SERINEH MELIDONIAN
VICKEN SEPILIAN, MD, FACOG
Dr. Vicken Sepilian is a Reproductive Medicine specialist and is the founder and director of American Fertility Specialists Medical Group. He is double board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Sepilian has been an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS), holding multiple leadership positions, including serving as the President from 2009 to 2013.
Dr. Sepilian served as the Chairman of the 11th and 13th Armenian Medical World Congress and currently is the President of the Armenian Medical International Committee(AMIC), a nonprofit organization with chapters all over the world, with the aim of coordinating global efforts in improving healthcare in Armenia. Passionate about community education, in 2008, Dr. Sepilian launched the “Your Health” educational TV program aimed at sharing with the community the latest and most important healthcare topics. Since 2008, the show has been making house calls to tens of thousands of viewers, helping educate them on preventative care and healthy lifestyles. In 2010, Dr. Sepilian, alongside other civic leaders and the former Mayor of the City of Glendale, co-founded the Glendale Health Festival.
Dr. Sepilian worked closely with city and state officials and local hospitals to organize this large-scale event with the aim of improving the health of the community. Dr. Sepilian is a strong believer that success and wealth are measured by life’s experiences and human interactions and that true happiness and purpose are achieved by giving. Cherished memories include debates about life and death with Dr. Jack Kevorkian, delivering pens to students in villages in Sri Lanka, and teaching chess to orphans in Nepal.
VAROOSH ALAVERDIAN, MD, FACOG
Dr. Varoosh Alaverdian was born in the city of Abadan, Iran, on November 28, 1941. He attended Razi High School, graduating as valedictorian. He then attended the Faculty of Medicine at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran. After graduating as valedictorian, he joined the Health Corps Services of the Iranian Imperial Army as a First Lieutenant and Medical Officer, serving the indigent population in villages. In 1969, he moved with his wife to the United States and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago Lying-In Hospital, followed by a Gynecologic Oncology fellowship at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California.
After his fellowship, he returned to Chicago and became the Director of the OB/GYN and Family Practice Residency training programs at Lutheran General Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago campus. In 1975, he was named Teacher of the Year by the Academy of Family Physicians of America. In 1976, he returned to California and joined the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower as the Director of Gynecologic Oncology, Colposcopy, Laser, and LEEP Clinics. He held the position of Clinical Associate Professor at UCLA until his retirement in January 2007. He continues to work per diem, performing office gynecology with the same institution.
From 1980 through 1983, Dr. Alaverdian was one of the principal investigators of Hexamethylmelamine, a chemotherapy drug for third-line chemotherapy in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer, for the National Cancer Institute (NIH).
Dr. Alaverdian is also the author and co-author of five scientific papers on ovarian and uterine cancer and abnormal Pap smears.
He joined the Armenian American Medical Society of California in 1986 and was elected to the AAMSC Board in 2005
as Vice President. He then served as President from 2007 to 2009 and continued as a board member until 2013. During his presidency, he maintained existing projects in the Diaspora and Armenia, including sending large shipments of insulin to Armenia for the Juvenile Diabetic Program managed by AAMSC. With the help of Dr. Raffi Tachdjian, then a board member, the Scholarship Program was established. Additionally, in collaboration with the Health Ministry of Artsakh, a diagnostic mobile unit was provided for the people of Artsakh.
Dr. Alaverdian was also a board member of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) from 2010 through 2017.
In 1995, Dr. Alaverdian was featured in the inaugural issue of Who’s Who Among Armenians in North America.
In August 2009, he received a Certificate of Recognition from U.S. Congressman Dr. Tom Price for serving as a Physician Consultant to the Council of Responsible Reform for the United States healthcare system. That same month, he also received an Order of Appreciation from the Ministry of Health of Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh, in recognition of his and his board members’ contributions to healthcare in Artsakh.
In December 2012, Dr. Alaverdian was honored by the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America for his accomplishments. In May 2010, he was recognized as a past President of AAMSC, and in 2011, he was selected as a Top Obstetrician and Gynecologist by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, as part of its Leading Physicians of the World list.
