Giving Back
Dr. Hovanesian’s involvement with the Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP)
Dr. John Hovanesian serves as vice president and founding board member of the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP), a non-profit organization with a mission to eliminate preventable blindness in Armenia and make quality eye care accessible to every child and adult in the country. Involved with AECP for more than 20 years, Dr. Hovanesian frequently participates in AECP’s annual Medical Missions to Armenia, helping train local doctors, advise on complicated cases and more.
Dr. Hovanesian not only contributes his stellar surgical expertise during AECP’s missions but he also plays a pivotal role in expanding the mission’s reach. Through his extensive professional network and international reputation, Dr. Hovanesian has successfully recruited new doctors to join the cause, inspiring them to donate their time and skills to provide critical eye care services to underserved populations in Armenia. His leadership has helped transform the mission into a collaborative, global effort that continues to grow in impact and scope each year.
Beyond the annual in-person missions, Dr. Hovanesian has championed year-round support and education for local medical professionals in Armenia. He organizes and leads virtual training sessions, offering mentorship and sharing advanced surgical techniques with local doctors to build sustainable, long-term local capacity. His dedication ensures that the mission’s benefits extend well beyond the duration of each trip, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development. Dr. Hovanesian’s passion and commitment have not only improved countless lives through restored vision but have also cultivated a vibrant, international community of eye care professionals united by a shared purpose.
- He has spent over 25 years volunteering as a board member, board chairman, and as an adult leader for the Boy Scouts of America, which has presented him with numerous service awards.
- For the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, he is chair of their Digital Clinical Committee, helping educate doctors on new digital innovations to help them take better care of patients.
- For EyeSustain, a global cooperative of doctors, drug and device industry companies, and organized medical societies trying to help the environment by reducing medical waste, he is global head of industry initiatives.
- He and his wife volunteer at St Mary Armenian Church.
- He is also a volunteer pilot with the nonprofits Pilots n Paws, where he (occasionally) flies shelter pets from kill shelters to adoptive families in different cities. And for Angel Flight West, which flies people in need to medical treatments.
Harvard Eye Associates did a volunteer cataract surgery event with S.E.E. International back in 2019 called Operation Restore Sight.
Dr. Brian Kim’s contributions
- He volunteers at Serve The People Clinic in SNA about 1-2 Saturdays a year for the last 8 years serving the uninsured population.
