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British-Armenian family doctor Gevorg Hopayan visits Armenia twice a year to deliver lectures for Armenian students. Born and raised in abroad, the doctor is currently taking efforts to improve his Armenian language skills, however he is learning Western Armenian since it is the version of the Armenian language used in his family.

A family medicine professor, Gevorg Hopayan is currently in Armenia to attend a scientific conference of young doctors, where he is set to present a report.

Both of Hopayan’s parents are ethnic Armenians, with his mother born in Greece and father – in Cyprus. “When I was four years old, we moved to England and I grew up there,” he says, adding his parents, who are descendants of the Armenian Genocide survivors, settled themselves in Britain in search for a better life.

Dr. Hopayan is married to a British woman and has two daughters, who still do not master Armenian, however he claims before his Armenian visits he also did not speak the language.

Speaking to Panorama.am, the doctor said to be very happy over his Armenian visits, naming Jermuk and Haghpat monastery as his favorite sites in the country.

Touching upon the development and achievements of medicine in Armenia, he hailed the upward trends visible in the sphere, adding there is still work to done.

Gevorg Hopayan pointed to the Soviet teaching methods maintaining in Armenia, when the medical students spend more time in classrooms rather than in hospitals, compared to the European and American students who spend more time with patients.

Dr. Hopayan says Armenian students are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and eager to study and will achieve better results if they receive some support.

Living and working outside Armenia, Dr. Hopayan was not indifferent towards the developments inside the country. During the 2016 April war, their organization “The Armenian Doctors Union” in England provided financial assistance to Artsakh.

At the end of our conversation, Dr. Hopayan hurries to add something to the question what he loves most in Armenia. “When walking around Yerevan, I can hear someone calling my name – Gevorg, When I turn back, I see they referred to a different Gevorg. It is a very pleasant thing for me, since I am not the only one with this name here,” he concluded.