Meet Sona Baghdasaryan, a repatriate from Germany, who is leading digital healthcare reforms
YEREVAN – After a decade of shaping e-health systems across Europe, Sona Baghdasaryan, 33, originally from Armenia, returned to her homeland to channel her expertise into lasting impact. A computational linguist and informatician, Sona now leads digital health reforms within Armenia’s Ministry of Health, where she is working on the government’s e-health program by supporting health professionals with the ARMED application (an integrated tool within Armenia’s National Centralized eHealth System which facilitates patient engagement with healthcare services). Her vision is to transform healthcare management and drive Armenia’s system into a new era of digital innovation.
As part of the iGorts program within the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Sona was chosen to work at Armenia’s Ministry of Health. Now one year later, with the support of the Hovnanian Public Service Fellowship, she can continue her work for a second year, bringing her projects to fuller completion. “Working directly with hospitals and medical staff, I serve as the link between healthcare institutions and the Ministry of Health,” Sona explains. Her primary role is to provide training on ARMED implementation and to facilitate discussions with the Ministry and the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Each year the Foundation selects up to 10 iGorts Fellows to serve within Armenia’s public sector for up to an additional year, providing them with the logistical, programmatic and financial support they need to realize their long-term goals and trigger impact.
Karin Yacoubian, Programs Manager at the Foundation, noted that Armenia’s healthcare system was in urgent need of a specialist with Sona’s expertise. “The Foundation believes it’s essential to support individuals who can drive systemic change in public administration institutions,” she said.
Since 2021, the Foundation has empowered 32 iGorts participants in15 public sectors, by supporting talented professionals like Sona who bring global expertise and perspectives into Armenia’s institutions. With the ‘iGorts in the Regions’ initiative, the Hovnanian Fellowship extended its reach beyond Yerevan to the Shirak region, encouraging fellows to share their expertise in areas of greater need.
While the Hovnanian Public Service Fellowship supports impactful work across diverse fields, Sona’s role in healthcare closely aligns with the Foundation’s vision of progress in Armenia for this vital sector. This commitment has also taken shape this year through a targeted third-quarter grants program focused on strengthening primary healthcare (PHC) in Armenia. The initiative aims to build provider capacity, improve disease management, and enhance PHC management in underserved communities, advancing immediate improvements and laying the groundwork for a healthier Armenia.
Through the Foundation’s support dedicated professionals like Sona are transforming hope into reality. To equip these passionate change-makers ensures that Armenia’s public sector capacity continues to grow stronger, carrying a legacy of resilience and progress for generations to come.
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Since the Foundation’s establishment in 1986, H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has earmarked over $97 million for hundreds of initiatives and projects for charitable, educational, scientific, cultural, and other related purposes with a primary focus on assisting Armenian communities worldwide as well as organizations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in the state of New Jersey.
