Karine Martirosyan, MD, PhD, MPH is a Maternal and Child Health/Public Health Consultant. Karine Martirosyan has 18 years of experience in maternal and child health, public health program development and management, community health, integrated health services, quality improvement, early childhood systems, partnership development, health services and systems research. Dr. Karine Martirosyan has extensive experience working with WHO, UNICEF, USAID and US Department of Health and Human Services funded programs in maternal and child health. This includes experience in the United States, Europe, and Central Asia. Karine Martirosyan holds an MPH degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and MD and PhD degrees from the Yerevan Medical University, Armenia. Dr. Karine Martirosyan started her career as an Obstetrician/Gynecologist at the Center of Maternal and Child Health Protection, WHO Collaborating Center in Yerevan, Armenia. For seven years, Dr. Martirosyan combined clinical work with clinical research, taught medical students, and participated in various maternal and child health projects. In 2001 Karine Martirosyan joined Doctors of the World-USA as a Maternal and Child Health Senior Clinician. In this role, Karine Martirosyan led the program in Gjilan Regional Hospital, restructuring the Hospital’s Maternity unit, training 136 health care providers from the Regional Hospital and surrounding Health Centers. A talented innovator, Karine Martirosyan developed a Continuing Medical Education program in obstetrics and gynecology, training 136 health care providers. After relocating to the United States, Karine Martirosyan joined Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), as Health Coordinator and in 2009 became the Health Services Director for the Head Start and Children’s Services Department. ABCD Head Start and Children’s Services provides comprehensive health services to low-income children and pregnant women in Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Boston. Currently Karine Martirosyan provides consulting services to maternal and child health/public health programs. As a director of health services for the Head Start and Children’s Services program in Boston, Karine Martirosyan has implemented numerous health programs geared toward providing access to health care for low-income families and children. In particular, her focus has included providing adequate dental care for homeless children, working toward opening clinical care facilities as well as educating the public on issues of preventable illnesses, such as dental caries.

2.  Karine Martirosyan serves as the director of
health services for the Head Start and
Children’s Services program in Boston. Since
taking on the role of director, Karine
Martirosyan has implemented numerous
health programs geared toward providing
access to health care for low-income
families and children. In particular, her focus
has included providing adequate dental
care for homeless children, working toward
opening clinical care facilities as well as
educating the public on issues of
preventable illnesses, such as dental caries.

3.  Dental caries, also known as cavities or
tooth decay, are second only to the
common cold in their frequency. While
almost entirely preventable, the infection
rates are extremely high in homeless
children, who are more susceptible to
dental diseases. Dental disease and
infections can affect the overall health and
well-being of a child, but those children
most at risk for tooth decay are less likely to
receive any care to prevent the illness.

4.  Dental caries are detected by a softening
of the tooth, aches, sensitivity to certain
foods or temperatures of foods, and pits or
holes in the tooth. It is important to provide
treatment at an early stage to prevent
extensive damage, which is why access to
adequate dental health is crucial for all
children in the community. For more
information, visit
http://bostonabcd.org/head-start-
program.aspx.