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A Doctor’s Doctor to be Honored by Fund for Armenian Relief
By Florence Avakian
NEW YORK
CITY, NY —–
A modest, unassuming, laid back and
extraordinarily gifted and giving individual is Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, a
renowned neurosurgeon, and professor. These praiseworthy personal
traits belie a medical professional whose awards and honors crowd many
pages. Visiting him at the world famous Presbyterian Hospital where so
many of his accomplishments have been performed, I found him in a small office,
lined with paintings of Armenia, happily continuing his research, even though
he has been in retirement for 11 years.
On January 15, 2010, Dr. Housepian will be
honored at a gala banquet, sponsored by the Fund
for Armenian Relief (FAR) for his vast
contributions to medicine, and for the relief and medical efforts in
Armenia. The event will take place at Cipriani, downtown.
During an exclusive interview with this writer
at Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Housepian revealed that his motivation for going
into medicine and especially neurosurgery started with his father whom "I loved
and respected very much. He had graduated from medical school in 1905, but
they didn’t have specialties in those days. He was a surgeon, delivered
babies, and did everything. But after medicine advanced, fields developed, he
gave up surgery and obstetrics, and ended his career by being an internist and
a general family doctor. It must have been in my mind that medicine
was a very fulfilling field."
The young Edgar Housepian got his first job as
an orderly in the operating room in New York Hospital at age 14, "when World
War II was on, and manpower was hard up. I saw all sorts of
operations, even helped out in the autopsy suite. Then I was asked to
scrub on a couple of neurosurgical operations. When you’re 15 years old, that’s
pretty awesome. It no doubt at least subconsciously influenced my future
career. But I buried that thought, and joined the Navy when
I turned 17 because I wanted to fly."
A Passion to Fly
He calls himself "a rotten kid, like most," when
he was young. "While in bed with poison ivy I would cut out coupons for all of
the flying schools in Flying Magazine. My family was not amused when
occasionally representatives would come to the door. When I was 15, I "fudged"
my birth certificate and went to Canada to join the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air
Force). When I got there, they laughed and sent me home." He
finally joined the Navy V-5 program but left at the end of WWII because he
realized that Naval Aviation was not to be his
career and instead completed college and enrolled in medical school.
Neuroscience is even more
interesting, and burgeoning today because of the advancement in knowledge," he
notes. "Since I started medical school in 1949, half of what I learned is now wrong,
and the other half I have forgotten. So you have to keep learning. Over
the years, the field has become more and more specialized and even
sub-specialized. This is better for patients."
Since he retired 11 years ago, at age 70, he has
continued fielding a neuroscience review course at Columbia University started
32 years ago. At retirement, the dean of the school "gave me a long
title, but no salary. I was miffed at first, but then realized how lucky
I am. If the dean had given me a small salary, every time he burped, I would have
had to salute," he
says chuckling. "This way I’m able to do what I wanted – to be active with students
and faculty in
their global interests, continuing to develop affiliations with over 20 medical
schools around the world, and stay involved with health care in Armenia. It’s very
fulfilling. I’m not
a retiree who plays golf. When you stop active practice, if you’re honest
with yourself, it’s like stepping off the train. You’re standing at the
station, and the train is 20 miles down the track. I can’t teach
neurosurgery because it’s changed that much."
First among his heroes has been Dr. J. Lawrence
Pool whom he calls his "father figure, benefactor, teacher. Everything was
special about him. He was national squash champion, sailed across the Atlantic,
piloted float planes, had a great sense of humor and had a thousand new ideas
every month, a true Renaissance man. He kept you on your toes, and
supported you."
The Dr.
Edgar Housepian Professorship in Neurological Surgery which was established
by Columbia University Board of Trustees is one of dozens of awards and honors
that he has received. Others that he is most proud of include the Presidential Citation
from the Republic
of Armenia in 1994; Honorary Doctor of
Science by Armenia’s Academy of Sciences, and Honorary Doctor of Medicine
by Yerevan State Medical University in 1997; and the Humanitarian Award by the American
Association of Neurological
Surgeons in 2002. He has also authored more than 100 articles on
medicine.
Dedication to FAR
One of three leaders who created the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) after the
1988 devastating earthquake, under the sponsorship of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church, Dr. Housepian followed in the footsteps of his parents who
were deeply involved in the Armenian-American community. His father had
gone to Armenia in 1916, and his mother had been a member of the AGBU Central
Committee for 30 years. "They entertained Armenian clergy and
officials from overseas. I was immersed in it, but never involved while
my career was developing."
