Ms. Sani serving up love and dental care in Armenia

In October 2015, our own Michele Sani, Assistant Head of School for Academics, and her husband Dr. Ron Sani made their first medical mission trip to Armenia. It was the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which made the experience particularly poignant.

“That year, we served dental patients in several regions of the country, our home base being the capital, Yerevan,” said Mrs. Sani. “Since then, Ron has made the trip every year, and I have served as his assistant twice since then.”

For the last two years, the Sani’s have been assigned to a clinic in Gyumri. This city was devastated by an earthquake in 1988 and is still being reconstructed. The combination of historical atrocities, natural disasters, border wars, poverty, and the unstable government has left the region full of orphans.

“In America, we have a foster system; in Armenia, there are orphanages,” Mrs. Sani explained.  “For the last two years, I have assisted Ron in a clinic adjacent to a Catholic orphanage. It was created by SOAR – Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief. All treatment is free, thanks to donors from all over the world.”

These donors, like many of the physicians who participate in this medical mission, are part of the diaspora --  the scattering of people from their original homeland -- that resulted from the 1915 genocide. “The purpose of this medical mission goes beyond treating the poor,” she explained.  “We train Armenian physicians in best practices, and donate equipment and supplies.”

In addition, Mr. Sani serves as a consultant to the Armenian department of health. He has lectured at the dental college and is presently working with the dean of that institution to create a professional hygienist program.

“Ron and I are blessed to be invited every year to this mission,” said Mrs. Sani. “We come home with greater energy to serve our own community.”

This past October Dr. and Mrs. Sani made their fourth medical trip to Armenia.