(+37410) 23 86 83History
The first pediatric chair in Armenia was founded in 1926 on the basis of the medical-preventive Faculty of the Yerevan State University. Since then and up to 1946 the head of the Chair was an honored physician, professor H.H. 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 in Armenia. During the following years, the Pediatric Chair was lead by professors G.M. Margaryan (1946-1956), S.G. Slkuni (1956-1960), T.H. Gabrielyan (1960-1976), R.M. Minasyan (1976-1984) and S.R. Iboyan (1984-1991).
Till the fifties of the last century, the morbidity and mortality among children was very high in Armenia. Doctors, who were trained in the existing medical-preventive faculty, didn’t have enough skills and knowledge to meet the requirements for pediatric care in Armenia. As a consequence, in 1958 a separate pediatric faculty was founded at the Yerevan State Medical Institute (YSMU). The first pediatricians graduated in 1964 from the YSMI. In addition to the existing single (N1) children’s hospital 4 more municipal pediatric hospitals (NN 2,3,4 and 5) were established, serving as a clinical basis for the newly formed Pediatric Chairs in YSMI.
Up to 1963 the Pediatric Faculty was integrated into the General Medicine Faculty. In September 1963 a Separate Chair of General Pediatrics within the Pediatric Faculty was created under the heading of prof. S.M. Gavalov. The Chair was located in Municipal Children’s Hospital N4 in Yerevan and included propaedeutic training in children diseases, faculty and hospital pediatrics. In 1971 the Chair of General Pediatrics has been split into 2 Chairs: 1 – Chair of Hospital Pediatrics headed by prof. V.A. Astvatsatryan and 2 – Chair of Propaedeutics in Children’s Diseases and Faculty of Pediatrics headed by prof. S.R. Iboyan.
So, the Chair of Pediatrics N1 was established in 1971. Head of the Chair since then and up to 2006 was the corresponding member of Academy of Medical Science of USSR (lately Russian Academy of Medical Science), honored scientist, professor V.A. Astvatsatryan.
At that time, the hair had 2 subdivisions:
- Republican Children’s Clinical Hospital (from 2002 on MC “Arabkir” – Institute of Child and Adolescent Health ICAH)
- Children’s Hospital N1
In 2006, and up to 2011 as the result of merging the Chairs of Pediatrics N1 and of Pediatric Surgery a united department of Pediatrics and Pediatric surgery N1 was founded, headed by professor A.S. Babloyan.
Subdivisions of newly formed Chair were:
- MC “Arabkir” – Institute of Child and Adolescent Health ICAH
- MC “Sourb Astvatsamayr”
In 2011 after separation from the pediatric surgical subdivision the department was renamed to “Chair of Pediatrics N2”. Science 2011 and up to now the Head of the Chair is professor A.A. Sarkissian.
Presently subdivisions of the Chair are:
- MC “Arabkir” – Institute of Child and Adolescent Health ICAH
- MC “Sourb Astvatsamajr”
- Policlinic of MC “Armenia”
Study
Students of the 5th course of the Faculties of General Medicine, Military Medicine and Dentistry and Faculty of Foreign Students (including students from CIC) are being taught in the Chair.
Studies occur in 3 languages: Armenian, Russian and English. According to the “Integrated and sustainable education” program, Pediatrics is being taught in the course of 2 semesters (each of them lasts 3 weeks). At the end of the first semester students pass computer testing. At the end of the second semester they have oral exam.
The Chair has a large stock of tests in 3 languages that is regularly updated.
The chair is also offering a postgraduate training for pediatric clinical residents lasting 3 years. In addition to general pediatrics some subspecialties are also integrated (pediatric nephrology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric pulmonology). During the study residents are actively involved in the treatment of patients in addition to the fundamental theoretical trainings. Regular lectures and seminars are organized for them according to the curriculum. Residents are active in conferences with own presentations. Outstanding and capable residents could be involved in scientific studies of the Chair. Theoretical and practical skills of residents are being checked by interim and final examinations.