Dr. Alaverdian was honored with the ABMDR Leadership Excellence Award in August 2014 at their 15th Anniversary Gala. In September 2018, he received ABMDR’s Lifetime Achievement Award at their 19th Annual Gala.
Dr. Alaverdian has been recognized on multiple occasions for his contributions to the Diaspora, Armenia, and Artsakh by the City of Glendale, California State Assembly members, and the U.S. Congress.
Dr. Alaverdian and his wife of 56 years, Dr. Margrit Alaverdian, are blessed with two sons, Dr. Allen Alaverdian and Armand Alaverdian, daughters-in-law Dr. Paola Aghajanian and Arineh Alaverdian, and three grandchildren, Mischa, Nshan, and Sasha.
BORIS BAGDASARIAN, DO
Dr. Boris Bagdasarian was born and raised in Montebello, California, and attended the Armenian Mesrobian School. He went on to pursue his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California, majoring in biochemistry and biomedical engineering. His medical education was completed at the Western University of Health Sciences, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Dr. Bagdasarian completed his Internal Medicine Residency at White Memorial Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. He further specialized by completing a fellowship in hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation at City of Hope National Medical Center and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he was appointed Chief Fellow. Today, he is triple board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and oncology.
Currently, Dr. Bagdasarian serves as the managing partner and president of the Los Angeles Cancer Network. He has held multiple leadership roles within the Armenian Medical Society of California, including advisor, parliamentarian, vice president, and president. During his presidency, he spearheaded the development of several rural medical clinics in Armenia.
In addition to his work with the Armenian Medical Society, Dr. Bagdasarian has served as president of three districts for the Los Angeles County Medical Association and currently acts as a delegate for the California Medical Association. He also developed a political action committee for the Los Angeles Cancer Network.
Dr. Bagdasarian’s medical practice is based in Glendale, California, where he has been the chairman of the Cancer Committee at Glendale Adventist Health since 1999. He has also served as a governing board member, treasurer, secretary of the medical staff, and chief of internal medicine.
Recognized for his expertise and contributions, Dr. Bagdasarian has earned numerous accolades, including America’s Top Oncologists Award, recognition as a Top Doctor in Hematology/Oncology in Los Angeles Magazine, and inclusion in Pasadena’s Top Doctors and Super Doctors of the Los Angeles Times. He has also been featured in Who’s Who in Medicine since 1999 and has been a member of The Leading Physicians of the World since 2010.
Over the years, Dr. Bagdasarian has received countless awards from organizations such as Adventist Health, the Armenian American Medical Society, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, the Armenian Bone Marrow Registry, and the Armenian Mesrobian School. A dedicated researcher, he has published numerous articles as both a principal investigator and sub-investigator.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Bagdasarian serves as an oncology consultant for ABC, CBS, and CNN.
Dr. Bagdasarian lives in Glendale with his wife, Karine, and their three beautiful children.
ARMEN J. CHERIK, MD, MBA, DABPN
Dr. Armen Cherik was born in Tehran, Iran, to Annette and John Cherik. He completed his primary and secondary education in Armenian schools, graduating as the top-ranked student from Davtian Armenian High School in 1976. He attended Tehran’s prestigious National University for one semester before leaving for the United States to continue his higher education. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in medicine and pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a physician at the University of California, San Diego. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California, Irvine.
In 1980, he met the love of his life, Miss Vany Malekian. They married in 1983, and with her support, he began medical school in 1984. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Technology Institute of Santo Domingo with a Doctorate in Medicine, he completed a neurology residency in 1993 with the highest honors, serving as Chief Resident.
