At the proposal of Professor Ara Babloyan, Chairman of the Board of Governors and Scientific Director of the Arabkir Medical Center–Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, renowned physician-urologist, Professor and pediatric urology specialist Paul Merguerian will join the distinguished ranks of visiting professors of Yerevan State Medical University.
This was announced by YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan at the meeting of the Rectorate convened on September 28, adding that our compatriot is being granted the status of Visiting Professor of the Department of Pediatric Surgery.
Paul Merguerian is currently in his homeland as part of the delegation of Perch Abgaryan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno and Honorary Professor of YSMU.
The Head of the Division of Pediatric Urology at Seattle Children’s Hospital presented the topic “Technological Integration and Digital Tools” at the 4th International Medical Conference “In Pursuit of Excellence,” held at the Medical University last week.
The experienced specialist has been collaborating with the Arabkir Medical Complex–Institute of Child and Adolescent Health for 20 years.
Professor Ara Babloyan, former long-standing Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, addressing the members of the Rectorate, noted that his colleague, who resides in the United States, regularly visits the medical complex during the year and performs surgeries together with Armenian colleagues.
Upon assuming the honorary status of Visiting Professor of the medical university, Professor Merguerian expressed his willingness to deepen cooperation in the educational field as well and to serve as a Heratsi representative.
According to Ara Babloyan, in pediatric surgery there are congenital anomalies and diseases that are encountered in everyday practice, as well as rare conditions.
It is precisely thanks to Paul Merguerian’s support and effective cooperation that numerous children receive treatment, recover, and do not need to leave the country.
The newly appointed Visiting Professor emphasized that it is a great honor for him not only to have been coming to Armenia and performing surgeries for more than 16 years, but also to teach.
He noted that he has witnessed the positive changes that pediatric surgery has undergone in our country. Alongside the treatment process, Paul Merguerian’s primary goal is to educate future physicians.
It should be noted that, by decision of the Rector, Perch Abgaryan, who has made a significant contribution to expanding effective cooperation between the United States and Armenia in the field of medical science, will assume the duties of Ambassador of the “Medical World Armenia Congress 2027,” to be held in Yerevan in July, in support of the mission carried out over many years. This large-scale event will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the medical university.
Armen Muradyan also informed those present that in May 2027, the proposal to award Professor Ara Babloyan, an accomplished healthcare administrator, the title of Honorary Doctor of the medical university, as well as to establish a special scholarship in his name in the field of pediatric surgery, will be submitted to the Nomination Committee of the medical university.
Students competing for named scholarships in the 2026–2027 academic year were presented at the Rectorate meeting.
The deans of the faculties, in turn, presented the future physicians competing for the scholarships for recommendation by the members of the Rectorate, to be subsequently approved at a meeting of the Academic Council.
High academic achievement and discipline are the clear criteria established for the candidates under the competitive procedure.
From the Faculty of General Medicine, Robert Mkrtchyan, Svetlana Simonyan, and Arpi Mkrtchyan are candidates for the three Mkhitar Heratsi Named Scholarships. Diana Ananyan is a candidate for the Vahan Artsruni Named Scholarship; Sevada Nersisyan for the Levon Hovhannisyan Named Scholarship; Razmik Simonyan for the Grigor Areshyan Named Scholarship; and Milena Zadoyan for the Bardughimeos Fanarjyan Named Scholarship.
From the Faculty of Dentistry, following a highly competitive process (two students competing for one position), Seda Abrahamyan is a candidate for the Mkhitar Heratsi Named Scholarship, Astghik Manvelyan for the R. Yolyan Named Scholarship, and Hayk Babayan for the Karlen Yesayan Named Scholarship.
Sergey Evoyan, a fourth-year cadet of the Faculty of Military Medicine, is a candidate for the Meruzhan Stepanyan Named Scholarship.
The YSMU Rector met the scholarship candidates individually, by name, and inquired about the areas in which they intend to specialize in the future.
Congratulating the students on this important educational achievement, he wished them further success, including on the international stage.
The recipients of the named scholarships also expressed their gratitude to the university and the deans for providing an opportunity to have their academic achievements evaluated objectively.
The agenda for the meeting of the Academic Council to be held on September 30 was presented by Tatevik Avagyan, Sientific Secretary of the medical university.
Those responsible for the educational and clinical areas reported on the work carried out during the week.
