Winter 2012 APF sicians y a h n P d n a F r c i i e r n e A Newsletter of the d m s American Physicians and Friends A News for Medicine in Israel President’s Message Dear Friends: We usually measure our value as a non-profit that supports medicine in Israel by how many Israel’s Fellowships we give out, or Earthquake Drill Dr. Paul R. Scherer how many physicians go on our October 2012 Emergency and Disaster Pre- paredness Course in Israel, but a few weeks ago we had an The APF is the sole organization, designated by the State of opportunity to truly see our value. Israel, to maintain this Emergency Medical Volunteer Reg- istry. Israel routinely creates an emergency test scenario to evalu- ate their response to a disaster resulting from military action I was very pleased to see our system of call-up work during or a natural event. This year’s test was a devastating earth- the test. During the first round of communication, e-mails quake that affected most of the densely populated areas went out with a request to respond. Within 24 hours a suf- of Israel. Because of the imagined magnitude of the disas- ficient number of physicians responded positively. The quick ter, the APF received a communication that North Ameri- response was indicative of not only the preparation of the can doctors, nurses and medical personnel were required in program but also the willingness of American physicians to Israel within 48 hours. respond to the needs of Israel. The APF, since 1950, has maintained the list of Emergency We are honored the State of Israel has chosen the APF as the Medical Volunteers of all specialties and sub-specialties to official Registry in North America to come to the aid of Israel be sent to Israel in times of need. This unique program was in a time of crisis. I want to encourage physicians and nurses, initiated to provide Israeli civilian hospitals with volunteer as well as other health care professionals to join the Emergen- physicians and nurses during emergencies, which deplete cy Medical Volunteer Registry through our existing website Israeli physicians who must perform their military duty. (www.apfmed.org) or contact our national headquarters at 617-232-5382. We responded in a time of need in the past, and now in the present, and we will be ready in the future! A special thank you, from myself, the organization, and the Ministry of Health, to those who rose to the occasion with a firm com- mitment to Israel. Israel’s Earthquake Drill Paul R. Scherer, D.P.M. October 2012 President APF Fellows for 2012 – 2013 APF fellowships were established in 1950 to help train Israeli physicians in specialty care. The program continues today with the awarding of supplemental fellowship grants to gifted Israeli physicians to help in the advancement of their education at prestigious medical centers in the United States and Canada. Gadi Lalazar, M.D. Tahel Altman, M.D. Chezi Ganzel, M.D. Liver Disease – Hepatocyte Injury BioDesign Program Leukemia Service and Steatosis Stanford University Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Stanford New York City Liver Research Center – New York City Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Shaare Zedek Medical Center Hadassah Medical Center Tamar Green, M.D. Eitan Auriel, M.D. Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Alex Rabinovich, M.D. Neurology – Stroke Research Program Sciences Gynecologic Oncology Massachusetts General Hospital Stanford University McGill University – Canada Boston Stanford Soroka Medical Center Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center Suhel Idrees, M.D. Roy Beigel, M.D. Ofer Schiller, M.D. Anesthesia and Chronic Pain Intensive Cardiac Care Pediatric Cardiology Management Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Children’s National Medical Center McGill University Health Center – Canada Los Angeles Washington, DC Montreal General Hospital – Canada Chaim Sheba Medical Center Schneider Children’s Medical Center Hadassah Medical Center Elad Jacoby, M.D. Josh Schroeder, M.D. Yuval Cavari, M.D. Pediatric Hemato – Oncology Spine Surgery and Regenerative Spine Pediatric Intensive Care Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore & Research BC Children’s Hospital National Institute of Health – Bethesda Hospital for Special Surgery Vancouver Safra Children’s Hospital New York City Soroka Medical Center Chaim Sheba Medical Center Hadassah Medical Center Roni Dodiuk-Gad, M.D. Noam Shussman, M.D. Moshe Kassierer, M.D. Advanced Medical Dermatology Colon and Rectal Surgery Neonatal – Perinatal Medicine Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center Cleveland Clinic University of Toronto – Canada Toronto Weston Shaare Zedek Medical Center Ha’Emek Medical Center Hadassah Medical Center Ram Elazary, M.D. Khaled Khazim, M.D. “Moving to a new country, especially with one’s family Advanced Laparoscopic, Metabolic, Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetic in tow, entails obvious financial challenges. These often and Bariatric Surgery Nephropathy