Babikian vividly recalls the moment she purchased a one-way ticket to Armenia after passing her board exam, marking her first moments as a licensed occupational therapist. “I ended up staying there for eight months,” she shares, reminiscing on her journey to founding Therapists for Armenia—a first-of-its-kind registered 501c3 nonprofit organization advancing the fields of occupational, physical, and speech therapy in Armenian communities worldwide.
Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Fellowship (IRF) Program continues to deliver trainings to the Program’s fellows.
December 22, 2022
The IRF fellows are currently training online. 30 specialists (26 from Armenia and 4 from Artsakh) participate in the IRF Program, including physiotherapists, rehabilitation doctors, speech therapists, ergotherapists.
Birthright Volunteer Trailblazes Occupational Therapy in Armenia’s Villages
December 19, 2022YEREVAN — Armenians in the diaspora often come to Armenia and bring an international mindset and experience to the country. In the case of Armineh Babikian, not only did she reform of a branch of healthcare, but she also evolved the world of Occupational Therapy in rural Armenia.
INTERDISCIPLINARY REHABILITATION FELLOWSHIP (IRF) PROGRAM
December 10, 2022IRF is the first Armenian post-graduate education program targeting post-conflict and adult rehabilitation services. The goal of the program is to contribute to the development of the rehab specialty, the quality of the services, and the rehabilitation care continuum, as well as to provide support to the local specialists in establishing Armenia as the regional rehabilitation services leader.
The Interprofessional Training Program in Rehabilitation Medicine was launched
October 11, 2022On October 10, the program “Interdisciplinary training in rehabilitation medicine” (IBMV) was launched. The latter is carried out by RA Academy of Ministry of Internal Affairs. S. Avdalbekyan National Institute of Health, Armenian-American Sports Medicine Coalition, “Therapists for Armenia”, Polaris EduCorp and HENAR Charity Fund, co-founded by Nubar Afeyan, Ruben Vardanyan and Arman Voskerchyan.
The “Rehabilitation Medicine Interprofessional Training” program has been launched
October 11, 2022YEREVAN, October 11, 2022 – On October 10, the program “Interprofessional training of rehabilitation medicine” (VBMV) was launched. The latter is carried out by RA Academy of Ministry of Internal Affairs. S. Avdalbekyan National Institute of Health, Armenian-American Sports Medicine Coalition, “Therapists for Armenia”, Polaris EduCorp and HENAR Charity Fund, co-founded by Nubar Afeyan, Ruben Vardanyan and Arman Voskerchyan.
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Today, it is more than important to turn the failures of war into successes by learning lessons and becoming stronger
October 18, 2021The Artsakh war of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, put enormous pressure on the Armenian healthcare system. The rehabilitation sector found itself in a rather vulnerable state, and when the focus shifted from the war to the rehabilitation of newly disabled persons, the gaps in that sector over the years became more prominent. Taking care of the health needs of thousands of people disabled as a result of the war became a new national priority.
Armenia will try to become a leader in the field of rehabilitation services
October 11, 2021Yerevan: Mediamax. The first Armenian post-professional educational program aimed at post-conflict and adult rehabilitation services has been launched in Armenia.
Advancing Armenian Rehabilitation Through Education and Partnership
September 16, 2021YEREVAN — The 2020 Artsakh War placed an overwhelming strain on Armenia’s health system, presenting the challenge of managing thousands of wounded soldiers and displaced civilians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From USA to Armenia and Artsakh. immediate help.
July 24, 2021The public organization “Therapists for Armenia” constantly presents its charitable initiatives. The goal of the structure is to provide Armenian specialists in physical therapy, ergotherapy, massage and related fields with the opportunity to participate in webinars and video conferences with specialists from different countries for free, in order to improve the qualities of our specialists.
Therapists for Armenia: Bridging the gap with services, training and equipment in Armenia
June 16, 2021Proving Saroyan’s famous saying true about the power of Armenians to rebuild, a chance meeting over gumbo between two Armenians in New Orleans has grown into an international movement felt half a world away in the rehabilitation hospitals of Yerevan. Armineh Babikian and Alissa Bonjuklian realized how much they have in common over lunch while taking a break from presenting research and attending lectures at the 2019 American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference. They swapped stories about their experiences traveling to Armenia to provide necessary rehab services and helping to raise awareness of the field of occupational therapy, a form of therapy using exercises or strategies with the intent of enabling people to regain the ability to accomplish necessary tasks for daily life.
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