MADERA, Calif. – A recent visit to Valley Children’s Healthcare provided two physicians from Armenia with an opportunity to observe specialized pediatric programs and gather insights that will strengthen care for children in their home country.
Dr. Magda Sarukhanyan and Dr. Sona Martirosyan from Wigmore Women’s and Children’s Hospital spent time with clinical teams from Valley Children’s, observing multidisciplinary care models, specialized clinics and coordinated treatment pathways designed to improve outcomes for pediatric patients.
For both physicians, the experience reinforced the similarities between the two organizations while highlighting practices that could be adapted to benefit children in Armenia.
“This is my first visit to Valley Children’s,” said Dr. Sarukhanyan, a pediatrician. “I am very impressed by the hospital, the teamwork and the care for children and their families.”
Dr. Martirosyan, who serves as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, was particularly struck by the organization of care throughout the hospital.
“What impressed me most about Valley Children’s is how well the hospital is organized,” Dr. Martirosyan said. “The specialized units, structured patient pathways, and efficient clinical system create an environment where children receive high-quality, coordinated care.”
The visit also offered opportunities to learn new clinical approaches and best practices that can be applied in Armenia.
Dr. Sarukhanyan said she gained a deeper understanding of evaluating and managing children with developmental and behavioral conditions while seeing firsthand how evidence-based medicine is incorporated into daily practice.
“During my visit I learned more about different approaches to evaluating and managing children with developmental and behavioral conditions,” she said. “It was also very valuable to see how evidence-based medicine is used in everyday clinical practice.”
RELATED: Armenian Physicians Visit Valley Children’s in Ongoing Pediatric Partnership
Both physicians said the lessons learned at Valley Children’s will help support ongoing efforts to advance pediatric care at Wigmore Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“I will take back not only new knowledge, but also new professional approaches,” Dr. Sarukhanyan said. She added that she plans to share new ideas with colleagues and use what she learned to help improve care for children and families in Armenia.
The visit is part of a broader partnership between Valley Children’s and Wigmore that both physicians say is creating long-term benefits for children in Armenia.
“Medicine is constantly evolving, and one of the best ways to improve patient care is to learn directly from organizations that have developed world-class pediatric programs,” Dr. Sarukhanyan said. “For us, these visits are about learning from excellence.”
Dr. Martirosyan echoed that sentiment, noting that observing practices at an experienced pediatric center allows physicians to bring back ideas that can be adapted to local needs.
“Visiting Valley Children’s allows us to observe effective clinical practice, exchange ideas, and gain experience that we can adapt and implement in Armenia,” she said.
As Wigmore continues to strengthen its pediatric programs, both physicians said the knowledge gained through partnerships such as this one can lead to lasting improvements in care, helping ensure more children receive high-quality treatment without needing to travel abroad.
“Every child deserves the best possible care, no matter where they are born,” Dr. Sarukhanyan said. “When we learn from our colleagues at Valley Children’s, children in Armenia benefit from better treatments, stronger clinical programs, and better outcomes.”
To learn more about the partnership between the two organizations, click here.
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