BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Established in 2009, the Board of Trustees functions in an advisory capacity, annually reviewing the activities and finances of the Executive Board and all Chapters. From these reviews, recommendations to facilitate the mission and vision of SOAR are suggested to the Executive Board. In addition, the Board of Trustees supports and facilitates the expansion of SOAR through the fostering of national and international Chapters and serves as liaisons to the orphanages if traveling abroad.
Garo Megerian, MD
Chairman
Garo is a specialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine (High Risk Obstetrics) who practices in suburban Philadelphia as a member of Axia Women’s Health, where he also serves in several administrative roles. Garo received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.D. from Hahnemann University School of Medicine, both in Philadelphia PA. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Allentown Hospital and his fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital.
Garo lives in Newtown Square, PA with his wife, Annette. He has 3 adult children. He has served in numerous roles at the Armenian Sisters Academy of Radnor, PA during the 20 years his children attended, including 12 years on the Board of Directors, one year as Chairman of the Board, 10 years as co-chair of the major fundraising auction, co-chair of the building expansion/development committee and co-chair of the 2011 strategic planning committee. He and his wife are supporters of numerous Armenian philanthropic organizations in the US and Armenia.
Garo has participated in the continuing medical education program in Armenia in the mid-2000s by lecturing in Armenia. He has also volunteered as a doctor in The Global Medical Brigades group in Nicaragua. He was a long-time secretary of the Armenian American Medical and Dental Association of Philadelphia.
Minas Apelian
Minas Apelian retired in 2023 from his position as Vice President of External and Internal Venturing for Saint-Gobain, lead global engagement and investment activities with startup companies. Over his 35 year career, Minas held a range of executive positions leading R&D, Engineering, Innovation, as well as General Management. He has experience across various industries, including construction, specialty chemical, pharmaceutical ingredient, and petrochemical industries and has led global teams in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Minas has authored a number of white papers and articles and is the inventor or co-inventor of 19 patents related to innovation, process-based learning, and product development. Minas earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Application Science.
He currently resides in Schuylkill Township, Pennsylvania with his wife Jill. Since retiring, he has been supporting entrepreneurship activities in Armenia through the EPIC Incubation Program at the American University of Armenia. Minas is passionate about wine and enjoys spending time working in his garden, tending to his fruit trees, and managing his small stable of Thoroughbred racehorses.
George Avetian, D.O.
Dr. George Avetian is a family practitioner with over 45 years of clinical experience. For 40 years he cared for a multicultural community in Upper Darby, PA before moving to Northeast Pennsylvania to join Geisinger Health System caring for a population of senior citizens ages 65 and above. Dr. Avetian graduated from Villanova University with a BS in Biology and attended PCOM where he completed his medical studies in 1980. His post graduate training was at Metropolitan Hospital Springfield Division. From 2011-2020 he held the position of Senior Medical Advisor for Delaware County, PA. He was president of the Delaware County Medical Society 2019-2020. Dr. Avetian was a member of the Delaware County Heroin Task Force where he chaired its medical subcommittee. He also co-chaired the Health Advisory Board of Delaware County prior to moving to join Geisinger. He is a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and has numerous memberships in local and national medical societies.
As a passionate community member Dr. Avetian chaired the Board of Directors of the Centers for Resolution, a nonprofit focused on conflict resolution and youth aid panels. He also is a corporate member of The Armenian Sisters Academy, a K – 8 school located in Radnor, PA. Dr. Avetian resides in Moosic, Pennsylvania and is the proud father of three accomplished children.
Thomas Dardarian, D.O.
Dr. Thomas S. Dardarian is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist practicing at Main Line Women’s Health Care in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Axia Women’s Health, the largest fully integrated privately owned womens health group in the United States.
Dr. Dardarian earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from The George Washington University. He obtained his medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in 2000 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital in 2005.
Throughout his career, Dr. Dardarian has held numerous leadership positions in the field of medicine. He is a past president of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Medical Education Foundation of the same organization. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and is a trustee of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association. Additionally, he is an adjunct clinical faculty member at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Dardarian is deeply committed to advocacy on behalf of women in both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States. He is the current chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Political Action Committee. Dr. Dardarian routinely lobbies and advises Congress and the Pennsylvania state legislature on women’s health issues. He has twin daughters, Aren and Ani (jSOAR Juniors) and a son, Alexander.
Peter Garabedian
Peter is a Senior Director at Takeda Pharmaceutical Limited. He leads a team responsible for therapeutic and disease strategy, new product planning for development programs and conducts business development assessments for rare diseases. Peter has over 20 years of pharmaceutical commercial experience. He has held positions of increasing responsibility in commercial development, U.S. and global marketing roles in rare diseases, hematology, cardiology and transplantation. Peter has a B.S. in Business Administration and MBA from LaSalle University. He lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife, Amy and two children, Isabel and Luke.
Amy K. Jerrehian
Amy K. Jerrehian graduated from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) with a B.A. in French Literature. She is a Partner in family businesses that include retail sales and service of oriental rugs, area rug padding, yoga mat wholesale, and commercial and residential property management. Amy is a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors in Haverford, PA. She and her daughter, Adrianne Kara (AK), adopted from Armenia in December 2006, live in Wynnewood, PA.
Gregory C. Sarian, CPWA®, CIMA®, CFP®
CEO/Founder of 2/13 Strategic Partners
Greg Sarian, holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®), the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designations. He has also earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. He has in-depth knowledge of planning for financial independence, maximizing employer benefits and equity compensation, developing proactive investment strategies, and utilizing a team approach to provide custom solutions with a high level of service. Greg earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Boston College. He is active in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association and volunteers at the Good Samaritan Shelter and serves on the Advisor Council for The Barnes Foundation.
He enjoys learning about wine and running and has competed in five Boston Marathons. He and his wife, Laurel, live in Malvern with their children, Elizabeth, Christian and Grace.
Georgine Trumpbour
Georgine is a graduate of La Salle University with a B.S. in Business. She worked in public accounting and later in the insurance industry. Georgine has been involved with fundraising and committee work for various schools and community organizations, including Holy Child School of Rosemont, Academy of Notre Dame, The GESU School and Peter’s Place. She has sat on parent boards and other committees for her children’s schools and chaired multiple development events. She continues to volunteer her time at St Gregory’s Armenian Apostolic Church as well at other community not-for profit organizations.
Georgine lives in Villanova with her husband Ed and their two children.
