Linked Steering Committee Spotlight: Gayane Sahakyan

Linked Network Facilitators chatted with representatives from the Steering Committee to learn more about their experiences working in immunisation, what they are most looking forward to from the network, as well as some fun, personal facts about themselves. This spotlight features Gayane Sahakyan, National Immunization Programme Manager, Ministry of Health, Armenia.

You were also a member of the Learning Network for Countries in Transition, the previous phase of the Linked Immunisation Action Network. What tips can you give other countries to ensure they gain the most out of the peer-to-peer learning approach?

During the last period, Armenian members were passive participants. Currently, I will do my best to involve Armenian collages more actively in events and share our practices and knowledge, also benefit from this opportunity to learn other countries best practices.

What experiences are you most excited to bring to the Steering Committee?

I would like to share all our experience related to immunization in my country. 

What do you do professionally? How did you get started in your field?

I started my professional career at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention of Ministry of Health serving in the Immunization Department, leading on surveillance of number diseases including diphtheria and polio, as well as vaccination coverage.

What is your favorite comfort food from your country?

I like very much Dolma (minced beef, rice, full of greens, whole wrapped in cabbage or leaves of grapes).

Gayane Sahakyan, M.D., is the National Immunization Program Manager of the Republic of Armenia since September, 2006. She graduated from Yerevan State Medical University in 1990. Dr Sahakyan did her residency training in epidemiology at the National Institute of Health in Yerevan. She started her working career at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention of Ministry of Health serving in the Immunization Department, leading on surveillance of number diseases including diphtheria and polio, as well as vaccination coverage. Since 2006, she has served on various committees and associations (ICC-Inter-sectoral Coordination Committee on Immunization, NITAG, member of ad hoc Governing Council of IAIM-International Association of Immunization Managers).