Catherine Manukyan graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular & Cell Biology: Neurobiology and a minor in Armenian Studies. Since graduating, Catherine has co-authored an article focusing on the perceptions of healthcare quality in rural Armenian communities. We interviewed her to learn more about her post-Berkeley path and how Armenian Studies continues to shape her work today.
For Catherine Manukyan, Armenian Studies was an unexpected addition to her academic journey. It wasn’t a part of a calculated pre-medical pathway, nor by any means a professional interest she had hoped to pursue in college. Instead, it emerged “naturally” through language, mentorships, and a growing sense that the skills she was learning from the Armenian Studies Program (ASP) would matter beyond the classroom.
“Before I decided to go to Berkeley, I met Professor Douzjian at an open house event. I didn’t know how to read or write in Armenian. But we went through the Armenian alphabet together, and I eventually took one of her classes.”
What began as a single class developed into a presence that remained consistent throughout Catherine’s undergraduate years. She explained how she kept taking ASP courses, eventually realizing that she had enough credits to minor in Armenian Studies.
“I didn’t come in planning to minor,” she reflected. “I kept taking classes because I loved them.”
One moment that stayed with her came from Dr. Douzjian’s Advanced Armenian class, where students were required to read a book in Armenian and present it to the class. After being handed a list of works, Catherine explained how she chose an unconventional story written from the perspective of a quarter that travels the world. Years later, while in Yerevan, she unexpectedly met the book’s author, Khoren Aramouni, and told him how she had read his now out-of-print work. Showcasing an instance ASP followed her outside of professional spaces.
Catherine recalled her classes with Dr. Astourian, Dr. Derderian, and Dr. Douzjian as not only complementing her scientific coursework but also providing an outlet for creativity and critical thinking. “They (the professors) help you build your own voice and teach you how to ask the right questions,” she explained.
This focus became especially useful when Catherine began thinking beyond Berkeley. While preparing for medical school applications, Manukyan explained how she felt compelled to explore different opportunities in the medical field. After speaking with Dr. Derderian, Catherine was introduced to Dr. Lorky Libaridian, at the time a member of the Health Programs of the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) (now Health Programs Team Lead). What came afterwards was Catherine’s involvement as a healthcare programs intern for the COAF in Armenia. An experience that pushed her to return to Armenia after her internship ended.
What began as only a month-long commitment resulted in Catherine’s involvement in multiple research initiatives, including a study that COAF, in partnership with the Paros Foundation (MedAid Armenia Project) and Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, is implementing, focusing on resilience in adolescents. “Minoring in Armenian Studies was an impactful tool after graduating,” she said. Her ability to speak, read, and understand the language wasn’t incidental; it became a foundation of her scientific endeavors.
“Without ASP, I wouldn’t be able to do the work I’m doing now,” she reflected. “My professional involvement in Armenia is something I expect to be lifelong.”
Catherine explained how she was recently a part of a research team aiming to uncover the perceptions of healthcare quality, particularly in rural Armenian communities. Manukyan emphasized the importance of creating spaces where participants could speak freely and openly about the way they experience healthcare, especially in regions like rural Armenia, which are underrepresented.
“These perspectives matter,” she noted. “Rural communities are a core part of the nation, and these types of research studies help amplify their voices in a systematic way. We can’t improve healthcare systems if we don’t understand how people actually experience them.”
Since then, her research topics have broadened to not just healthcare quality in Armenia, but have expanded to medical education and integrated care.
Beyond academics, Catherine emphasized the investment made by the ASP faculty. “ASP felt like family,” she said. “They cared about where you went after graduation.”
While her Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB) coursework trained her in scientific skills, she largely credits ASP for strengthening her ability to write, analyze, and think critically; skills she says “are more important than people realize” when it comes to research contribution.
“In my MCB classes, I wasn’t writing that much,” she explained. “But in Dr. Douzjian and Dr. Derderian’s classes, we were constantly writing history papers, research essays, and participating in thoughtful class discussion.”
“The minor can come to life if you’re passionate about it. Sometimes it can be more valuable than your major classes.”
Now, as Manukyan prepares to leave Armenia and begin medical school, she sees her current work as an “amalgamation of everything [she] studied at Berkeley.” She shared her hesitations about leaving, having greatly enjoyed everything she’s accomplished so far.
“You don’t need to be a doctor to engage with your community,” she added as an encouragement to current undergraduate students. Manukyan admitted to once wondering whether spending hours writing stories or history papers would distract her from her pre-med goals. Instead, for her, those experiences gave her necessary skills to better understand patients’ lived experiences and approach care with a humanistic perspective.
“These classes have real-world benefit to them,” Catherine noted. “You should keep taking classes you enjoy, because you don’t know where it may lead you.”
For Catherine, Armenian Studies was a natural pathway, leading to personal and professional growth, and most importantly, laying the foundation for long-term professional partnerships in Armenia.