LLU School of Dentistry Dentalgram

Dentalgram

August 2002

Armenian Family Dentistry Residency Program
by William H. Heisler

Dr. William Heisler pauses in front of the Armenian Ministry of Health. He and Dr. Gary Kevorkian are assisting in the development of a family dentistry residency program in Armenia.

The Armenian Department of Health has approved the concept of an 18-month Family Dentistry Residency Program in fulfillment of the education requirement for licensure as a dentist in Armenia. The program only needs approval of the curriculum by the Minister of Health before implementation. The curriculum will be based very closely on that of LLUSD’s International Dentist Program.

Drs. Gary Kevorkian, SD’86, MS’90 and William Heisler, SD’59 spent June 26 to July 4, 2002, in Yerevan, Armenia, conferring with various persons in the government, dental education, and the Armenian Dental Society.

Derenik Dumanian, MD, director of the Armenian National Institute of Health (ANIH) was their chief contact. ANIH is the government agency overseeing graduate dental and medical education and testing and licensing of professionals.

Dr. Kevorkian began traveling to Armenia in 1994 after a devastating earthquake and has accompanied LLUSD students on clerkships; he has also helped acquire a dental bus for mobile treatment. In addition, he has established several fixed clinics both for itinerant dentists and students, and a fixed clinic staffed by a local dentist and supported by the Armenian Dental Society of California. He has an excellent rapport with many leaders in the government, the Armenian Church, and the Armenian Dental Society.

The purpose of this recent trip was to take LLUSD-style teaching and lecture methods to local dentists. Dr. Heisler gave a three-hour presentation on adhesive dentistry using Powerpoint, followed the next day with a two-hour seminar on the same and related subjects. This material was very well received and demonstrated that this kind of teaching will be effective. A laboratory session and an IDP-type dexterity test had been planned, but could not be carried out because their luggage never arrived in Yerevan. It was recovered in Paris on the way home. Floyd Hansen, SD’80, PG’81, made a similar trip but with a more extensive lecture schedule, earlier this year.

Dr. Gary Kevorkian (center) and Dr. William Heisler (right) meet with Armenian orthodontic resident Dr. Tigran Avetisyan. They are pictured in the dental library of Yerevan National University. This library is sponsored by the Armenian Dental Society of California and has dental journals current since 1988, as well as an online computer search capability

Another goal of the trip was to visit various potential clinical sites and make a site selection. The group was shown three potential clinical sites. The third site, adjacent to the entrance of ANIH had been planned for a dental clinic. This site was superior to the others and Dr. Dumanian stated that remodeling could begin as soon as a clinic layout is approved.

While in Armenia, the group also interviewed and selected faculty for the program. Before their arrival, interested individuals filled out applications for faculty assignment in the program. Nine applications were received and after review, all nine applicants were interviewed. From this group five were chosen and have received invitations to teach in the program.

It is anticipated that the faculty members will be invited to come to the School of Dentistry for a four-week period to observe our clinical teaching methods and to receive some pre-clinical experience. This visit is planned for mid-August/September, with the program scheduled to begin October 1, 2002.

There is great enthusiasm for the program among the professional and government groups that have oversight of the program. In a meeting with the Armenian Minister of Health, Dr. Ararat Mkrtchyan, Dr. Heisler was able to outline the history, mission and objectives of Loma Linda University.

At the end of the meeting the minister stated that the program concept has his full support to the extent that his department will fund two residents in the first class.

This program, when implemented, will have a decided impact on dental care delivery in Armenia. It will provide for comprehensive care in the place of fragmented, specialty based care that is now available. The result will be most rewarding.

It is envisioned that some LLUSD faculty members will go to Armenia for short teaching assignments with opportunities for retired or semi-retired LLUSD faculty members who enjoy teaching to become involved as an excellent way to support this program.