Armenia’s journey toward a self-sufficient healthcare system

Sharpening surgical scalpels on barber’s leather straps was once the reality in Armenia’s hospitals, an observation that inspired Dr. Krikor Deramerian to rethink how the diaspora can be involved in building lasting solutions in the country. He now works to shift Armenia’s healthcare from one-off aid trips to sustainable, preventive care that empowers local physicians and improves patient outcomes. In this conversation, he also considers what makes diaspora engagement meaningful when it’s tied to real systemic change.