The American University of Armenia School of Public Health (AUA SPH) participated in the 8thEuropean Public Health Conference in Milan, Italy from October 14-17, 2015. By sharing its experience with international colleagues at the conference whose theme this year was “Health in Europe – from Global to Local Policies, Methods, and Practices,” AUA SPH demonstrated its research and educational capacity in public health.
Research Associate and Human Protections Administrator, Dr. Kristina Akopyan (AUA Master of Public Health-AUA MPH 2013), received a competitive, partial scholarship from conference organizers to participate and present her work “Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Smelter Town, Alaverdi, Armenia” during the conference. Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan also attended the conference and presented posters developed by teams of AUA SPH faculty and researchers. The posters were:
- “Factors Associated With Smoking Status Among Tuberculosis Patients in Armenia,” authored by Arusyak Harutyunyan (AUA MPH 2009), Nune Truzyan (AUA MPH 2003), and Varduhi Petrosyan
- “Depressive Symptoms Among Tuberculosis Patients in Armenia, 2015”, authored by Nune Truzyan, Varduhi Petrosyan, Arusyak Harutyunyan, Vahe Khachadourian (AUA MPH 2011), and Michael Thompson;
- “Risk Factors for Developing Myopia Among Schoolchildren in Yerevan and Ghegharkunik Province,” authored by Aida Giloyan (AUA MPH 2007), Tsovinar Harutyunyan (AUA MPH 2001), and Varduhi Petrosyan
- “Rate and Predictors of Anemia Among Under-five Children in Rural Armenia,” authored by Anahit Demirchyan (AUA MPH 1999), Varduhi Petrosyan, Viktoria Sargsyan (AUA MPH 2003), and Kim Hekimian.
All five abstracts, including Dr. Kristina Akopyan’s, were published in the European Journal of Public Health, Volume 25, Issue Supplement 3, October 2015.
Participation in the Milan conference and other similar international scientific events is an important step towards promoting international recognition of AUA in public health and health services research.
The AUA School of Public Health works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of public health professionals to be leaders in public health, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.