11 Cheshvan, 5763
Jerusalem

Announcement

American doctors arrive on Jewish Agency study tour of IDF and Israeli civilian emergency facilities. In time of crisis, they will replace Israeli physicians called to the front.

22 physicians from North America will arrive Sunday (20 October) for a week's study tour of Israeli civilian and military emergency facilities. These physicians have volunteered to replace Israeli doctors in civilian hospitals who would be called to their units in time of crisis. The Jewish Agency's T'nuat Aliyah, the Ministry of Health and the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps have organized this special volunteer program. The program is coordinated with the American Physicians Fellowship (APF) in Israel. 

During the course of their study tour, the physicians will tour the Hadassah Medical Center burns and trauma care units, Tel Hashomer Sheba Medical Center and the Jewish Agency-Magen David Adom Overseas Volunteers Program. They will learn how the Magen David Adom and medical branch of the Homefront Command operate and visit the IDF School of Military Medicine at Tzrifin. The physicians will meet with the Minister of Health, the Director of Medical Professions Division of the Ministry, the Deputy Surgeon General and Jewish Agency officials who will inform them of living and professional opportunities in Israel. In spare time they will tour Jerusalem. 

The Jewish Agency T'nuat Aliyah Medical Volunteers Program is open to physicians and to medical students who have completed at least four years of medical school. Volunteers pay for their own airfare and hotel accommodations. 

This is the third group of medical volunteers to prepare for service in Israel in time of national emergency. In the beginning of August of 22 physicians from North America and South Africa participated in the first medical volunteers study tour organized by T'nuat Aliyah. During this week (14-20 September) a group of 15 physicians from the Midwest United States are taking part in a similar medical orientation at Nahariya's Western Galilee Hospital, organized by the Jewish Agency's "Partnership 2000" Department. 

Background:

In the wake of the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, numerous medical professionals in North America, South Africa and Europe have expressed their desire to volunteer and help the State of Israel in time of need. To address a need and accommodate their requests, the Jewish Agency for Israel, together with the Ministry of Health and the IDF Medical Corps have organized a study tour for medical professionals in Israel. This tour will allow medical personnel to visit Israel, thereby expressing solidarity with the country and its people, while learning about the Israeli emergency medicine system and the medical services of the Israel Defense Forces. 

The study tour will focus on how the interaction between Israeli civilian and military medical systems deal with the current security situation, and situations of national emergencies. The trip will foster networking amongst Israeli and Diaspora medical professionals, and will encourage the sharing of knowledge and resources in the field. In time of emergency, these physicians will replace Israeli doctors in civilian hospitals. 

Schedule:

Sunday, 20 October

Arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport Transportation to Jerusalem Check in at Hotel, Settle in Rooms.

19:30 Opening meeting and Dinner.  

Monday, 21 October

Morning: 
09:00 Visit to Hadassah Medical Center - meeting with colleagues in shared fields of expertise 

12:00 Lunch at Hadassah with: Prof. Arieh Eldad, Head of the Burns Unit, former IDF Surgeon General, Prof. Shmuel Shapira, Deputy Director of Hadassah Hospital, leading figure in Trauma Care in Israel 

Afternoon: 
14:00 Meetings and discussion with the IDF Homefront Command (Civil Defense) medical staff.

·         The Challenge of NBC Warfare and Civil Defense.

·         Guidelines for treatment of Chemical Warfare Casualties.

·         Medical Responses to Biological Warfare Agents 

19:00 Dinner and meeting with Col. Dr. Nissim Ohana, Deputy Surgeon General and with Col. Yehezkel Levi, recently appointed to serve as the next Surgeon General (as of March 2003).

Tuesday, 22 October

Morning:
09:30 Visit to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.

Afternoon: 

·         13:30 Meeting with Col. Dr. Yitzhak Ashkenazi: Rescue of Trapped Victims from Collapsed Buildings. 

·         14:30 Meeting with Magen David Representatives-Training of the Rescue Teams. 

·         15:45 Elective Program for Medical Students Return to Jerusalem Evening: Meeting with Jewish Agency representatives for physicians interested in exploring the possibility of Aliyah.

Wednesday, 23 October

Morning: 
Visit to Latroun - IDF Armored Corps Memorial and Museum 

Afternoon: 
14:00 Personal interviews 

16:30 Gift and Souvenir Shopping at the Jerusalem mall. 

19:00 Dinner and meeting with Dr. Amir Shannon (Head of the medical Professions Branch, Ministry of Health) and with the representative of the American Physician's Fellowship in Israel.

Thursday, 24 October

09:00 Transportation to Tzrifin- IDF School of Military Medicine and Training Base. Visit the IDF School of Military Medicine.

·         Presentation of the IDF Medical Corps 

·         The Challenge of non-conventional Warfare Conditions to Medical Personnel.

·         The Front Line Surgical Unit.

·         Training of Medics and Doctors for Battlefield Medicine by Computer Simulations.

·         Field Exercise of a Battalion Medical Unit.

·         ATLS  (Advanced Trauma Life Support) Course Presentation.

·         Meeting with Young Medical Officers 

16:00 Return to Jerusalem Dinner with special guests Summary Meetings and Discussions.

Friday, 25 October

09:30 Meeting with the H.E. Rabbi Nissim Dahan, Minister of Health of the State of Israel.

Friday - Sunday 25-27

Shabbat in Tel Aviv or in Jerusalem (according to personal wishes).

For additional information please contact Yehuda Weinraub 053-927017