By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Massachusetts is a Mecca of medical schools and doctors. Therefore, it is no surprise that there is a medical group — the Armenian American Medical Association, Inc. (AAMA) — whose membership is composed of local Armenian-American doctors. The members of the group gathered earlier this month at the Elephant Walk restaurant in Cambridge to introduce a colleague from Stepanakert, Karabagh, who was visiting for a month to learn about the latest techniques in emergency medicine.
Dr. Mher Musaelian is a pediatric anesthesiologist at the main hospital in Stepanakert. He had come here through the efforts of Dr. Armen Arslanian, the president of the AAMA, for a month-long study of emergency medicine at Winchester Hospital. His visit was facilitated through Armenia Fund.
Musaelian, who was born and raised in Stepanakert, witnessed war as a young boy. Because of his education, he has had the opportunity to leave his homeland, but has chosen to stay and to try to improve the state of emergency medicine there.
As Arslanian said, “His ideal life is in Karabagh. He is proud of being from there.” He explained some of the difficulties that medical staff experience there, the majority of which can be summed up by lack of funds and equipment.
“They don’t have the stuff we take for granted, such as CAT Scans,” which he said can typically provide physicians with a lot of information that can help speed up diagnosis and thus medical aid.
