Vanig Garabedian MD, OB/GYN
Syrian Gynecologist
Toronto, ON
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Nevzat Keskin
Journalist, Ph.D. Candidate
Toronto, ON
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Wanes Moubayed
Syrian Violinist
Toronto, ON
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Vanig Garabedian MD, OB/GYN
Syrian Gynecologist
Toronto, ON
Dr. Garabedian is an internationally trained physician from Aleppo, Syria, where he practiced as an obstetrician/ gynecologist. He graduated from Thishreen University / medical school in 1994, then he completed the residency program in OB/ GYN In Thishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, Syria. He is certified by the Syrian Board of Medical Specialties and has worked in Syria as the director of a private clinic, “Women’s Health Centre” for 16 years, specializing in high-risk pregnancies and infertility, in addition to practicing general gynecology and obstetrics. Between 2009 and 2011, he served as the medical director of the largest hospital in Aleppo, “Ibn Khaldoun Hospital”, where he also conducted research on psychotic disorders and their effects on women’s physiology. Previously, during the period 2005-2008, he was the director of a polyclinic. Dr. Garabedian is a passionate OB/GYN, a teacher and mentor of medical students, and an experienced researcher, with several years of research work on family planning, contraception, effects of different medications on gynecological patients, and low birth weight. He has spent his career advocating for women’s rights and gender equality in one of the most discriminating regions of the world. More recently, and although Aleppo became one of the most dangerous war zones, he continued his dedicated OB/GYN practice there, conducting surgeries without basic utilities -such as electricity and water- over extended periods of time, and often during bombings.
On December 10, 2015, Dr. Garabedian and his family landed as a Syrian refugees at Toronto Pearson airport, where they were personally greeted by the Prime-Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau. Since becoming a permanent resident of Canada, Dr. Garabedian has been invited to be the keynote speaker in several medical conferences across Canada, including SOGC’s annual conference that took place in Vancouver, BC, in 2016, where he addressed the topic of “Syrian Refugee Women’s Health and Beyond”. Dr. Garabedian’s long term goal and dream is to be able to offer OB/GYN services again – this time to fellow Canadians. He is currently working at TD Insurance as Accident Benefits Analyst.
Nevzat Keskin
Journalist, Ph.D. Candidate
Toronto, ON
Nevzat Keskin graduated from Public Administration at the University of Anadolu in 2009 and then completed Master Program in International Relations at the Zirve University on the Middle East issues. He wrote his thesis on the Kurdish issue’s historical roots that go back to 1850’s in the Ottoman Empire period. He had been worked as a journalist in Turkey since 2000 until 2016. He worked for several news agencies including Reuters and Cihan News agencies. He worked for Dunya TV, which was shot down by the Turkish government in July 2016. He made 120 documentaries with Kurdish Intellectuals in Kurdistan and Diaspora as well. Moreover, he made Halabja Massacre documentary and several kinds of other documentaries on Kurdish history, folk, and issue. He writes on the Middle East issues in three languages; Kurdish, Turkish and English and focuses on Kurdish issue in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Keskin had to stop his Ph.D. in Turkey, because of the government oppression over academia and media. Currently, Nevzat Keskin is living in Canada and writing articles weekly for http://www.kurdistan24.net/ku/default based in Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq.
Wanes Moubayed
Syrian Violinist
Toronto, Ontario
Wanes Moubayed is a music educator with over twenty years of experience teaching violin and viola. Prior to moving to Canada, he worked with Sistema Armenia. In addition to his work with El Sistema, Wanes was the Founder of “Artist Project” in Syria, a project that taught children violin using the Suzuki method.
He was on staff at the Anahit Tsitsikyan Music School, Parsegh Kanachyan Art School, and the Sayat Nova Music School in Armenia. He was awarded “Best Teacher of School” for the year 2013 as a violin teacher at Anahit Tsitsikyan School and “Best Teacher of School” for the year 2015 at the Parsegh Kanachyan School. His students have won prizes in both local and international competitions.
In addition to his teaching, Wanes was Concert Master and Artistic Director of Gomidas Chamber Orchestra of AGBU in Aleppo- Syria. He has performed professionally in several music collectives and has participated in various music festivals and concerts throughout Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East. He is now working as violin and viola teacher in Sistema Toronto, University Settlement Community Center and Arcadia Academy for Music, and playing violin in different orchestras and groups in Toronto.