Benevolence is not a job, but a human virtue, especially when it is not demonstrative. Thank God, there are many people who consider benevolence one of their missions in this world. One of them is microsurgeon Artur Salibyan from California. Salibyan was hosted at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. On June 13, he was also hosted at the editorial office of Hayern Aysor where he amazed and charmed everyone by being a modest human being and doctor and unconditionally expressing the willingness to help women suffering from breast cancer and undergoing treatment.

Hayern Aysor: Dr. Salibyan, are you on a personal visit to Armenia?

Artur Salibyan: I have been visiting Armenia to help women undergoing surgeries for breast cancer with rehabilitation for the past four years. My goal is to help recover the breast, maintaining the skin and teat of the breast during surgery in order to place an implant in the post-surgery period.

Hayern Aysor: Did you start doing this on your own?

A. S.: Yes, it was my decision and my initiative. I perform two surgeries, that is, I remove the breast and maintain the skin and teat of the breast.

I visit Armenia twice a year for three weeks in the months of May and September. I collaborate with the doctors of several hospitals and medical centers. When I paid my first two-week visit to Armenia four years ago, I worked with Dr. Karen Danielyan from Hospital N 8. To this day, I have performed about 20 surgeries with the local doctors. I hope to organize a conference in Armenia next year and show the work that we have done, as well as show the methods that we use.

Hayern Aysor: Do the local doctors take your advice?

A. S.: Yes, they are willing to listen to advice, learn and use their knowledge in practice. Starting from me, all doctors need to continue to learn and improve and keep up with the innovative technologies. Medicine is developing dynamically and recording new achievements today.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Salibyan, could you mention the names of doctors who have worked and continue to work with you and have become more skillful?

A. S.: Karen Danielyan, who used to work at Hospital N 8, as well as Armen Kocharyan, Artur Avetisyan, Andrey Minasyan, Artur Sahakyan and Nerses Berberyan.

Hayern Aysor: Does Armenia’s medical equipment meet all the requirements for surgeries and rehabilitation in terms of quality?

A. S.: There are devices that meet the requirements, but there are clinics that need to replenish and renew their devices.

Hayern Aysor: In Yerevan, Armenian American benefactor Rita Balian and Hranush Hakobyan created the Armenian-American Wellness Center, which was initially supposed to be called the Mammography Center. The executive director of the Center is Khachanush Hakobyan. After it was established, the Center started conducting checkups for breast cancer, studies in the pre-cancer period and surgical interventions with great dedication and due to the imperative of the time. Do you collaborate with that leading center?

A. S.: Yes, I do. After working at Hospital N 8, I started working with the Armenian-American Wellness Center, which is equipped with high-class, state-of-the-art devices and equipment and has good experts. The Center is important.

Hayern Aysor: Breast cancer is becoming more and more widespread. Dr. Salibyan, what do you think is the main reason or that evil?

A. S.: There are many reasons, including air pollution, inorganic food, a wrong lifestyle, polluted water, social insecurity and many stresses. However, there is not one reason.

Hayern Aysor: Is it right that breastfeeding women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer?

A. S.: They say…I am not an expert, but that might serve as a good impetus for avoiding breast cancer.

Hayern Aysor: You teach doctors and give them advice. You work with them. Have you ever been offered to share your knowledge and experience with the students of Yerevan State Medical University?

A. S.: I haven’t had the occasion. I haven’t been guided, offered or invited. If somebody organized that, I would agree with pleasure. I have also met with the Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, who is aware of my activities.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Salibyan, what do you have to say about silicone implants being imported to Armenia? How are they in terms of price and quality? Aren’t they expensive?

A. S.: There are high-quality and low-quality silicone implants. I must say that they are cheaper in Armenia. They cost $400 dollars. There are also free versions. The price is high in the United States. Whenever I visit Armenia, I bring with me free silicone implants, but unfortunately, I didn’t bring any during this visit. I will bring them in September. There are two American companies that produce high-quality products.

Hayern Aysor: Do you perform medical interventions and help women recover for free?

A. S.: Yes, I do it for free. I have agreed with the doctors to have them perform the surgeries for free.

Hayern Aysor: Respectable Dr. Salibyan, could you please tell us what made you want to do charities? Was there any motive?

A. S.: There are a couple of reasons. The main reason was that, coming to Armenia, I would see that Armenian doctors weren’t performing rehabilitative interventions. I decided to take the initiative and inform women that there is such rehabilitative intervention. Women must know. It is their right.

Hayern Aysor: Where did you study? Are there doctors in your family?

A. S.: I have studied at the University of California. As for my family, my grandfather was a doctor.

Hayern Aysor: Thank you, compatriot! Thank you, doctor, for being a noble Armenian!

Karine Avagyan