The Chair is responsible for the Continuing Education of pediatricians, specialization of doctors in nephrology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, pulmonology and nurses (including hemodialysis). As a result, they become acquainted with the latest pediatric information, evidence-based medicine, etc. All the personnel of the Chair is actively involved in the outreach activities in all regions of Armenia and Nagorny-Karabakh, organize seminars and master-classes as a part of CME, provide consultations for patients. Some staff members are chief specialists of Ministry of Health of Armenia as well as members of Council of Armenian Pediatric Association; they actively participated in organization of national pediatric conferences and pediatric schools.
International Collaboration
Since 1988 a strong cooperation with leading specialists and medical centers in different countries including a number of subspecialties (pediatric nephrology and kidney transplantation, pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology, pulmonology and allergology, rheumatology, infectious diseases etc) has been established. Chair staff members regularly attend international conferences and congresses (including as invited speakers). There have been organized seminars, summer schools in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova. Within frames of collaboration with WHO and UNICEF have been introduced programs in Armenia, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Russia, Moldova; expert work was done with European and Western Pacific Bureaus of WHO as well as in WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
Scientific Activities
FMF (Familial Mediterranean Fever) – is the main direction of scientific work starting from
80-ties of previous century. The main investigations have been done in the focus of:
• Epidemiology
• Different branches of pathogenesis in children, peculiarities of the course of disease, development of complications (mainly kidney amyloidosis, adhesive intussusception), colchicinotherapy. Results have been summarized in candidate’s dissertation.
• Clinical and genetic peculiarities, including phenotype-genotype correlations of the disease, peculiarities of early manifestations, risk – factors and patterns of early beginning of FMF, co-existence with immune diseases, modern approaches to the treatment. The results have been summarized in doctoral dissertation.
• By the close cooperation with Medical-Genetic primary health-care center of RA and other international centers of FMF (Israel, France, Italy) the main approaches of early diagnosis, treatment by colchicine and continuous medical follow-up of children with FMF were developed and adopted in practice of National Pediatric center for FMF (at Arabkir MC-ICAH) by the members of the Chair. This allows to prevent the complications of FMF, which can lead to disability and increase children mortality. The results of the scientific works have been summarized in 2 doctoral PhD dissertations (1996, 2010) and 8 candidate’s dissertations (1987-2012).
• At the moment investigations concerning genetic peculiarities of atypical course of FMF among children with heterozygous genotype and combination of FMF with some immune diseases (IBD, RA and nonamyloid affection of kidneys) are being continued.
Nephrology – the main areas to focus are:
• Urolithiasis – epidemiology, composition of stones of urinary tract were investigated. The results are summarized in doctoral dissertation (1 candidate and 1 doctoral dissertation).
• Pathology of renal diseases. Results of scientific work are summarized in the candidate’s dissertation.
• Renal amyloidosis – prevention, diagnosis and treatment including renal replacement therapy. Results are summarized in 1 candidate’s dissertation.
• HUS – epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis were investigated, guideline of treatment by peritoneal dialysis was adopted.
• Kidney transplantation – 20 year experience is summarized in 1 candidate dissertation.
Respiratory and allergic diseases
• Epidemiology, etiology, peculiarities of course and diagnostic value of clinical manifestations, evaluation of efficiency of treatment are being investigated. Doctoral dissertation is being prepared.
• Respiratory allergies and spectrum of allergic sensitivity in Armenia are observed. Results are summarized in 1 candidate dissertation.
• The role of RSV and Influenza virus infections in respiratory diseases among children, seasonal variations, clinical and laboratory aspects, treatment. Candidate dissertation is pending.
• Prevalence of congenital malformations of respiratory tract, clinical manifestations, influence in growth and development.
Rickets – the epidemiological aspects of vitamin D deficiency.
Neonatal Screenings.
Adolescent health – participation in national survey of adolescent’s health and health behavior.
Partners:
- University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Chair of Pediatrics of Academy of Postgraduate training, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Center of Children’s Health Moscow, Russia