Kristine Poghosyan (MPH ’18): Empowering Hearts and Minds

4 min read

Kristine Poghosyan (MPH ’18) received her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) at the American University of Armenia (AUA). She is currently a cardiologist at the Adult Cardiology Clinic at the Nork-Marash Medical Center. The MPH program deepened her understanding of the healthcare system and served as a catalyst to dive into scientific research. A successful professional, Krisitne hosts MPH students as interns at the Nork-Marash Medical Center. Grateful for her AUA education, Kristine acquired so much more than academic knowledge at her alma mater while simultaneously overcoming critical challenges in her life. 

Pursuing her Dream of an AUA Education

Pursuing my education at AUA had always been at the back of my mind. I was convinced that AUA would broaden my expertise in healthcare systems and effectively contribute to my critical thinking and scientific research skills. However, the years passed and studying at AUA remained impossible for technical reasons, as shift-based work was an essential component in gaining the necessary experience to establish myself as a cardiologist. The opportunity arose when I was on maternity leave for my second child. It was the opportune moment to chase after my dream and apply for AUA’s MPH program. I am happy to say that my experience at AUA fully lived up to my expectations and aspirations.

The AUA Journey: Professional Development and More

I encountered a common belief that the MPH program is for healthcare workers who are not closely involved in practical medicine, but rather in the organization and administration of the healthcare system. As a doctor, I can assure you that you gain so much more from the program than you would expect. Through the MPH program, I deepened my understanding of the healthcare system overall and learned how to establish and measure the quality of work in this system. I developed skills that were essential for my career progression, such as academic research, writing, and managing my time more effectively.

The skills I developed at AUA, from teamwork to academic writing, are part of my everyday workflow now. I delved into my work with a fresh mindset following my graduation from AUA. Studying at AUA had a huge impact on developing my academic research and writing skills and applying this to the evidence-based medicine we practice at our Center. My AUA education pushed me to start publishing, starting with my thesis on “External validation of Leipzig-Halifax scores for aortic dissection in Armenia,” which appeared in the international, peer-reviewed academic journal Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals.

AUA is a highly structured institution with an established culture and value system. When you become part of this community, you embrace the core values the institution upholds. At AUA, I witnessed how people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives can come together, collaborate, and create something meaningful as a team. Teamwork is an essential component in my work, and I began to evaluate it with newfound appreciation after graduating from AUA. I developed an objective understanding of my abilities and resources, learning to assess and apply my strengths effectively.

I enjoyed my time as a student at AUA and made so many wonderful memories. I was fortunate to be part of an incredible cohort, surrounded by talented and accomplished peers. Our group projects, the New Year celebration organized by the MPH program, and our graduation ceremony and celebration are some of my most cherished memories.

Overcoming Critical Challenges During her Studies

I studied at AUA during a very challenging period of my life, and I will remain forever grateful for the immense support I received from my professors and peers in the MPH program. Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, CHS dean and a professor in the MPH program, played a key role in my decision to continue my studies during those trying times. I am deeply grateful to her for caring so much about each of us and lending a helping hand when I needed it most.

Her vision and motivation as a cardiologist

A cardiologist’s profession is highly complex, demanding a great deal of effort and resources from the practitioner. Naturally, encountering difficulties along the way is inevitable. I think the main challenge is the amount of responsibility you bear as a cardiologist and, in general, as a doctor. Something I always keep in mind in my work is that if I cannot help a person, the least I can do is not cause more damage.

It is especially challenging to dedicate such a great amount of resources when you have your own family, although my family is a profound source of support for me. I believe it is possible to combine both when you love what you are doing.

Founder and chief cardiac surgeon of the Nork-Marash Medical Center, Dr. Hakob (Hrayr) Hovaguimian, a teacher to many of us, initiated a project in the 1990s that played a significant role in elevating cardiology and cardiac surgery to its current level in Armenia. He also serves as a constant source of inspiration for all of us in our professional development and progress, pushing us to pursue our dreams.

Another source of inspiration and motivation for me is my colleagues. I must mention that I have many intelligent senior and junior colleagues, with whom it is a pleasure to work and from whom I can always learn.

The well-being of my patients is a priority in my professional development. The results of my efforts that I see every day — whether the improved health and life quality of my patients or the findings of our scientific studies — motivate me to be a lifelong learner and continuously develop my professional skills.

Maintaining a connection with her alma mater

It is very important to me to maintain a connection with my alma mater and the MPH program. AUA and the Nork-Marash Medical Center have often collaborated on quality assurance projects, and our scientific studies are reviewed by the University’s Institutional Review Board. Dr. Hovaguimian and AUA President Emeritus Dr. Haroutune Armenian originally shared the vision to initiate this collaboration, which we now proudly continue.

Our Center has hosted MPH students for summer internships throughout the years of this collaboration. Since 2020, I have mentored them throughout their internships. The MPH faculty offered me the opportunity to serve as the supervisor for these interns, and I accepted it gladly. The goal is to provide an opportunity for MPH students to practice what they have learned in the program and contribute to our research projects. These are often undertakings that later help them with their thesis research and writing. They develop practical skills, and our Center benefits from their input in our projects.

I am proud to be part of the AUA community. I think that MPH graduates play a key role in the development of the healthcare system in Armenia. The University’s Zvart Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development, in particular, does exceptional work locally, addressing major public health challenges in Armenia.