THRIVE is an AIWA-SF April project dedicated to highlighting Armenians who are doing amazing things in their personal and professional lives to better themselves and those around them. These individuals are inspiring, dynamic, innovative and interesting. Today, on the last day of April and in light of our current shared human experience with the Covid-19 pandemic, we will feature two Healthcare Heroes.
Lusine Nadiryan, BA, RDMS, RVT, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital
Lusine Nadiryan was born and raised in Armenia, Yerevan and moved to USA when at the age of 25. She graduated from Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan and earned her BA in Speech Therapy and Pathology.
After moving to USA, she faced many challenges adapting to a new culture, learning the language, and trying to figure out her path forward. She spent 10 years working in the creative world of fashion. As fun and attractive as it was, she was always seeking a different path where she could contribute her skills to a greater good. Going into the medical field was inspired by her sister Armine Nadiryan M.D. and her desire to do her part in helping people. Thus, she set together her plan and graduated from Kaplan College in North Hollywood in 2017 and became a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Ever since graduation, she has always worked in fast paced hospitals. From day one, she realized the medical field is where she belongs. She shares, “I love what I do, and I do it with love.”
Question: What is your life philosophy?
No matter where I am and what I do, I always try to stay true to myself and to the values I was raised with. It is important to evolve and adopt to new environments, keep up with changes, but it’s equally important to always have your voice and stand up for what you believe in.
Question: What is your hope for the future?
I hope this pandemic will change the world to the better. The humankind has no control over natural disasters, pandemics, or the universe. What we can control is to be kind, to respect and appreciate good people around us, be thankful for being healthy and alive. There is never a better time than today to take that vacation, to meet up with that friend, to get to know the person living next door from you…
Question: What is your favorite thing about being Armenian?
Being an Armenian means being a survivor, the Phoenix that always rises from ashes. Growing up in Armenia, during late 80’s and early 90’s, prepared us to face and overcome any crisis. Seeing today how our Motherland, with wonderful new leadership in place, deals with the Covid 19 pandemic, makes me feel extremely proud of my roots. Patients and those in quarantine are treated with great care and respect.
Question: Thank you for all you are doing during this current pandemic, can you share some thoughts?
During my career in healthcare, I have dealt with many devastating situations. This pandemic, however, has created challenges difficult to tackle. On top of being extremely ill, patients with Covid 19 are scared and terrified, with no family members around them. Today, more than ever, good patient care is very important – the healthcare professional is the healer and the only family for the patient. Ultrasound is much used diagnostic modality for Covid positive patients. As a Sonographer, I get into direct contact with them. It’s a great honor and a privilege to have the ability to serve those in need during such exhausting times. It’s a joy to see patients fully recovered and discharged from the hospital.
I hope this pandemic is the hardest challenge we must overcome. Life is unpredictable though, and hopefully in the future hospitals will be better prepared and able to take care of the frontline healthcare workers. The beautiful lyrics of a world-famous song are as actual as ever today, let us all be inspired: “There comes a time when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one. There are people dying, and it’s time to lend a hand to life, the greatest gift of all” M.J.
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AIWA San Francisco 
Congratulations to Lusine Nadiryan for being highlighted by AIWA-SF THRIVE as one of their inspiring Healthcare Heroes chosen this year. I myself have had the privilege to work along side Lusine. She exemplifies the highest standards in professional patient care, while also performing her abilities as an ultrasound diagnostic sonographer with accuracy and efficiency. Lusine is also a pleasant and dynamic personality to work with during those highly stressful times we healthcare professionals can be subjected to. It’s no doubt Lusine loves what she does and does it with love. She is a proud
healthcare professional, sister, daughter, and friend for so many that her roots in Armenia have kept her humble but strong-willed. Lusine Nadiryan’s call to being a dominant health-care professional will continue to make Armenia proud.