Dr. Cherik has been in private practice in Glendale since 1993. He is board-certified in neurology and directs a comprehensive neurological evaluation and diagnostic center. In 1999, he was elected Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Glendale Memorial Hospital. In 2001, he became the 7th president of the Armenian American Medical Society of California (AAMSC). Under his leadership, AAMSC underwent a period of modernization and accreditation, which included CME accreditation, the implementation of a website and newsletter, the revision of bylaws, annual offsite CME conferences, the construction of three rural urgent care clinic buildings in Armenia, and the establishment of the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic in Yerevan. During his presidency, AAMSC’s membership more than doubled, and its net worth quadrupled.
Dr. Cherik has traveled multiple times to Armenia to oversee AAMSC’s projects and has twice lectured at Yerevan State University. In 2000, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Yerevan State University School of Medicine.
Among his other honors, he was recognized as one of the top doctors in the U.S. in Consumer Guide for Top Doctors (2000) and was named one of the best stroke specialists in the U.S. in Money magazine’s Fall 2003 special edition on the best healthcare in America.
Dr. Cherik lives with his beloved wife, Vany, in Glendale and continues his full-time neurology practice. They have two children: Ara, a successful chiropractor in Los Angeles who lives with his wife, Patricia, and their sons, William and Benjamin, in La Cañada; and Natalie, a graduate of Columbia University’s Health Administration master’s program, who works in private healthcare business.
Dr. Cherik remains actively involved with AAMS and serves on its scholarship committee.
DAVID G. DAVTYAN, M.D., FACS, FICS
Dr. David G. Davtyan is a well-known and highly respected surgeon in Los Angeles and a prominent member of the Armenian community. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Bariatric Medicine, and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Davtyan graduated from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1989 and completed his surgical residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He then pursued two fellowships in Surgical Oncology—one at UCLA (1990–1992) and another at the John Wayne Cancer Institute (1996–1997).
Since establishing his private practice in 1997, Dr. Davtyan has been deeply involved in improving healthcare within his community. As the director of the Breast Centers at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and Century City Hospital, he introduced advanced oncological breast care, including breast-conserving surgery, stereotactic breast biopsy, and sentinel lymph node dissection. These innovations greatly benefited his patients, many of whom were Armenian women. He also ensured that underserved patients received high-quality care through charitable programs such as BCEDP and BCTF. In addition, Dr. Davtyan specialized in cutting-edge liver resection techniques, cryoablation, and radiofrequency ablation for metastatic liver tumors—procedures that provided lifesaving treatment to patients previously deemed incurable.
A leader in medical innovation, Dr. Davtyan has spent the past 20 years at the forefront of obesity treatment, performing revolutionary weight loss procedures such as the LAP-BAND and sleeve gastrectomy.
Beyond his medical contributions, Dr. Davtyan has been actively engaged in philanthropy. As president of the Armenian American Medical Society of California (AAMSC), he spearheaded several fundraising initiatives, including projects focused on women’s health, men’s health, mammography access, and childhood diabetes in Armenia. He also led
an AAMSC delegation of physicians to Armenia to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Yerevan University, where the organization helped build a new medical school library and financed the acquisition of books and computers.
Dr. Davtyan’s dedication to his community extends beyond medicine. He served as vice president of the “Hayastan” AllArmenian Fund, mobilized hospitals to contribute to AGBU programs, and partnered with the American Cancer Society and AAMSC to organize breast cancer awareness luncheons for the AGBU Women’s Auxiliary. Additionally, he has personally sponsored Armenian Relief Society (ARS) initiatives and supported the construction of the ARS headquarters.
Dr. Davtyan is married to Dr. Camelia Davtyan, a professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCLA and a faculty member at the Iris Cantor UCLA Women’s Health Center—one of 14 Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health in the United States. She is also among the select UCLA physicians chosen to lead the UCLA Executive Health and Medical Hospitality programs.
Together, they have two children: David, 27, and Anna, 24.
MISAK BARSAMIAN, MD
Dr. Misak Barsamian was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1937. He attended Aleppo College from 1950 to 1956 and later attended the American University of Beirut Medical School from 1956 to 1962, where he received his M.D. degree. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the American University of Beirut Hospital from 1962 to 1965. He also completed a residency in Gynecology at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1965 to 1966.
