Mercer University School of Medicine and The Georgia Neurosurgical Institute signed a cooperative agreement with the Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia to develop an educational and research program for students and faculty of both countries. 

The schools will work together to promote postgraduate education for Armenian neurosurgeons and provide opportunities for faculty, medical students, and fellows at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute and Mercer University School of Medicine to visit and study health practices and programs in Armenia.

The program represents an expansion of efforts begun in 2007 by GNI neurosurgeon Arthur A. Grigorian, M.D. to train Armenian medical students, residents and physicians in advanced vascular surgical procedures that prevent and treat strokes. At that time, strokes were the 3^rd leading cause of death in Armenia, with a mortality rate nearing 100%. InJune 2010, Grigorian, an Armenian native, helped establish a fully functional endovascular stroke center at Yerevan State Medical University. To date, the center has provided life-saving surgery to 250 patients, dropping the country's death rate from strokes to 30%.

Dr. Ruben Fanarjyan, Chief of Neurological Surgery at Yerevan State Medical University, says the agreement will stimulate collaborative research and help develop programs that address pertinent health problems in Armenia.

According to GNI President Dr. Joe Sam Robinson, Jr., approximately 25 medical students, residents, and physicians inArmenia have already travelled to the U.S. to study at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute. Under the new agreement, an expanded faculty/student exchange program between Mercer University School of Medicine and Yerevan State Medical University will provide opportunities for U.S. medical students to observe and study in Armenia.

Dr. William F. Bina III, Dean of the Mercer University School of Medicine said, "The fine work that GNI has done and will do in Armenia will have far-reaching effects. This collaboration is important for everyone involved; it greatly benefits the people of Armenia and allows our students at Mercer to observe firsthand the medical challenges in another country."