Staff

Robert Hagan is the Chief of Party of HS-STAR project.

In August, 2011 Mr. Hagan joined Abt Associates and the HS-STAR project in Armenia after some 30 years of international health development experience. He has previously worked internationally for Harvard Associates, the Government of Qatar, the World Health Organization and the U.S. State Department. His international experience includes work in Qatar, Somalia, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Mongolia and Switzerland with short term assignments in many others. Prior to his international work, Mr. Hagan worked for the U.S. Public Health Service, the City of Dallas Health Department , and the Social Welfare Research Institute/C.D.C. Mr. Hagan’s publications range from hospital based patient education in Qatar to a review of maternal and infant mortality reduction success in Mongolia. He is a M. S. graduate of the first class in Health Systems Analysis and Planning from the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. His post graduate education includes programs in health and hospital information systems, emergency management and health care improvement.

Gayane Gharagebakyan is the Deputy Chief of Party and Team Leader for Health Governance & Finance Team at HS-STAR project.

Prior to joining the project Gayane was the Acting Chief of Party and Acting Director of Cardno EM Armenia representative office and Team leader at USAID funded Armenia Primary Health Care Project. She has held senior level positions in a number of organizations including USAID funded Armenia Social Transition Program, World Bank Health Project Implementation Unit, Ministry of Health, National Assembly of Armenia. She has extensive academic and work experience in the fields of healthcare system design, implementation and healthcare reforms, partnership building, health legislation, advocacy, communication and molecular biology. Gayane is an author of dozens of scientific articles, researches and manuals. She has completed several certificate courses in UK, Hungary and Armenia. Gayane has graduated the Yerevan State University and holds a PhD degree obtained from Higher Attestation Commission in Moscow, Russia.

Gayane Igitkhanyan is the Health Financing Advisor at HS-STAR.

Gayane has over 20 years of extensive experience in the fields of economics, health care, medical service organization and health sector human resources planning, has participated in the reforms implemented in these fields. Prior to joining HS-STAR Gayane has worked at “Diagnostic” Medical Corporation, Global Fund’s MoH projects coordination group, USAID-funded Primary Health Care Reform Project implemented by Emerging Markets Group, Armenia Social Transition Program (ASTP) implemented by Abt Associates; she has also collaborated with the World Bank Health Project Implementation Unit as an Expert of Health Financing Mechanisms Improvement working group. She has a degree in Organization Economics and Management, certificates from trainings in Accounting, Business, Health Planning, Human Resource Management in Health Care, Rational Use of Medicines.

Davit Khachatryan is the HIS Advisor of HS-STAR project.

Naira Davtyan works as the Health Financing Advisor, assisting with the planning and implementation of the project’s health financing activities.

Prior to joining the project, she has worked as a Financial Expert and Advisor in a number of organizations, including the Ministry of Finance, World Bank Supported Armenian Health Projects , World Health Organization etc. Naira has completed several certificate courses on health finance, economics, accounting, resources and strategic budgeting in the U.S., Latvia, UK, Austria. She also holds a Master degree in Finance and Accounting from the Yerevan State Institute of National Economy.

Garnik Harutyunyan is the Health Financing Advisor at HS-STAR.

He is responsible for the support of the independent PHC providers. Garnik has worked at a number of organizations, including the USAID funded PHCR, ASTP projects. He has more than 30 years of working, lecturing, training and consultancy experience. He is an author of more than 50 scientific articles published in Armenia and abroad. Garnik has graduated the Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute, the Moscow Institute of Economics and Statistics, the Moscow State University. He has also completed several certificate courses.

Karine Abelyan is the Quality Improvement Team Leader/ Non–Communicable Disease/Preventive Adviser at HS-STAR project.