Dr. Barsamian was in private practice in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1966 to 1978 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he also established the Barsamian Hospital. He immigrated to Los Angeles, California, in 1978 and started a private practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He retired in 2002 as Emeritus Staff at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
Dr. Barsamian was an Executive Committee member of the Lebanese-Armenian Medical Society from 1969 to 1971. The Armenian American Medical Society of California was founded in 1985, and he served as its first president from 1985 to 1987. In 1987, he organized the Fourth Armenian Medical World Congress in Los Angeles with Dr. John Kassabian.
From 1988 to 1992, he was a member of the Eleventh District (Los Angeles County) Medical Quality Review Committee of the Board of Medical Quality Assurance of California.
Dr. Barsamian also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church and Ferrahian High School from 1984 to 1985. He was a Delegate for Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church from 1985 to 1988.
He has been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of Hollywood from 2007 to the present.
Dr. Barsamian is married to Rita Bolian and has two daughters, Karina and Astrid, and two grandchildren, Solair and Remy.
SILVA KARCHIKIAN M.D.
Dr. Silva Karchikian is a general practice physician specializing in primary care in Glendale, California. She is a graduate of Yerevan State Medical University (Mkhitar Heratsi). After graduation, she was appointed to serve in the small town of Vardenik, in the Martuni region of Armenia. Over the next five years, Dr. Karchikian worked as a family physician, providing care to more than 12,000 people in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This invaluable experience laid the foundation for her career as a physician, educator, and community leader.
Dr. Karchikian immigrated to the United States and was licensed to practice medicine in 1984. She began working at UCLA Wadsworth VA Medical Center as an associate physician, where she was also involved in clinical research in diabetes and endocrinology. In 1986, while continuing her research, she opened her private practice, first in Hollywood and later in Glendale. Being fluent in Russian and Armenian, she was able to extend her knowledge and services to the rapidly growing Russian and Armenian communities. She formed strong relationships with colleagues and community leaders, deepening her understanding of the communities’ needs.
Since 1986, Dr. Karchikian has been an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS). She has held multiple leadership positions, including serving as president from 1993 to 1996. During her tenure, she played an instrumental role in securing sponsorship from the Lincy Foundation, through Armenia Fund, for the EyeCare Project and ensuring AAMS’s continued support for the initiative.
Recognizing the urgent need for insulin and medical supplies for children with type 1 diabetes in Armenia and Artsakh, she helped establish the first diabetes project. Over the next six years, more than 300 children received free monthly supplies.
Working alongside the Armenian American Nursing Association and Community Hospital leadership, Dr. Karchikian also
organized multiple health fairs that provided free screenings, education, and consultations to underserved members of the community.
In 1996, she launched the first live Armenian cable television show, Your Health Live with Dr. Karchikian. For over a decade, the program featured interviews with physicians and healthcare professionals, providing invaluable health information to viewers. Dr. Karchikian’s passion for connecting, educating, and empowering the community helped inspire people to make informed health decisions.
Dr. Karchikian has received multiple awards and recognitions from colleagues and organizations in honor of her dedicated service to the community.
BEDROS “PETER” H. KOJIAN, MD
Dr. Bedros Kojian was born and raised in Ethiopia. In 1968, he graduated from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), in 1975 he moved to the United States, and he completed his OB/GYN residency at the University of Massachusetts Worcester. Dr. Kojian is a boardcertified OB/GYN and a certified advanced laparoscopic surgeon. He has been in private practice in Orange since 1979 and currently he is semi-retired.
Dr. Kojian is a retired clinical professor at UCI and a visiting professor in Armenia. He chaired the AAMS Earthquake Relief Committee, and with his ad hoc committee, raised $100,000 for YSMU’s 70th anniversary to renovate and upgrade the medical school library. He is a past president of the Orange County OB/GYN Society, the UCI Association of OB/GYN Volunteer Faculty, and past chair of Section 7, District IX of ACOG. He is also one of the founders of the Armenian Medical International Committee (AMIC) and he represented AAMSC in international forums for 10 years.