Two years before the earthquake, Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian called him and informed him that Catholicos Vasken I was
coming to NY, and had a severe back problem. "With his white beard, he always made
me think of God
and Santa Claus," he remarks with a smile. Dr. Housepian admitted him into
the hospital, "but he started getting better and I didn’t have to operate on him
and was very relieved. I look back on his
admission sheet, and it says ‘Occupation, Pope’," he says laughing. That
was his connection with the church until then and
he points out that he and his three children were baptized in New York’s Holy Cross
Church.
Immediately following the earthquake, he called
the Primate, and offered his services. "Anything I’ve done is because I
have had access to so many support services." He called the president of
New York Presbyterian Hospital, Dr, Thomas Morris, and the next day a large
room had been set up with a phone bank, with several volunteers from the
hospital and community. Within five days, they had collected millions of
dollars of drugs, instruments. Dozens of physicians
– 30 with active passports – volunteered to go to Armenia. "I can’t
believe how easily it happened."
However, in the middle of the night, Dr.
Housepian received a telephone call from Dr. Marat Vartanian, who had spent
time at the New York Psychiatric Institute at Columbia and was the head of
psychiatric research in the Soviet Union, telling him not to come to Armenia
because there was a plethora of doctors from Europe, the Soviet Union, and
there was no hotel space. The volunteer trip was canceled, but the equipment was
sent. At that point, it was decided that Archbishop Torkom, Kevork Hovnanian and
Dr.
Housepian should go to see how the church could be of help, hence the creation of
FAR.
"It was an awesome experience. Leninakan
(today’s Gyumri) was almost totally destroyed. There was nothing but coffins all
over. If we had taken our team of 30 doctors, we could not have done
anything. I shared a very small room with Kevork
for 10 days, and no doubt we bonded then." Close to a million
dollars was raised through the Diocese for humanitarian relief. The FAR board was
then formed by the Primate, Hovnanian and
Housepian.
Three weeks after
the three leaders returned from Armenia, another team was sent to Armenia with
Drs. John Nersessian, orthopedic surgeon at Presbyterian; Dick Fraser, Cornell
University neurosurgeon; Dick Gulian, head of plastic surgery at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering; and John Stanley Meyers, professor of rehabilitation and
medicine at Columbia University. Their recommendation was that
after the emergency period was over, the best contribution would be in medical
education in Armenia, because it was still 30 years behind western medicine
conceptually.
Later, Annette Choolfaian, Professor
of the New York School of Public Health and a FAR Board member, and Dr. John
Nercessian went back to Yerevan to find a working location for the surgical
team, which was set to arrive in January 1993 at the request of the Armenian
Health Ministry for complex surgery on victims of the earthquake and Karabagh
war. Professor Choolfaian and Dr. Nercessian secured the kind permission of the
AGBU to use the just-refurbished surgical suite in the Mikaelyan Hospital.
FAR
Fellowship Program
That’s when the FAR Fellowship Program was
started with a tremendous support of Dr. John Bilezekian, at the time head of the
endocrinology at
Cornell. Eventually close to 90
doctors from Armenia selected by the Ministry of Health have benefited from
their three-month training in America. Four of them became
Ministers of Health, and three the directors of major hospitals. Medical
librarians also benefited, with one of them becoming director of the Republican
Scientific Medical Library in Yerevan which Dr. Housepian would like to rename
the National Library of Medicine of Armenia.
With obvious excitement, Dr. Housepian relates
that these former Medical Fellows formed their own fellows alumni association –
named the FARFAA. One of the first FAR medical fellows, Dr. Bella Grigorian,
with Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan, Vice-Rector of the Yerevan State Medical University and
Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan, Director of FAR/Yerevan Medical Programs, started a Continuing
Medical Education program
(CME) fashioned after what they saw in Salzburg, Austria. This project
entails bringing doctors who have never seen anything new since they left
medical school, from the provinces to Yerevan for a month where they are housed,
receive a stipend and hands-on training by the best medical personnel
who do so voluntarily. The new recruits
also get special equipment for their local hospitals and are encouraged to pass
on the information to their communities. "The wonderful thing is they thought
it up, and are running it so very well. We’re just financially supporting it," he
says, adding that he hopes the
celebratory function on January 15 will be successful enough so that many more
physicians can attend the refresher program each year.
Anna Shirinian, Director of the Republican
Scientific Medical Library, has turned the National Library into a modern
medical information center. She has set up a computer lab and English as
a Second Language (ESL) program for which she has been honored with the gold
medal from the Armenian president. During a ten year period, FAR also
sent medical journals because the Library had no western literature. "Although the
program is supported by the Armenian government, we would like to
see a brand new building to be a regional showplace."
A
First For Armenia
Dr. Housepian says that medical care in Armenia
today is better than under the Soviet system. But his primary focus is on
medical education, "the only key to improving health care. All the things
in which FAR has been involved have
contributed to the development of close working relationship between the
Medical School, health ministry and parliamentary health commission. That’s a first
for Armenia", he declares with pride, adding, Many of the former
FAR Medical Fellows formed the FAR FAA (FAR Medical Fellows Alumni
Association), " This is entirely their own idea. We’re only advising and
supporting them."