She is responsible for the technical assistance to support widespread implementation of National Standards of Care and evidence-based approaches for NCD services. Prior joining HS-STAR she was the Reproductive Health and Family Planning specialist at the USIAD projects NOVA and NOVA 2. She was responsible for development of training packages on Family Planning and Nosocomial Infection Prevention, overseeing trainings and further follow-up and monitoring and support in this areas. She is a Family Doctor with more than 20 years of clinical and about 10 years of teaching experiences. She is one of the first Family doctors in Armenia with extensive trainings in Armenia and abroad.

Karine Gabrielyan is the Quality of Care Adviser at HS-STAR.

She supports the Ministry of Health to implement its quality assessment concept; including establishment of system-level mechanisms to monitor provider performance against selected indicators and establishment of the system/unified procedure of development of clinical practice guidelines. She is also responsible for strengthening and expanding quality improvement mechanisms at health facility, marz and national-level. Karine has served as the Family Medicine and Quality of Care Team Leader for the USAID funded PHCR Project providing senior level technical leadership and management in helping expand Family Medicine and strengthen Quality of Care in primary health care facilities in Armenia. She has over 10 years of health reform experience. Karine holds an MD degree from the Yerevan State Medical University.

Murad Kirakosyan is the Healthcare Quality Advisor at HS-STAR project.

He has more than thirty years of extensive experience in the fields of clinical medicine, health¬care management and administration, health system reforms, healthcare quality, health management training and consultancy. Prior to joining the project, he worked at the USAID PHCR project, School of Healthcare Management and Administration at American University of Armenia, has occupied high-level positions in the structure of the Ministry of Health. Murad Kirakosyan has also worked as a National expert/consultant for a number of international projects and organizations. He is an author and co-author of several articles and books published in Armenia and abroad. Murad holds an MD degree and has completed several certificate courses in Canada, U.S. and UK.

Gohar Panajyan is the Maternal/Child/Reproductive Health/Family Planning Advisor at HS-STAR project, responsible for the technical deliverables of these areas.

Prior joining to HS-STAR project Gohar has worked at USAID-funded NOVA/NOVA2 projects as the Performance Improvement Team Leader and the Quality HealthCare Services Senior Expert. She also has more than 11 years of extensive experience in managing and coordinating international Reproductive Health (RH)/ Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs and initiatives. She has served as technical expert/consultant with UNDP, UNICEF, TACIS, AUA Health Services Research and Development Center (CHSRD), has been the Deputy Coordinator for the USAID’s Global Networks for Health project in Armenia and recently has been serving as the Armenia Country Coordinator for the USAID-funded MNH/NCD assessment in Armenia, implemented by USAID/HCIP project, implemented by URC Co, LLC. She is an author of a number of articles and research papers related to the clinical and organizational aspects of RH/MCH services delivery published in different peer-reviewed journals of Armenia, Europe and US. Gohar Panajyan is a member of the Association of Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Armenian Public Health Alliance, the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and the European Society of Contraception (ESC). She is an accomplished obstetrician-gynecologist with more than 5 years of clinical experience as a practicing Obstetrician/Gynecologist; she also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the American University of Armenia.

Gohar Jerbashian is the Health Financing/Workforce Planning Advisor at HS-STAR

Prior to joining HS-STAR project Gohar served as an expert/consultant with UNAIDS, RTI (USA), WVArmenia. Since 1998, Gohar has been working in different social sector development programs implemented/funded by international donor organizations. She worked as the Health Policy/Knowledge Management Team Leader in USAID NOVA Project, Expert in Social Insurance in USAID ASTP, and Expert in Health Economics in WB HPIU. She holds MS in Mathematics and MBA Degrees, received respectively from YSU and AUA. Gohar has long-lasting experience in teaching at YSU. She supported establishment of the Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degree Programs in Actuarial Mathematics at YSU, as well creation of and served as a Managing Editor for peer-reviewed Armenian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology. Her recent research interests include: health care policy, human resources for health, health systems and governance, health economics, anti-corruption, demography, education, poverty, and pension insurance system. She has (co)authored 37 scientific articles and social sector development policy papers, and two books.