Since 1988, Dr. Kojian has been dedicated to helping Armenia. In 1993, he was appointed the Western United States representative of the Ministry of Health of Armenia. In 2000, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Yerevan State Medical University, and in 2013, he was awarded the Artsakh President’s Gratitude Medal.
Since 1999, Dr. Kojian has collaborated with Dr. Sergey Urumyan, the director of the 30-bed Third Maternity Hospital. In addition to donating laparoscopic and radiology equipment, he has donated a vast amount of other equipment and supplies, performed and taught laparoscopic, minimally invasive, and pelvic reconstructive surgeries. He also established the hospital’s radiology department and, with a $100,000 donation from the Thomas & E.J. Tracy family, helped establish the much-needed Assisted Reproductive Technology Department at SMC. Twice a year, he travels to SMC to perform, teach, and train physicians. To date, he has shipped seven 40-foot containers filled with medical equipment, furniture, and supplies.
In addition to his work in Armenia, Dr. Kojian has also contributed to Artsakh and, more recently, to Gyumri. Two years ago, he donated a set of laparoscopic equipment and introduced minimally invasive surgery in Gyumri. In 1999, at the 30 bed Third Maternity Hospital annually delivered about 1,100 babies and performed 100 gynecologic surgeries. Today at the old and new combined 300 bed renamed SMC, annually they deliver over 3,000 babies and perform more than 10,000 surgeries in 19 medical specialties.
Dr. Kojian expresses his gratitude to AAMS for their support and considers it an honor to have served as the 3rd president, 1991-1993. He thanks his board members, past and present presidents, their boards, and their families for their dedication, hard work, and accomplishments, especially for elevating AAMS to such a towering prominence.
Dr. Kojian is married to Denise, a past president of the AAMS Ladies Auxiliary. They have four children. Denise initiated the Annual Healthcare Project and, among other achievements, in 1992 she undertook an extraordinary effort in and compiled an accurate list of over 800 Armenian American healthcare professionals by meticulously searching U.S. telephone directories and verifying information through calls.
T. GREGORY KIRIANOFF, MD, FACS
Dr. T. Gregory Kirianoff was the President of the Armenian American Medical Society of California from 1988-1992 and he was the co-chairperson of the Healthcare Committee of the United Armenia Fund. The 1988 earthquake in Armenia and the subsequent declaration of Armenian independence in 1991 created a favorable atmosphere for the Diaspora Armenians to create closer ties with Armenia. Dr. Kirianoff was an integral part of the team that provided medical assistance to Armenia during that critical period.
During his tenure as President of the AAMSC, Dr. Kirianoff increased membership from 13 active members to over to 300. In 1988, fund raising campaigns were held for the shipment of medicine to the Armenian earthquake victims. In 1989, an agreement was signed with the Health Minister of Armenia and the President of the Spyurk Committee (the committee for Cultural Relations with Armenians Living Abroad) to provide long term medical assistance to Armenia. In 1990, the “Armenian Physicians Training Program” was initiated and a total of 9 doctors came to Los Angeles from Armenia, to receive special training at Loma Linda Medical Center, the University of California at Irvine and USC. Also in 1990, the first “Armenian Health Fair” was held for financially challenged Armenians in the greater Los Angeles area. A total of 26 doctors examined over 1,000 Armenians. This event has since become an annual event. In 1991, the “Flying Doctors to Armenia Project” was initiated so that volunteer doctors from California could be sent to Armenia to perform surgeries.
In 1984 Dr. Kirianoff was the co-founder and first president of the Iranian American Medical and Dental Society of California.
Dr. Kirianoff has performed plastic surgery on the royal families of Iran and Saudi Arabia and on many celebrities. In addition, he has performed reconstructive surgery on Armenian earthquake victims and the Armenian soldiers who defended Artsakh.
