Co-Founders
Astrik Vardanyan, is a Medical Anthropologist, CEO and the co-founder of haikProject. Vardanyan’s anthropological research emphasis is comparative child rearing practices of various cultures of the world. She propagates attachment parenting style and advocates for more “natural” birth and childcare practices.
Vardanyan has worked in Armenia and shared her expertise through academic lectures for physicians and nurses. In collaboration with various Armenian urological and pediatric associations, she acted as research associate in the development of public health policy by drafting the “Guidelines for Normal and Pathological Foreskin Conditions,” a policy statement in 2010.
However, as haikProject’s founder, Vardanyan believes that while Armenia is a top priority for most organizations and individuals, there are urgent issues in our own communities that are largely unacknowledged and neglected.
To outreach to younger generation and parents (to-be) in our own community Vardanyan holds regular community seminars as part of haikProject’s “5 Issues of Childbirth Childcare” series.
Vardanyan gives lectures for students at universities, authors publications and participates in academic forums. Vardanyan also provides free individual counseling for members of haikProject.
Arthur H. Pogosyan, M.D., is the late co-founder, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. Teamed up with his wife Astrik Vardanyan, Pogosyan championed for the rights and dignity of every child. Dr. Pogosyan was a board certified in Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed his Child & Adolescent Training at UCLA/NPI. He had extensive experience in treating children with history of trauma and abuse, as well as other childhood disorders. Dr. Pogosyan taught Child Development as an Assistant Clinical Professor since 2000 at UCLA/VA Sepulveda Program.
He has given talks to professionals and public on topics of Normal Development, Patenting and Childhood Mental Disorders. In 2006 he received a Fulbright Senior Specialist Grant and worked in Armenia for 6 weeks. He received another Fulbright lecturer grant and worked in Armenia for one year in 2009. He was the co-host of the “Ponderings” show with Dr. Charles Pilavian on Horizon TV station. Dr. Pogosyan was a consultant at San Gabriel Valley Regional Center, at Eastlake Youth Services. Dr. Pogosyan has a Private Practice in Glendale.
Honorary Board
Dr. Leonard B. Glick, MD, PhD
Dr. Noobar Janoian, MD
Dr. Alen Azizian, PhD
Onnik Mehrabian
Adrineh Ebrahimian
Violet Mesrkhani, PhD
Executive Board
Astrik Vardanyan, CEO, Chair of HaikProject’s educational services
Anush Gagua, Secretary
Armine Hovakimian, Treasurer/CFO
Committee Members
Nune Pogosyan
Jasmin Natanian
Sharis Dilanchian
Ovsanna Mkrtumyan