Department of Pediatrics N2

Head of the Chair Ashot Sarkissian – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Pediatric Programs, Head of the Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation at “Arabkir” Medical Centre

The first Pediatric Chair in Armenia was founded in 1926. Since then over 20 years the head of the chair was professor H.G. Gabrielyan. Thanks to his efforts the proper pediatric services, including out-patient clinics, have been developed and a large number of pediatric personnel has been trained, including his successors professors G.M. Margaryan, S.G. Slkuni, T.H. Gabrielyan, R.M. Minasyan and S.R. Iboyan.

Till the fifties of the last century, the morbidity and mortality among children in Armenia was very high. There was an urgent need to apply a fundamentally new concept to educate highly professional personnel. For this purpose, in 1958 a Pediatric Faculty was founded. Already in 1964, the first graduates started working in the newly opened 4 pediatric hospitals and polyclinics.

In September 1963 the Department of General Pediatrics was founded under the guidance of professor C.M. Gavalov. In 1971, this structure has been divided into two departments: The Department of Hospital Pediatrics headed by professor V.A. Astvatsatryan, and the Department of Propaedeutic of Childhood Diseases and Faculty Pediatrics, headed by professor S.R. Iboyan.

In 2004 the Pediatric Faculty was disbanded followed by merging of two departments: Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery into 2 parallel functioning structures, one of which (Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery #1) until 2011 was headed by professor A.S. Babloyan. In 2011, after separation of Pediatric Surgical part, the Department of Pediatrics N2 was established, which has been headed by professor A.A. Sarkissian. Presently a teaching process is conducted at 2 hospitals: Medical Complex “Arabkir” – the Institute of Children’s and Adolescents’ Health and Medical Centre “Surb Astvatsamayr”.

The Department provides education for local and international students (including students from CIS countries) of the General Medicine Faculty, the Military Medicine Faculty (4th, 5th, and 6th years), and the Faculty of Stomatology (5th year). Teaching is conducted in Armenian, Russian, and English. Starting from 2025, in connection with the university’s international accreditation process, a modular teaching format was introduced. As a result, the subject “Pediatrics” in the General Medicine Faculty is taught during the 4th year over one semester

together with Children’s and Adolescent Hygiene and Medical Genetics, with a total duration of 4 weeks (2+1+1). For 5th-year students, the course is taught during one semester for 2 weeks, and in the 6th year together with Pediatric Infectious Diseases during one semester for 3 weeks (2+1). In the 4th and 6th years, the modules conclude with computerized test examinations, while in the 5th year they conclude with an oral examination. Students of the Military Medicine Faculty in the 4th and 5th years also study the subject during one semester, with each cycle lasting 2 weeks. Assessment in these courses is conducted in the same way as in the General Medicine Faculty. In the Faculty of Stomatology, the subject is taught during one semester. The cycle duration is 2 weeks and ends with a written test-based credit examination. The Department possesses a rich database of tests in Armenian, Russian, and English, which is continuously updated. Students of the General Medicine Faculty and the Military Medicine Faculty must demonstrate certain practical skills during the course in order to receive permission to participate in the examination or credit assessment.

Apart of students, we provide pediatric training for residents of 3-year duration. Thereafter pediatricians can continue training for another 2 years to get pediatric subspecialty: nephrology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, rheumatology, developmental pediatrics. During studying residents are entirely involved in practical medical activities, and the most prominent of them -in the research work. In accordance to the curriculum the department also conducts regular seminars and interactive lecture courses. Residents actively participate in conferences and make presentations. At the end they acquire enough theoretical knowledge necessary practical skills through daily work and night shifts. Knowledge is assessed during semi-annual attestations and final exam.

The department is actively involved in continuous medical education, conducting advanced training courses for pediatricians, pediatric nephrologists, pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric rheumatologists, dialysis specialists (doctors and nurses). Trainees are provided with the latest information centered on evidence-based medicine, they update professional skills.

As a part of continuous medical education, the staff of the department under umbrella of the Armenian Pediatric Association organizes regular outreach teaching courses and consultations in the regions of the Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.