Dr. Kirianoff has a Bachelor Science degree from the University of Miami, a Medical Degree from the Lausanne Medical School in Switzerland (with honors and the highest average in the graduating class) and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Kirianoff completed a five-year residency in general surgery in Connecticut and New York. He subsequently completed his training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the New Jersey College of Medicine. In 1973 he moved to Los Angeles, joined the Armenian Professional Society and started his private practice at Century City Medical Plaza on Century Park East Street. In 1976 he became board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Between 1983 and 1988 Dr. Kirianoff headed the Plastic Surgery Department of the Century City Hospital. Dr. Kirianoff has invented a breast measurement device and has presented several scientific papers and has given courses in plastic surgery and rhinoplasty.
Dr. Kirianoff has received honors from Larry Zarian (the then Mayor of Glendale), Michael Antonovich (Los Angeles Board of Supervisors), the City of Pasadena and others from the work he has done for the Armenian American community. Dr. Kirianoff has also served and has been honored by other communities as well. For example, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences awarded Dr. Kirianoff the gold Medal of Honor of Peter the Great.
MISAK BARSAMIAN, MD
Dr. Misak Barsamian was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1937. He attended Aleppo College from 1950 to 1956 and later attended the American University of Beirut Medical School from 1956 to 1962, where he received his M.D. degree. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the American University of Beirut Hospital from 1962 to 1965. He also completed a residency in Gynecology at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1965 to 1966.
Dr. Barsamian was in private practice in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1966 to 1978 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he also established the Barsamian Hospital.
He immigrated to Los Angeles, California, in 1978 and started a private practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He retired in 2002 as Emeritus Staff at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
Dr. Barsamian was an Executive Committee member of the Lebanese-Armenian Medical Society from 1969 to 1971. The Armenian American Medical Society of California was founded in 1985, and he served as its first president from 1985 to 1987. In 1987, he organized the Fourth Armenian Medical World Congress in Los Angeles with Dr. John Kassabian.
From 1988 to 1992, he was a member of the Eleventh District (Los Angeles County) Medical Quality Review Committee of the Board of Medical Quality Assurance of California.
Dr. Barsamian also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church and Ferrahian High School from 1984 to 1985. He was a Delegate for Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church from 1985 to 1988.
He has been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of Hollywood from 2007 to the present.
Dr. Barsamian is married to Rita Bolian and has two daughters, Karina and Astrid, and two grandchildren, Solair and Remy.
HARRY BALIAN, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Harry Balian, MD, FACC, FSCAI, received his Medical Degree from Chicago Medical School in 1997. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of California, Irvine, where he also served as Chief Resident. He completed his Cardiology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, where he served as Chief Fellow. Dr. Balian then completed his Interventional Cardiology and Vascular training at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Dr. Balian specializes in the treatment of heart disease, coronary artery percutaneous interventions, and pacemaker insertions. He also performs peripheral vascular interventions, including carotid stents, endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm stents, renal stents, and lower extremity angioplasties. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Nuclear Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, and Vascular Medicine.
Dr Balian started the TAVR program at Adventist Health Glendale on 2016 and did the first TAVR there. In 2020, started the mitraclip program, and the watchman program in 2022. On June of 2024, performed the first Triclip at Adventist Health, Glendale. Dr. Balian has placed great emphasis on the structural Heart Program at Adventist Health in addition to the other cardiac and peripheral procedures he performs.
Since 2015, Dr. Balian has served as the Chairman of the Department of Cardiology and the Director of the Structural Heart Program at Glendale Adventist. He initiated the TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) program in 2016. Dr. Balian has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS) since 2006. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the American Heart Association.
He has been the Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Glendale Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute
since 2006 and previously served as the Medical Director of the Peripheral Vascular Lab at St. Vincent Hospital. Dr. Balian is an Associate Clinical Professor at Western University School of Medicine.
ARSINE KALFAYAN GEUVDJELIAN, PHARMD
Dr. Arsine Kalfayan Geuvdjelian, is a highly respected professional with over 25 years of dedicated service as the Quality Assurance Coordinator of the Continuing Medical Education Committee for the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS).
