Ruzanna Mkhitaryan

Ruzanna Mkhitaryan was born on April 27, 1960. She graduated from the #86 school, named after Martiros Saryan and focused on fine arts. She is a Medical Doctor with extensive training and many years of practice. Ruzanna graduated from Yerevan State Medical University, specializing in Internal Medicine. Her first employment was at the Yerevan Clinical Hospital #1 as an attending physician.

She later studied at the Department of Public Health at the American University in Armenia and went on to receive her Master's degree in Public Health. She received further training at the Galilee College of Israel and at Boston University, and completed certificate courses in Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, and the USA.

Ruzanna has worked in the Ministry of Health of Armenia as Head of the National Health Policy Department, Head of the Primary Health Care Department, and Head of the Health Reforms Department. She has been engaged in the TACIS-granted "Health Care Managers Training Program" as project author and coordinator, in the World Bank–sponsored "Primary Health Care" project as author, and in the WHO-sponsored "National Health Policy" project as project coordinator. She also developed and coordinated the Primary Health Care improvement project conducted by UMCOR and OXFAM.

Ruzanna moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Boston University and has since been making a difference for the geriatric community in LA. She has worked as a program director for Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Centers since September 2000, continuing to be involved in public health care reforms by writing project proposals for ADHC program improvements. She has also published newspapers and magazines while working in ADHC Centers to help recognize the importance of public education in disease prevention.

Fine arts are an inseparable part of Ruzanna's life. She paints because it speaks to her — putting her heart and soul into every work. When she paints, she separates herself from the world and lets her imagination take her on a journey, completing a painting in weeks that would normally take years. When asked why she didn't pursue a career in art, she said that medicine is the ultimate form of art. Fine art is her passion and her oxygen — her escape from mundane life.

Ruzanna is also the author of several short stories, drawing inspiration for her characters from everyday people. Her characters are not superheroes — they are real people with real feelings, observed with care. Ruzanna is married and has two children, Mane and Hovhannes, whom she considers her biggest accomplishments in life.