Fresno Delegation Headed to Armenia on Medical Relief Mission
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 1 year ago on
September 23, 2022
Armenian Mission Flight at the Airport (Jahz Tello)

Share

 

A group of medical professionals is scheduled to depart Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Saturday morning, traveling halfway around the world to help those in need.

They originally planned to leave Friday only to have their flight canceled.

It is the seventh Fresno Medical Mission-Armenia, arranged by Armenian Honorary Consul Berj Apkarian. Every year since 2015 (absent the 2020 pandemic year), a volunteer group has traveled to Armenia to provide aid.

“With the recent aggression by Azeris and attacking sovereign nation, it fueled our energy to do even more and to give more. And I tell you, I am so proud of our community,” Apkarian said at the airport Friday before the canceled flight.

(Watch) Armenian Medical Mission is Ready For Help

The focus of this year’s trip is to help injured soldiers and others affected by recent military skirmishes with Azerbaijan, said Apkarian.

Apkarian’s employer, Community Health Systems, is helping fund the trip.

The Fresno group, 16 strong, will join up with 17 other medical professionals round the country for two weeks. They are also bringing medicine and supplies. The combined delegation will include surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and physiotherapists.

 

A Desire to Give Back

“I think that’s why we all went into this profession, physical therapy. We wanted to help or assist people in some way. We have that altruistic characteristic.” — Kristina Koroyan

Several in the delegation say the nearly 20-hour journey from Fresno to Dallas to Doha, Qatar to Yerevan, Armenia is well worth it.

Kristina Koroyan is a therapist with Sanger Physical Therapy. This is her third trip.

“The need there is lots of hands-on work. I think with the injuries that we’ve seen, individuals have then been given the right exercises or the right protocols to follow after a certain injury. So I think our role is to educate them as much as possible,” Koroyan said.

She hopes to train therapists in Armenia as well.

“I think that’s why we all went into this profession, physical therapy. We wanted to help or assist people in some way. We have that altruistic characteristic, I suppose,” Koroyan said.

For Clovis dentist Dr. Vatche Wassilian, it is about giving back. He is originally from Lebanon and attended medical school in Armenia.

“This is the spirit of the United States. That’s what we learned here from this great country. … to help when there are people that need to be helped,” Wassilian said. “This is the time to go. When you have the chance because the people, they need us. (Armenia) needs us.”

Armenian Honorary Consul Berj Apkarian (right) presents Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi with a mission jacket on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Karbassi on Official Business

Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi will join the medical professionals on the trip. In addition to showing support, he has official business.

“(Armenia) wants to have an economic exchange with Fresno in the Valley. And so my focus is right now to go and meet with them, meet with the university folks and meet with their people in the federal government to see what trade options we have. They produce wine, for example, I’m taking Fresno State wine,” Karbassi said.

“They’re developing economies, which means there can be a lot of economic growth. So it can be very beneficial to Valley businesses.”

Although he will be away from Fresno during the Sept. 29 city council meeting, Karbassi said he would attend via Zoom. The 11-hour difference means the 9 a.m. Fresno start time is 8 p.m. for him.

Karbassi’s trip is taxpayer funded.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

FresYes Fest Is Saturday: This Immigrant Is Living the American Dream With Xtreme Shawarma

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Chavez Win Attorneys Fees from Fresno County. Court Gives Chavez Blvd. a Green Light.

DON'T MISS

Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

Hutson Is Done as Fresno State Basketball Coach After Tournament Loss

DON'T MISS

New Challenge to SW Fresno Industrial Project: SoCal Enviro Group Sues City, Developer

DON'T MISS

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s Eric Kendricks Joins Cowboys After First Committing to Niners

No data was found
David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

3 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

bitwise /

3 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

environment /

5 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

6 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

6 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

6 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

6 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

news /

7 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

7 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

8 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

â– Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. â– The Va...
Healthcare /

2 hours ago

3 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

3 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

3 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

3 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

3 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

3 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

3 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

3 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

3 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

3 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search