Originally from Lebanon, Dr. Kalfayan Geuvdjelian moved to the United States in 1969, graduating from high school in 1971. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1977, followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1981.
Dr. Kalfayan Geuvdjelian began her career as a hospital pharmacist, focusing on direct patient care for two years before being promoted to Director of Pharmacy in 1984. Over the next 25 years, she held this leadership role at various hospitals and Fortune 100 companies, making significant contributions to pharmacy and healthcare.
In 2002, Dr. Kalfayan Geuvdjelian joined AAMS, where she played a crucial role in obtaining and maintaining the organization’s accreditation provider status, allowing it to offer Continuing Medical Education (CME) to its members. Throughout her tenure, she collaborated closely with multiple AAMS presidents and ensured compliance during accreditation inspections every four years. She also helped expand membership to include pharmacists and other healthcare providers, promoting a more inclusive and diverse community within the organization.
Since retiring 17 years ago, Dr. Kalfayan Geuvdjelian has continued to contribute to the community by serving on hospital ethics and patient care committees. She is now planning to return to the workforce to offer consultation services to drug outsourcing facilities that manufacture essential drugs in short supply.
Dr. Kalfayan Geuvdjelian’s unwavering dedication to quality assurance in continuing medical education has significantly
enriched the educational experiences of healthcare professionals, leaving a profound impact on the field. Her leadership and expertise have earned her a prestigious lifetime achievement award, recognizing her commitment and substantial contributions to the medical community.
RAMELLA MARKARIAN, MS, MHA, ED.D.
Dr. Ramella Markarian is a distinguished healthcare executive serving as the Vice President of Business Development and Physician Recruitment at Adventist Health Glendale since 2015. In this capacity, she plays a key role in driving the hospital’s strategic growth and development. Through her expertise, Dr. Markarian has successfully identified healthcare gaps across multiple markets, leading to the implementation of targeted initiatives and the recruitment of highly skilled physicians to address the evolving healthcare needs of our communities
Dr. Ramella Markarian’s dedication to the Armenian American Medical Society has been invaluable in advancing the healthcare needs of the community. Over the past 20 years, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s initiatives, co-founding the Glendale Health Festival alongside Dr. Vicken Sepilian and serving on several AAMS committees. Her tireless efforts have fostered strong partnerships between AAMS and Adventist Health Glendale, ensuring that healthcare access and resources continue to grow for the Armenian American community, additionally, her unwavering advocacy for physicians, always prioritizing their wellbeing and needs, has earned her deep respect and appreciation from the medical community.
Ramella has been a key organizer and participant in Adventist Health Glendale’s annual Medical Missions to Armenia since 2016, coordinating efforts to bring together numerous physicians and healthcare professionals to serve thousands of Armenians in rural regions. These missions offer a broad spectrum of services, including surgeries, as well as cardiac and stroke interventions.
Dr. Markarian is a committed community advocate who has shared her expertise on several influential boards, including the Glendale Police Foundation Board, the ABMDR Governing Board, the Valley Economic Advisory Board, the Communitas Homeless Prevention Board. As a frequent guest speaker at local universities, colleges, and high schools,
she inspires and educates the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Ramella’s exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to service have garnered her numerous prestigious accolades over the years. She has been recognized with the Woman in Leadership Award by Senator Carol Liu, the Woman of the Year Award by ABMDR, the Young Professional Award by the Western Diocese Church, the Woman in Corporate Award by the Armenian Chamber of Commerce, and the Woman of the Year Award by Congressman Adam Schiff. These distinguished honors reflect her significant contributions to the healthcare sector, her community, and her unwavering dedication to enhancing the lives of others.
Ramella holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration, from California State University Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Leadership with a focus on Public Health from the University of Southern California (USC). She is proud to call Glendale her home, where she raised her children, Sione and Eric, both pursuing studies in medicine at UCLA David Geffen and Stanford Universities.