The new Rector of the Medical School, Dr. Gohar
Kyalyan, created an international advisory board with Dr. Aram Chobanian,
President and Dean Emeritus of Boston Universityand FAR Board member, as chair.
Dr.Chobanian has
received a grant from the Lincy Foundation to support Dr. Kyalyan’s
program for curricular reform. The educational and postgraduate training
system will be changed, among other advantages. "Education isn’t sexy in
fundraising circles but it’s very important". Dr. Housepian, again states
that the only reason he agreed to be the focal point of the January 15 gala is
so that funds can be raised for these medical programs.
Early Roots
The personal story of Dr. Housepian’s family is
intimately tied to the Genocide. His father, a college student in Kessab
during the 1894 massacres, escaped by swimming to a ship, and stowing away to
Alexandria, Egypt where he worked in vaudeville for almost a year. "He
used to sing me to sleep with wonderful songs." Earning enough to
go to England, his father put himself through pharmacy school, then emigrated
to America in 1900, working his way through the Long Island College of
Medicine. Graduating in 1905, and after completing two years of
internship/residency he sailed from New York to Barbados and up the
Amazon river as ship’s doctor. In 1916, he went to Russia
with the American Red Cross, then to Etchmiadzin, to take care of refugees from
the Genocide. Returning to America, he started his medical practice.
His mother, who hailed from Izmir, was secretary
for an American woman, director of an orphanage and came to America with her in
1920. His grandmother came to America in 1923 and lived with the
Housepian family. "She always wore black. She was in mourning her
whole life. Her
oldest son was killed and just as she and my grandfather were leaving
the pier at Smyrna to board a ship, he
collapsed and she was not allowed to turn back to see if he was alive or dead",
he says sadly.
His early family life taught him the value of
independence and creativity. "Since I’ve never had a position of real
responsibility, I’ve enjoyed the freedom to be independent and frequently
outspoken. I have also enjoyed the freedom to pursue the things which interest
me. The freedom to be innovative sets one apart from just having a job.
I’m frequently guilty of pontificating and tell young
medical students that I’ve always done what I want, and that they should do the
same." His formula? "First you must do everything you have to do, then you can
do anything what
you want."
Concerning the status of American medicine
today, he remarks though medicine is technologically advanced and our
physicians receive outstanding education and training, he
believes that the general public is
empowered to the point that there is a
decline in professionalism."
He again reverts to the purpose of the
January 15 event in his honor, and expresses the hope that the funds raised
will also benefit the Science and Education Fund (ANSEF) which is one of FAR’s
most ambitious programs run by Dr. Yervant Terzian.
Need a Strong Country Called Armenia
"Basic research is the intellectual capital for
Armenia. The ANSEF program also trains younger scientists and scholars,
and helps to prevent
talented scientists and scholars from leaving the country because of lack of
funds." And what are the responsibilities of diasporan Armenians? "The best way
to preserve our heritage is to have a strong country called
Armenia that one can relate to."
Would he do anything differently in his life? "I always wanted to accomplish something
really outstanding – but am grateful if I have been able to
help individual patients" says this acclaimed doctor with his typical modesty.
He expresses outrage that a Genocide Museum is
being built in this country. "What we need is a museum to celebrate
Armenian culture, and civilization. We have a long 5000 year history of
significant cultural and scientific contributions to western
civilization; when viewed against that background,
the story of our genocide would have much
greater impact."
Success for Dr. Housepian is "being at peace
with yourself, and feeling fulfilled," which he says is a state of
mind. He lists his successes as his family – his wife of 55 years,
and their three children, his elementary education which he notes is more
important than college, and the opportunities he has had to pursue all his
interests – basic research, clinical care, teaching. In his free time, Dr.
Housepian reads non-fiction, travels, but has temporarily given up gardening
and tennis after back
surgery.
Who is Dr. Edgar Housepian? "An American boy who grew up in a loving family which
supported him, with a superb education from
grammar school through professional school, who was given opportunities all
along the way, and who also created opportunities." Always
self-effacing, he relates how during a taxi ride in Yerevan, the driver was
shocked that this renowned doctor and professor couldn’t write his name in
Armenian.
Advice for students today? "If they are
fortunate to develop a passion for any field of interest to them they will have
a happy life. Medicine is most rewarding for those who have found this
but could be grim if the opposite were true."
# # #
About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
hundreds of thousands of people through more than 220 relief and
development programs in Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more
than $265 million in humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide
range of projects including emergency relief, construction, education,
medical aid, and economic development.
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630
Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212)
889-4849;
Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016