Most of the participants of the “Medicine and Health: Telemedicine” Atelier of the “Armenia. Create Together” youth forum are young Armenians who are studying, have studied and are already working abroad and are participating in this forum not only with the great desire to invest their knowledge in the field of medicine in Armenia, but also share their skills and experience with young Armenians receiving a medical education in Armenia. During my interview with Narek Dshkhunyan, who is studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through the educational program of Luys Foundation, Narek presented his daily activities in Armenia with pleasure and motivation.

“I am in my first year of studies in the Master’s Degree Program. My profession is not specifically medicine, but computer science and biology. They are obviously quite related to medicine. My second profession is brain and cognitive sciences. What interests me more in the field of medicine is the scientific aspect-the mathematical model and the biological experiments. This is the third summer that I am visiting Armenia. I am carrying out my main program at Ayb School in Yerevan. Two years ago, we launched a new project that includes a summer school program for Armenian and foreign students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This program is already becoming an official program funded by the MIT and Luys Foundation. We have created different MIT-style subjects and have clear-cut courses. We have been teaching a four-week course for the past three weeks now. The students, half of which are from the provinces, participate with pleasure. Last year, we had students from Gyumri, Vanadzor, Maralik and Stepanakert. This year, there are only students from different schools of Yerevan. If these children come to learn something new and interesting starting from 9 in the morning in the summer, then they need to hear something and gain new knowledge. Luys Foundation is organizing this program for the first time ever. The program had been mainly oriented towards the provinces and villages in the past. I think the important thing is not where Armenians live. The important thing is to make investments in the Homeland. Many students born and raised in Armenia are studying abroad. Being abroad for 11 months and visiting Armenia only in the summers, they are able to be of help to the fields of science and education in Armenia with their knowledge and experiences. It is safe to say that they are making their investments. Frankly, I myself don’t know where I will be in five or ten years and if I will return to Armenia, but one thing is for sure-Armenia will be the first place where I will invest my knowledge and experience because I was born on this land and have been raised with my national values. All Armenians have a duty to the Homeland, and we all need to help our country with our profession. Everything still lies ahead…I still have a year to study. After graduating, I will be unconditionally dedicated to my profession. I would like to thank the organizers and sponsors of the “Armenia. Create Together” youth forum, including the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Luys Foundation and Ayb Foundation, as well as Vardanants Innovative Medical Center, microsurgeon Gevorg Yaghjyan and all those who made even a small contribution to this program, regardless of their office and position.

Hayern Aysor’s interview with Narek Dshkhunyan ended with a promising and optimistic epilogue, just like the five other interviews with the participants of the “Medicine and Health: Telemedicine” Atelier…and you simply must believe in the great potential of young Armenians because they are already proving that with their work.

Karine Avagyan