Supervisor Kathryn Barger honors three distinguished Armenian Americans,
including Dr. Frieda Jordan
From left: Mr. Vahe Karapetian, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Dr. Frieda Jordan, and Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian
On April 29, 2025, as Armenian History Month drew to a close, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger honored three remarkable Armenian American leaders from the Fifth District in recognition of their far-reaching contributions to medicine, innovation, and community service.
The honorees comprised Dr. Frieda Jordan, Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, and Vahe Karapetian. Their recognition took place during the Board of Supervisors’ public hearing and highlighted the cultural richness, perseverance, and significant influence of the Armenian community across Los Angeles County and beyond.
“This month, and every month, we honor the enduring legacy of the Armenian American community,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Today, I’m proud to recognize three individuals whose extraordinary achievements have made our county stronger. Their dedication, innovation, and compassion reflect the very best of public service and civic leadership.”
As Supervisor Kathryn Barger noted, Dr. Frieda Jordan is a global pioneer in immunogenetics and transplantation science whose work has saved lives and strengthened both local and international communities. She currently serves as Head of the DNA Molecular Typing Division at Foundation Laboratory in Pomona and previously held the role of Associate Director of the Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from King’s College London.
As co-founder and president of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), Dr. Jordan has led groundbreaking efforts to connect patients with life-threatening blood disorders to life-saving stem-cell donors. Under her leadership, the registry has expanded operations to 42 countries, recruited more than 35,000 donors, and facilitated 44 successful transplants—serving both Armenian and non-Armenian patients.
Dr. Jordan’s vision transformed ABMDR into a regional hub in the Caucasus for innovation in healthcare. She oversaw landmark COVID-19 research published in Frontiers in Immunology, expanded testing capabilities to support kidney-transplant patients, and helped position the registry as a key center for immunogenetic diagnostics.
In Armenia, her work was instrumental in establishing the country’s first HLA-typing Laboratory and Stem Cell Harvesting Center. Under her guidance, these facilities performed the nation’s first auto transplantation, launched a national cord blood banking program, and laid the foundation for advanced medical research and training.
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Jordan is a passionate advocate for education and international collaboration, continually elevating Armenia’s profile in the fields of immunogenetics and stem cell science.
In her concluding remarks, Supervisor Barger said, “These honorees exemplify unwavering commitment to innovation, service, and the preservation of the Armenian heritage. Their legacies will inspire generations to come and continue to enrich the cultural fabric of Los Angeles County.”