Day: February 9, 2024

SACRAMENTO – Recognizing the severe shortage of healthcare providers in California, Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) introduced a bill that creates a pathway for foreign educated doctors to practice as physician assistants in California through a pilot program. The program establishes a partnership with Yerevan State Medical University to allow clinically trained healthcare professionals to work in healthcare at a time when our system needs more providers.

“There are many highly skilled medical professionals who reside in California but cannot practice medicine,” said Senator Portantino. “This program would help address our healthcare provider shortage while offering immigrant doctors the opportunity to take steps to become qualified to practice their chosen craft here. It’s a win-win for the patient and the healthcare system.”

Foreign educated doctors often face challenges in leveraging their higher education qualifications in California. In particular, a significant number of Yerevan State Medical University graduates who practiced medicine in Armenia are not able to practice here.  These doctors, however, have received more clinical education than the typical physician’s assistant has. Rather than being welcomed into our healthcare system, many must accept other forms of jobs outside of healthcare because the process of undergoing licensing or certification to practice medicine is complex, time consuming, and challenging.

The bill, know as SB 1041, would establish a two-year Armenian Doctor Pilot Program. The program requires participants to enroll in a medical refresher course developed by Yerevan State Medical University and an accredited academic institution in California with an approved physician assistant program. It also requires classes to be provided by Yerevan State Medical University and the approved California educational institution via a distance learning program, clinical training undertaken in a federally qualified health center that serves the Armenian community in southern California. The unique program will be eligible only for permanent residents and the citizens of the United States.

“We welcome Senator Portantino’s efforts to establish the Armenian Doctors Pilot Program, which would create a pathway for Armenian educated physicians to practice as physician assistants for two years in qualified health centers in California,” stated Sarkis Balkhian, Executive Director of ANCA-Western Region.

“This program is paramount not only because it provides a professional pathway for Armenian doctors to resume their medical careers but also addresses the shortage of primary care physicians with the cultural and linguistic diversity and skills required to service Armenian-Americans across California, especially those who lack the socioeconomic resources and are often left behind by the system. SB 1041 will also foster further collaboration between the medical institutions of Armenia and California,” Balkhian added.

Catholicos Karekin II with ARF Bureau chair Hagop Der Khachadourian in Etchmiadzin on Feb. 8

The chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau, Hagop Der-Khachadourian, on Thursday met with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin, the ARF Press Service reported.

During the meeting the current situation in Armenia was discussed, as was the Artsakh issue, the protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh, specifically their collective return to their homeland.

Der-Khachadourian and the Catholicos also briefed one another about current and future efforts being undertaken in the homeland and globally to advance the just resolution to the Artsakh issue.

The importance of providing humanitarian assistance to Artsakh Armenians and continuing to strengthen the foundations of Armenia’s statehood were emphasized.

The two leaders also stressed the need to expand cooperations between national institutions and deepening the role of the church in the life of the Armenian people, as a means to advance national unity and confronting challenges.

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— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) February 9, 2024