Vigen Tatintsyan is the Emergency Care Specialist

Prior to joining the HS-STAR project Vigen was the Deputy Director of “St. Gregor the Illuminator” Emergency Medical Center. He has worked in a numerous hospitals, healthcare institutions in Armenia and in international military units. In particular, Vigen was a senior officer at the Military medical department of Armenian armed forces, a Commander of medical service at UN peacekeeping brigade, has also participated in “Operation Iraqi Freedom” of Coalition Forces. He has extensive experience in Emergency care, hospital administration and planning, medical general practice, health economics etc. Vigen has graduated the Yerevan State Medical University and National Institute of Health Named after Academician Avdalbekyan in Yerevan. He has completed a number of certificate trainings and courses in the United States, Armenia, Russia, Germany and Greece. Vigen was awarded with 3 medals of RoA Ministry of Defense and 2 medals of “Iraqi freedom Operation” Coalition Forces.

Laura Gillini is the TB advisor at HS-STAR project

Laura is a Medical doctor and prior to joining the HS-STAR she was the Communicable Diseases Specialist and Medical Manager of a Pilot Regional Project on Infectious Diseases based at Hospital Santa Caterina Novella – Lecce, Italy focused on drug users. Simultaneously she worked as a part-time independent consultant carrying out missions in Mozambique, Bangladesh and teaching in international WHO courses. She has worked for almost ten years for the World Health Organization at different levels both in regional offices and at country level in Europe, Middle East and South East Asia. Laura has extensive experience in the fields of Communicable Diseases Clinical and Public Health/Epidemiology, TB and MDR TB management, project management, advocacy, and resource mobilization. She has completed several epidemiology courses at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD-U.S.A. and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has graduated the Infectious diseases residency of the Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome and holds a Ph.D. degree from the same university.

Narine Beglaryan is the Civil Society Engagement Team Leader at HS-STAR.

She leads team’s efforts aimed at increasing civil society engagement in public health initiatives, supporting innovative PPPs and strengthening government health education and promotion capacities. Prior to joining the project Narine has been working at the Ministry of Health( MoH) of Armenia for more than ten years. Her last position at MoH was Head of International Relations department where she was in charge of coordinating and overseeing all international health programs implemented in Armenia, international cooperation programs with foreign countries and international organizations (WHO, USAID, WB, UNICEF, etc..). She has extensive experience in the fields of health system management, administration, health policy development, civil society engagement, health education and promotion. In addition to her responsibilities in the Ministry of Health Narine Beglaryan was also served as National Focal Point/Consultant of WHO on Health Promotion. She has also sound clinical experience working as an obstetrician/gynecologist. Narine has graduated with honor from the Yerevan State Medical University with MD degree and has passed postgraduate residency program on OB/GYN at National Institute of Health. She has participated in number of professional seminars, workshops and trainings in Armenia and abroad.

Susanna Mkrtchyan is the Health Education advisor at HS-STAR.

Before joining the project Susanna has worked at the USAID funded Primary Health Care Reform Project (PHCR) as a Health Education Specialist and at the Armenia Social Transition Program (ASTP) as a Consultant. She also worked in a number of organizations, including Health Services Research and Development center of the American University of Armenia, International Research and Exchange Board (IREX), Institute of Molecular Biology. Susanna has a considerable experience in the fields of Public and Health Education, Primary Health Care services, Public Health analysis, event planning etc. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the American University of Armenia and MS in Biology from the Yerevan State University.

Hripsime Nazaretyan is Civil Society Advisor at HS-STAR

She is responsible for the mobilization and capacity building of Armenian Watch-dog Advocacy NGOs and CSOs in health sector initiatives and promotion of (PPPs) Public-Private-Partnership. Hripsime has over 15 years of professional and practical experience and knowledge of the Civil Society Organizations and activities in Armenia. Prior joining to HS-STAR project Hripsime has worked at USAID-funded NGO Training and Resource Center playing a lead role in organizational development and leadership, advocacy, campaigning and constituency relations, civil society capacity building and grants management. Hripsime has graduated with honor from Yerevan State Institute of Foreign and Russian Languages after V.Brusov, department of English and German languages and Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, faculty of social professions. She has completed several certificate courses and participated in a number of professional conferences, workshops and trainings in Armenia and abroad.

