Ruzanna Harutyunyan arrives in the U.S. for a six-month Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine. U.S. Academic Fellowships are an important part of the EyeCare Projects comprehensive medical education and training programthe cornerstone of the Projects Five-Point Initiative, Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes. Prior AECP Fellowships to train top Armenian physicians in sub-specialties include Retina, Glaucoma, Cornea-Uveitis, Neuro-Orbital, Low Vision and Eye Banks and Cornea Transplantation. Ruzanna Harutyunyan, M.D., a Pediatric Ophthalmologist, is our seventh fellow, and Chief of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department at the Malayan Ophthalmology Center in Yerevan. Pediatric Ophthalmology, a sub-specialty of ophthalmology, deals with problems common to or seen exclusively in infants and children. Following their specialty training in ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmologists do a year or more of sub-specialty training in the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of eye disorders that are unique to children. During her fellowship Dr. Harutyunyan will examine and evaluate patients and perform surgeries under the direction of Jennifer L. Simpson, M.D. Assistant Professor and Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at the UCI Medical Center. Commenting on her opportunity to study in the U.S., Ruzanna said, Given the exceptional level of pediatric ophthalmology in the United States, I look forward to the opportunity to work side by side with distinguished U.S. specialists. I will learn directly from the medical experience and skills of my American colleagues and master modern technologies, especially in the sphere of pediatric strabology and various congenital illnesses. Talking about her specialty Dr. Harutyunyan says, It gives me great happiness to be able to bring sight to a child. She explains that correcting vision problems and treating eye diseases is important at any age, but for children it can be especially important. Good vision is essential for proper physical development and educational progress in growing children. Harutyunyan talks about how eyesight is especially important for school-age children because most of our information is learned through the eye. Harutyunyan goes on to say that, To be able to treat their conditions and make their world a brighter place is very special. After completing her fellowship, Ruzanna will return to Armenia and use her knowledge and skills to train her colleagues in the art and science of pediatric ophthalmology. Harutyunyan considers teaching a very important part of her job and says, "I enjoy teaching students and residents as much as I can and seeing the results. But the very best thing about my jobthe Childrens smiles! says Ruzanna. To learn more about the AECP, please visit www.eyecareproject.com, or call 949-675-5767. To make a donation, call the AECP toll-free number, 1-866-448-2327; or mail a check to P.O. Box 5630, Newport Beach, CA 92662.
