CHOP Observership Spotlight with Ani Sargsyan

Interview conducted and recorded by Imani Hall

Dr. Ani Sargsyan is a pediatric radiologist from Armenia with over five years of experience in diagnostic imaging. Dr. Sargsyan attended the 2022 and 2025 CHOP Open Medical Institute courses on Pediatric Radiology in Salzburg, Austria. Since the 1990s, CHOP has partnered with Open Medical Institute to share clinical and leadership knowledge, encouraging professional growth of healthcare providers around the globe. CHOP had the opportunity of hosting Dr. Sargsyan for a 4-week observership in the Department of Radiology. In a conversation after her visit, Dr. Sargsyan expressed extreme gratitude for being able to visit and learn different imaging techniques while observing CHOP physicians. The Global Pediatric Education team asked Ani a few questions to get to know her inside thoughts on her CHOP experience.

1. What motivated your interest in pursuing an observership at CHOP?

I first became interested in the observership program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia through seminars organized by Open Medical Institute in Austria. During these one-week seminars, Austrian and American professors taught us and shared their clinical expertise. It was an amazing educational experience. During that program, I met Summer Kaplan, [Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Associate Chair for Quality, Department of Radiology and Co-Director, CHOP Point-of-Care Ultrasound], and I was truly impressed by her knowledge, professionalism, and willingness to teach and help others. After that experience, I was very motivated to apply for the observership at CHOP.

2. What factors influenced your selection of the specific clinical programs you observed at CHOP?

There were several reasons why I applied for the observership program at CHOP. First, I wanted to learn from Professor Kaplan, especially in the field of Emergency Radiology. Another reason is that CHOP is one of the best children’s hospitals in the world, known for its high standards of pediatric care, education, and innovation.

3. What were your defined goals and objectives for this observership experience?

My main goal was to improve my knowledge of Emergency Radiology, which is one of the most important and demanding parts of Radiology. I wanted to observe difficult cases, learn how to make quick and accurate decisions, and see how experienced radiologists respond in stressful and urgent situations.

4. What activities were you involved in during your time at CHOP, and what did a typical day look like to you?

This program was very well organized. My days usually started with morning lectures, followed by reviewing cases with different doctors. Later in the day we had additional lectures and discussions. One of the most valuable experiences for me was spending one week on the night shift with Dr. Kaplan. That experience gave me some of the most fundamental and practical knowledge during my observership. I would highly recommend that future observers try to participate in the night shifts as well.

5. What were the key takeaways from your experience at CHOP?

I took away valuable and fundamental knowledge, especially related to imaging and care for our smallest patients. This experience also contributed greatly to my professional growth. In addition, I gained wonderful memories, made new friends, and had the privilege of meeting many inspiring and dedicated doctors.

6. How do you plan to apply the knowledge and skills you gained at CHOP upon returning home?

I will use the knowledge I gained at CHOP in my home institution to improve the quality of radiology reporting, clinical decision-making, and patient care.

7. Is there anything further you would like to share about your experience?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who was involved in organizing and supporting my observership program, especially Professor Summer Kaplan, Dr. Abass Noor, the Global Pediatric Education team: Dr. Adelaide Barnes, Ms. Nancy Etzel, Ms. Jodi Lamborn, and Ms. Imani Hall, as well as all the doctors who shared their knowledge with me during that month.

I would also like to thank the Open Medical Institute, because thanks to their programs this was my second observership experience—the first in Austria and the second in the United States at CHOP. I am also very grateful to my home institution, Arabkir Medical Center (in Yerevan, Armenia), for supporting this opportunity.