AIM Fund History - Milestones

1999             

  • In Armenia, a three-year-old’s medical papers were given to Salpy Akaragian, PhD. RN, NPD-BC by Sevak Avagyan, MD, the Medical Director of the Armenian Relief Society of Armenia (ARS).  Dr. Salpy Akaragian met with Dr. Akira Ishiyama at UCLA Health. The diagnosis of profound hearing loss was determined, and a cochlear implant (CI) was recommended.

  • Dr. Akira Ishiyama received the invitation letter from Erebouni Medical Center (EMC).

2002          

  • Support letter to begin the cochlear implant project was sent to Dr. Ishiyama from the Minister of Health of Armenia (Dr. A. Mkrtchyan)

2003          

  • Salpy Akaragian met with Dr. Ishiyama and the UCLA Health audiology team and decided to begin a cochlear implant project in Armenia.

  • Dr. Artur Shukuryan and Dr. Vigen Bakhshinyan from EMC received training at UCLA Health from Dr. Akira Ishiyama and his team.

  • Armenian International Medical Fund was formed. 

  • Received an invitation letter from the Minister of Health of Armenia (Dr. N. Davidyan) to begin the CI project in Armenia.

 2004              

  • For the First time in Armenia, Dr. Akira Ishiyama and the team performed cochlear implant surgeries. Three very young children received CIs.         

  • First Gala Dinner Fund Raising Event in the US. 

  • 2nd Medical Mission for CI surgeries.

2005             

  • 3rd Medical Mission for CI surgeries.

2006 - 07    

  • CI Project was evaluated.

2008          

  • 4th and 5th Medical Mission for CI surgeries.

  • Neonatal Hearing Screening Started by Erebouni and Arabkir Medical Centers in Yerevan, Armenia.

  • The government of Armenia recognized the CI project as one of the most innovative healthcare projects in the country.

  •  Met with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

  • National Neonatal Screening in Armenia started.                                                                                              

2009          

  • 6th Medical Mission for CI surgeries.                                       

2010          

  • 7th Medical Mission for CI surgeries.     

  • Opened Armenian International Ear Center at EMC with Computer Simulated Temporal Bone Drilling Program

2011          

  • 8th & 9th Medical Mission for CI surgeries.

2012          

  • 10th Medical Mission for CI surgeries.

  • Dr. Akira Ishiyama and Dr. Salpy Akaragian received special recognition and a Medal from the Minister of Health, D. Dumanyan. 

2013        

  • 11th & 12th Medical Mission for CI and Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) surgeries.

2014- 2018

  • 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.          

  • Dr. Akira Ishiyama and Dr. Salpy Akaragian received recognition from Minister of Diaspora: Hranush Hakobyan.

  • AIM Fund in Armenia was formed.

  • An agreement with the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs was created to provide processor accessories.

2019          

  • 18th & 19th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • Dr. Akira Ishiyama received a “Special Medal” from the Prime Minister of Armenia, N. Pashinyan.

  • Dr. Salpy Akaragian, Dr. Akira Ishiyama and Dr. Artur Shukuryan met with President of Armenia; Armen Sarkissian. 

  • Dr. Akira Ishiyama received a Gold Medal from the Minister of Health, Dr. Arsen Torosyan.

2020          

  • 20th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • Dr. Ishiyama and three other surgeons operated on a wounded soldier with facial nerve damage from shrapnel.  See the video on the website; in addition to Dr. Akira Ishiyama, eye, vascular, and plastic surgeons operated on the soldier.

2021          

  • 21st and 22nd Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • Implanted 24 candidates. Record! The most in a year.

  • CI project was restructured with new personnel (surgeon, ENT Chief)

2022          

  • 23rd and 24th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • Training of new and retraining of otology surgeons began in November.

  • Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s office contributed $4,000 towards the CI System's cost for 19 recipients.

  • 19 CI surgeries in June and 6 planned for November.

  • Drs. Akira Ishiyama and Salpy Akaragian received an appreciation certificate from the Prime Minister’s office (N. Pashinyan).

2023             

  • 25th and 26th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • A total of 28 CI surgeries were performed.

  • Bilateral CI cases

  • Purchased Mitaka Microscope

  • The Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s office contribute financially by paying the hospital bill and part of the CI cost.

  • Dr. Avedis Azizyan from UCLA Radiology joined the CI medical team                                         

2024           

  • 27th Medical Missions for CI and BAHA surgeries.

  • Opening ceremony of Mitaka Microscope – Funding UCLA Donor Advised Fund, Erebouni MC, and the AIM Fund

  • 12 children and one adolescent received CI at the June-July mission

  • Psychosocial rounds initiated

  • Over five volunteers joined the summer medical mission

  • Dr. Salpy Akaragian met with the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to continue upgrading the processors that the Ministry of Health initiated under the direction of the Prime Minister. The AIM Fund in Armenia submitted the proposal to financially support 19 CI recipients’ processors that absolutely and proposed the schedule to begin upgrading Nucleus 6 processors.

  • Implants were activated in August, and dignitaries such as a Parliament member, the Ambassador of Japan, a Representative from the Prime Minister’s office, the Deputy Minister of Health, and others were present.

  • AIM Fund continues working with the UCLA-ArmGenia project and holds meetings (Dr. Salpy Akaragian) with the AIM Fund in Armenia board members and advisers.

 

Many volunteers from the AIM Fund have traveled with the medical team to Armenia, eye-witnessed the surgeries, and supported the children and families.