AN INTERVIEW WITH ONCOLOGIST DR. DIKRAN KAZANDJIAN

[Yervant1]

AN INTERVIEW WITH ONCOLOGIST DR. DIKRAN KAZANDJIAN

 

http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/01/25/an-interview-with-oncologist-dr-dikran-kazandjian/

January 25, 2013

 

The following interview first appeared in Armenian in the Dec. 5,

2012 issue of our Armenian-language publication, the Hairenik Weekly.

 

Hairenik Weekly: Dr. Dikran Kazandjian, as an oncologist (cancer

specialist) who recently visited Armenia, how do you evaluate the

country's public health condition?

 

Dr. Dikran Kazandjian Dikran Kazandjian: I was born and raised in a

patriotic Armenian family, received my medical education in America,

and always dreamed of helping our fatherland as best I could. I

remember my first trip to Armenia, which was close to 10 years ago,

when I was still a medical student at Boston University. During my

summer break, I spent time in Armenia and visited Artsakh [Karabagh],

which, all together, provided a great moment of enlightenment. After

this, I had other opportunities to visit Armenia, especially pertaining

to medicine. I was even afforded the chance to work for two months in

a hospital in Yerevan during medical school, which gave me some insight

into the Armenian medical system. During this time I made relationships

with local physicians, allowing me to further understand the field

of medicine and, in general, the culture of medicine in Armenia.

 

Now, my evaluation is not one-sided; there are both good and bad

sides that I can speak about at length. In general, there are a few

professions, traditionally, that Armenians are known for (for example,

jewelry, law, and of course, medicine). This means that there is huge

potential for Armenians to turn into truly talented and dedicated

physicians. It is important that we effectively manage our healthcare

system and select and prepare the correct fields to mature, which

unfortunately, I have not seen thus far.

 

And, unfortunately, it is not always the case that aid from the

diaspora goes to the most deserving and talented physicians. A

physician's noble specialty does not equate well with the typical

short-sighted "business" plan that typically infects all fields in

Armenia. A physician's profession is a God-given right, a calling

to heal people by those given the talent. When non-virtuous factors

intervene, truly talented physicians become disappointed with the

status quo. This creates various deep moral, psychological, and

financial issues. And the only solution, some will say, is to leave

the fatherland. Young, gifted physicians who don't receive the right

encouragement will see emigration as the only solution. What is even

more alarming is that this is becoming an issue of national security:

An exodus of future talented physicians is a serious threat to public

safety and the wellbeing of any country. It is fundamental to have

the condition of the state healthcare system on the national agenda.

 

HW: Please explain the arrangement you made at the U.S. National

Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Armenian patient from Armenia.

 

DK: I have been working as a cancer specialist at the NIH for around

four years. The NIH is comprised of many internationally renowned

specialists who treat a wide and complicated variety of medical

illnesses. However, the treatment modalities that the NIH has excelled

in and is known for are hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

(bone marrow transplant) and immunotherapy.

 

During my trips to Armenia, I typically meet with my oncologist

friends, and as we discuss different patients I give my advice on their

care. It was during one of these sessions that I met a patient who

was diagnosed with leukemia, and whose definitive curative treatment

necessitated a bone marrow transplant. This patient was an active

worker and had four children to take care of. Given the availability of

treatments in Armenia, however, he was forced to seek care outside of

the country. I offered to coordinate his treatment care and have him

and his brother (his match donor) to temporarily move to Washington,

D.C., to receive the needed treatment from the NIH. I began organizing

the transfer and discussing his case with my NIH colleagues, thus

reducing his wait time. I then decided to actively participate with

the primary healthcare team responsible for his care at the NIH. I

am happy that, with God's help, he has been proceeding well and that

he has many years left to serve his family and our fatherland.

 

HW: How involved was the Armenian community in Washington, D.C.?

 

DK: The ARF "Sebouh" Gomideh's involvement is praiseworthy. Our ungers

immediately created a committee for Armenian medical aid comprised

of members from our different organizations, and played a large part

in the patient's everyday and non-clinical needs. The ARS "Satenig"

Chapter, along with the Washington Armenian community at large,

helped with his practical needs, including finding residence. They

greeted him and his brother with open arms and created an atmosphere

that resembled a small Armenia for them.

 

HW: What thoughts do you have about the field of oncology and of

medicine, in general? What international Armenian possibilities do

you see?

 

DK: Much thought is needed about the future of oncology in Armenia,

keeping in mind that a new cancer center with modern equipment is

currently being constructed. Of course, this is great news. But

my hope is that the funds and effort spent on this center are not

only to make it an exceptional physical structure with exceptional

equipment, but also to organize, prepare, and train exceptional future

oncologists. I feel that this is the most important, albeit difficult,

aspect. Regardless, in real terms, medicine will develop and mature

when justice and fairness become the guiding principle, and begin to

serve the general public in Armenia. Only when the political field

is healed and made right will the medical field and Armenia's public

health condition improve and advance in any significant way.

 

Nevertheless, our Washington Armenian community is strong, and I am

sure it will remain that way for a long time: Our D.C. Armenian Medical

Association works on delivering much-needed medicine and expertise

to Artsakh, while our ungers help our Armenian people, as much as

they can. We are currently working hard to deliver medication and

funds for our Syrian-Armenian brothers. Our patriotic ungers always

attempt to do what they can, and to deliver aid to needy Armenians

found on the four corners of the world.