Hrachya Vardanyan, M.D., serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences (ACNHS). He is the founding executive leader responsible for the strategic development, academic structuring, and international positioning of the institution.
Dr. Vardanyan earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi in 2008 following six years of combined academic study and professional medical training. His medical degree has been formally evaluated by a U.S.-based credential evaluation authority and determined to be equivalent to a Doctor of Medicine degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
His academic background in medicine informs his leadership philosophy and institutional vision. Under his direction, ACNHS was established as a governance-driven, academically structured nursing institution emphasizing measurable outcomes, clinical competence, and regulatory transparency. He has overseen the development of system-based curricula, structured clinical competency models, and digital academic infrastructure designed to support international evaluation standards and professional readiness.
As a United States citizen actively engaged in educational and professional initiatives across both Armenia and the United States, Dr. Vardanyan brings cross-jurisdictional awareness to institutional leadership. His governance approach emphasizes regulatory alignment, academic accountability, and long-term institutional sustainability consistent with contemporary healthcare education expectations.
In addition to his role at ACNHS, Dr. Vardanyan serves as President of the Armenian Nurses Association of the United States (ANA-US), a professional organization dedicated to fostering collaboration, professional advancement, and academic dialogue among nursing professionals within the Armenian diaspora community. Through this leadership role, he supports international professional engagement and promotes dialogue between educators, clinicians, and healthcare stakeholders.
Dr. Vardanyan's institutional philosophy prioritizes integrity, structured governance, and educational excellence. His work continues to position ACNHS as a globally oriented nursing institution committed to preparing competent, ethical, and practice-ready graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to healthcare systems both locally and internationally.
Message from the President
Institutional Governance
The Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences operates in full accordance with the educational laws and regulatory framework of the Republic of Armenia. The College holds ministry-level certification and operates under the direct academic oversight structure established by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. All academic programs, curricula, and institutional policies are developed and maintained in compliance with applicable national standards and applicable international best practices in nursing education.
Academic governance at ACNHS is structured to ensure institutional accountability at every level. The Office of the President maintains responsibility for institutional strategy, regulatory compliance, and long-term academic planning. Faculty governance structures provide oversight of curriculum standards, academic policy, and assessment integrity. Clinical affiliate oversight ensures that supervised practice environments meet documented competency and patient safety requirements.
The College's commitment to regulatory compliance and governance transparency is foundational to its academic identity. ACNHS maintains formal documentation of its governance structure, institutional policies, and academic standards, which are available to prospective students, professional evaluators, and institutional partners upon request. This commitment reflects the College's ongoing effort to meet the evaluation requirements of international academic and credentialing bodies.