make this intense period of clinical or research activity more difficult than it needs to be. At times, plans are Cedars-Sinai Medical Center University of Texas Health Science Center cancelled all together on account of financial implausibility. Los Angeles San Antonio I would like to thank you for supporting my fellowship.” Hadassah Medical Center Western Galilee Hospital APF Fellow 2012-2013 APF – Birthright Program in Israel “The APF - Birthright experience was an excellent way to combine the life-altering Birthright trip with my interest in expanding my medical perspectives. It was an opportunity to have fun while learning about my Jewish heritage and Israel. Just as importantly, it was a way to enjoy the company of other medical students who share similar interests, and form unique and lasting connections with colleagues from both the United States and Israel.” David Rahimian – Participant Summer, 2012 For further information about the June 2013 trip please e-mail the APF offices: [email protected] or call 617-232-5382 APF Grants Annual Dr. Edward H. Kass Research Award Liran Levy, M. D. is the recipient of APF’s Dr. Edward H. Kass Research Award for 2012-2013. This annual award is granted to support the biomedical research of a promising young physician in Israel. The grant was established in memory of Edward H. Kass, M.D., a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and past President of APF (1986-1990). Dr. Levy received his M.D. from the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. He is currently in the Pulmonary Residency/Fellowship Program at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, and will be conduct- ing research on “the effect of splenectomy on tumor immunology and immunotherapy in lung cancer”. Strengthening the Relationship of APF Events APF and the Israel Defense Forces Chicago Thank you to our In May 2012 APF President Dr. Paul friends and members Scherer and the Surgeon General of of APF who joined us the IDF Dr. Yitshak Kreiss met to dis- on September 23, 2012 cuss collaboration between APF and in Chicago for the APF the IDF. This year APF funded the Illinois Chapter Fall attendance of two senior officers of Networking Event. It the IDF at The Military Health Sym- was a pleasure to meet familiar and new faces. Dr. Yitshak Kreiss and Dr. posium (MHSRS) held in Ft. Lauder- dale, FL. We hope you enjoyed Paul Scherer learning about APF, eating some bagels Dr. Yitshak Kreiss thanked APF for the support stating “The Dr. Gidon Berger, Dr. Michael Frogel and lox, and meeting APF has a sincere friendship and support for the IDF Medical and Amir Goldshtein our guest speakers Dr. Corps based on the great spirit of volunteering and financial Gidon Berger, an APF support.” Furthermore, Dr. Kreiss spoke of the Emergency Israeli fellow, and APF Board Member Dr. Michael Frogel. Medical Volunteer Registry as an essential APF Program to Dr. Berger, an internist in the Pulmonary Division of Rambam help Israel in future challenges. Health Care Campus in Haifa, talked about his recent re- search focusing on the mechanisms and pathophysiology of lung fibrosis. Dr. Frogel, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics Emergency and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, spoke about pre- hospital, hospital, and regional planning and preparedness Disaster for Pediatric Mass Casualty Events, related to the current Preparedness situation of emergency and disaster preparedness in Israel. Course in Israel Upcoming Events In November 2012, a group of 19 physicians and healthcare Boston professionals participated in APF’s annual Emergency and On Sunday, December 16th APF Disaster Preparedness Course in Israel. This five-day state-of- will be holding a Health Profes- the-art training program is organized jointly by the APF, the sionals Winter Networking Event Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Medical Corps of the in Brookline, MA, featuring Lt. Israel Defense Forces (IDF). (reserve) Asael Lubotzky, M.D., a heroic Golani Brigade Officer who was inspired to practice medicine Participants in the Course receive Category 1 Continuing following life changing experienc- Medical Education (CME) credits. es during the 2006 Lebanon War. “Thank you for an outstanding week! You thoughtfully planned Michigan Chapter and organized it to ensure that each of us got what we need… On Sunday, January 13, 2013 APF and more. We all finished the conference with a more pro- Michigan Chapter will be holding found understanding and appreciation for the work that you a meeting for members and sup- and your colleagues do.” 2012 Course Participant porters of APF at Adat Shalom Dr. Asael Lubotsky Synagogue, featuring Lt. (reserve) The 2013 Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Course in Asael Lubotzky, M.D., and Michael Frogel, M.D., APF Presi- Israel will be held from November 9, 2013 (after Shabbat) dent-Elect who will give an update on APF and its vital role and support of Israel during this difficult period.