1st Annual Central California Mentorship, CME/CDE Symposium and Networking Event CME/CDE Presenters

Topic: Testing and Treatment of Commonly Encountered Gastrointestinal Disorders
Presented By: John D Abdulian, MD

John D Abdulian, MD, is a Board certified gastroenterologist who has been in practice for over 30 years. He is a member of a long line of physicians serving the Armenian community over 4 generations. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and is a graduate of UCLA. He received his medical degree at St Louis University School of Medicine, completed his Internal Medicine residency at Scripps Mercy San Diego and his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Loma Linda University . He was in private practice in Southern California for 11 years and served multiple medical staff leadership positions including Chief of Staff at Glendale Memorial Hospital. He was recruited and relocated to Dallas in 2006 but missed the Armenian community and his Armenian patients and felt that he needed to come back to California. For the last 8 years he has been practicing in his wife’s hometown of Fresno and is currently a partner at Fresno Gastroenterology and chairman of the GI division at Clovis Community Medical Center.

Dr. John Abdulian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Topic: Disaster Medicine: How Do You Provide Care in a Disaster or Multi Casualty Incident
Presented By: Hagop Afarian, MD

Hagop Afarian, MD is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Informatics. Dr. Afarian received his medical degree at Stanford University. His residency in Emergency Medicine was completed at University of California, San Francisco, Fresno where he earned the title of Chief Resident. He has won multiple emergency medicine awards and has been invited to speak many times on emergency and wilderness medicine. On top of teaching fellows, residents, and medical students in the Emergency Department at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, Dr. Afarian also trains residents and faculty on electronic medical record systems.

Dr. Hagop Afarian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Topic: Oral Cancer, the Silent Killer 
Presented By: Adrina C. Gulian, DDS

Adrina C. Gulian, DDS is a Fresno native and attended college at Fresno State University where she received her degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Armenian Studies. From there, she went on to dental school at the University of Southern California, completing her degree in 2016. After that she relocated back to Fresno to train in a general dental residency program at the downtown Community Regional Medical Center for one year. Adrina has worked in the private dental practice setting since 2017. She has a comprehensive approach to treatment planning and particularly enjoys oral surgery, endodontics, and restorative dentistry. Her goal in dentistry is to provide a calming environment where trust is at the epicenter of her

interactions with her patients. As a second generation dentist, she desires to live out the legacy that was handed down to her by her father: the pursuit of a career that is as much an art as it is a science and a career of human relations. Adrina's strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, and desire for lifelong learning have been a positive contribution to her career in dentistry. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and is working toward obtaining her fellowship degree. She is also involved in her local community and volunteers her time to perform annual dental screenings as part of a preventative approach in the fight against childhood decay.

Dr. Adrina Gulian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose

Topic: Updates in the Management of Oral Cancers
Presented By: Alex Jawharjian, PharmD, MPH, MBA, FACHE

Alex Jawharjian, PharmD, MPH, MBA, FACHE, is the Chief Operating Officer at California Rehabilitation Institute overseeing operational leadership and hospital management. Since joining Cal Rehab in 2015, he has helped build a successful culture of patient advocacy and employee satisfaction. Prior to joining Cal Rehab, Alex held administrative roles at tertiary and long-term acute care hospitals including Ventura County Medical Center and Barlow Respiratory Hospital. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Alex earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Armenian Studies from UCLA, a Master of Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, a Doctor of Pharmacy from USC and an MBA from Cal State Los Angeles. He is currently an adjunct professor for the USC School of Pharmac

Dr. Alex Jawharjian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Topic: Atrial Fibrillation Advances in Management
Presented By: Nareg Kalamkarian, MD

Nareg Kalamkarian, MD is a Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist currently practicing in Fresno, CA. Dr. Kalamkarian grew up in California’s Central Valley. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences from UC Davis, he pursued his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn (Downstate), followed thereafter by a Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases, also at SUNY Downstate. Dr. Kalamkarian returned to California to complete his medical training with a Fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. He began his career at Kaiser Permanente, Fresno Medical Center where he was a Senior Physician and partner with The Permanente Medical Group.

Dr. Kalamkarian is passionate about medical education, devoting himself to instructing the next generation of physicians. He has taken a particular interest in training physicians in the Central Valley. In his clinical practice, he is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Specialty Medicine for the California Health Sciences University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM). Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at CHSU-COM, preparing students in their early years of medical education in both clinical and basic sciences curricula.

Dr. Kalamkarian is looking forward to the next phase of his career as a Cardiologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF-Fresno.

Dr. Nareg Kalamkarian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Topic: Medical Missions: For What Purpose and Whose Glory?
Presented By: Jacob (Jay) Khushigian, BSEL, MD

Jacob (Jay) Khushigian, BSEL, MD, received a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 1980. He was a faculty lecturer at California State University, Fresno, in the Electrical Engineering Department from 1980-1983. He graduated from Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in 1987 and then completed residency and became Board Certified in Family Practice in 1990. He has practiced emergency medicine for 33 years in the San Joaquin Valley of California. He has a heart for Christ centered missions. He was blessed to share Christ during a basketball outreach ministry’s halftime devotional, twice a week for 25+ years. He and Sue have participated in short-term missions in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Armenia. Recently, Dr. Jay and Sue have been blessed to be participants in building relationships and promoting reconciliation between Turkish and Armenian Christian leaders. Dr. Khushigian joined the team of Medical Ministries International (MMI) located in Fresno, CA from 2018 to 2023. He served as their Physician Liaison and Quality Assurance Director. Dr. Khushigian organized and formally certified used medical equipment for proper functioning and safety before shipping to vetted international medical organizations including shipments to Armenia. Dr. Khushigian has been to Armenia four times for medical mission projects. He participated in the following: 2009 with the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) outreach in Armenia. 2014 with Dr. Jany Haddad, M.D. supporting a general surgical mission with Armenian Christian Medical Association (ACMA). 2019 as a lecturer at the ACMA’s conference in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. 2023 with the Armenian Relief and Development Association’s (ARDA) Gyumri Clinic.

Dr. Jacob Khushigian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Topic: Updates in the Management of Oral Cancers
Presented By: Sarmen Sarkissian, MD

Sarmen Sarkissian, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and hematology and oncology. He completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UCLA and earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He then completed his internship through a categorical internal medicine program and served his residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. It was there that he developed an interest in oncology and hematology and subsequently completed his fellowship training at the University of California, Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Sarkissian is a practicing hematologist and oncologist, serving the cities of Ventura, Simi Valley, and Mission Hills. He is also affiliated with City of Hope as an associate professor.

Dr. Sarmen Sarkissian, planner and presenter for this educational event, is on the speakers’ bureau for Lilly.