Zaruhi Mkrtchyan is the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Expert.

She is responsible for monitoring the project performance throughout its implementation and tracking and evaluating its results and achievements. Zara has been working in public health research and evaluation since 2000. Prior to joining HS-STAR she worked at American University of Armenia’s Center of Health Services Research and Development and USAID Maternal and Child Projects NONA and NOVA 2. Zara has post-graduate degree in Public Health from the American University of Armenia and Public Health Informatics from the University of Illinois.

Narek Kosyan is the Communications Specialist at HS-STAR project.

He is responsible for website coordination, highlighting the project activities and achievements, assuring adherence to material clearance and other communication related activities of the project. Prior joining to HS-STAR Narek has worked at World Vision Armenia’s PR & Communications department, American University of Armenia, Armenian Relief Society and in a number of other organizations. He has considerable experience in fields of journalism, communications, education and socio-political analysis. Narek holds an MA degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA, Master’s degree in Political Science from the American University of Armenia and Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Yerevan State University.

Koryun Sargsyan is the Senior Financial and Administrative Manager at HS-STAR.

Anahit Papoyan is the Administrative & Office manager of the project.

Prior to joining HS-STAR Anahit has worked in USAID funded ASTP and PHCR projects and at International Relief & Development Inc. She has more than 10 years of extensive experience in logistics, office management and administration, project management, procurement, event planning and coordination. Anahit has graduated from the Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute and holds a certificate in English language from the American University of Armenia. She also has completed the ACCA accounting courses.

Vahram Martinyan is the IT Specialist at HS-STAR project.

Prior to joining the project Vahram has worked for a number of organizations including USAID funded PHCR project as an IT Specialist, at «Harmony» Information Technologies and Education Development Fund, State Engineering University of Armenia. He has years of serious experience in system and database administration, network planning and troubleshooting, software packages service etc. Vahram is an author and co-author of several scientific articles. He holds a Master’s degree from the State Engineering University of Armenia and a certificate from Cisco Networking Academy.

Lilit Manukyan is the accountant of the project

Prior to joining HS-STAR she was responsible for overall finance management of the UNDP program “Armenian Professional Women database”. Lilit has 10 years of extensive experience in accounting, logistic, arrangement of incentives and events. She has graduated from the State Engineering University of Armenia and holds a certificate in English language from the American University of Armenia.

Marina Vardanyan is a translator at HS-STAR.

She is responsible for written translations of the documents, correspondence, agreements etc. and oral interpretation during formal and informal meetings. Prior to joining to HS-STAR she worked as Knowledge Management and Communications Officer for USAID projects NOVA and NOVA 2 being also actively involved in health education activities. She has also extensive experience in teaching English. She graduated from Yerevan State University and completed Certificate course of TEFL at the American University of Armenia.

Hasmik Sahakyan is the Grants Manager/Project Assistant

She is responsible for overall project assistance such as providing technical and administrative support to HS-STAR staff, assisting in organization and logistics of all special events and developing of training materials. Before joining HS-STAR Hasmik, still a student, worked as a grants manager’s assistant in US Embassy in Armenia. Prior to this, she was responsible for overall finance management in a research project financed by Dvv-International and later became one of the co-authors of a book, named “Armenian Voices of Istanbul”. Hasmik holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Yerevan State University.

Mara Yeghiazaryan is the Training Coordinator/Project Assistant

Prior to joining the project, Mara has worked at USAID ASTP project as Finance/admin assistance and at Yerevan Municipality Nor Arabkir polyclinics as a Data entry specialist/administrative assistant. She has 10 years of extensive experience in data collection and entry, financing and general administrative work. Mara has graduated Yerevan State Veterinary Institute.