India and Israel- Heart to Heart
A rare cooperative effort between Sheba Medical Center and the Santokoba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital which is the largest private hospital in the city of Jaipur in the north of India
At the joint seminar of the two hospitals, the Indians really put their heart into organizing the scientific conference titled Indo-Israel Workshop on CAD, Gem Heart Seminar. As the two-day seminar that would be taking place in the Indian city of Jaipur approached, the city's streets were decorated with eye-catching posters announcing the Indo-Israeli conference as well as Israeli and Indian flags. Israeli awareness was up a hundredfold as the conference drew near. Dr. Michael Shechter, a non-invasive cardiologist and Dr. Yedael Har-Zahav, a catheterization specialist, traveled to the conference.
On the first day of the conference, 8 May, 2004, the Indians held a reception which was attended by many (close to 1000 participants) among them, dozens of media people, national newspapers and India's local and national television. Interviews were given to every type of media and pro-Israel speeches were made. The ceremony included speeches by local community leaders and prominent doctors and hospital administrators in India who came especially for the conference. Two lectures were given, one by Dr. Michael Shechter on the topic of prolonging the functioning of the endothelium to locate heart diseases (which garnered much positive feedback) and Dr. Har-Zahav lectured on the topic of heart transplants - the experience of the Sheba Medical Center (which received much acclaim as there is currently no heart transplant program in India even though its population is 20 times that of Israel). After the speeches, tokens of gratitude were presented to the Israeli guests and a sumptuous feast befitting an extravagant wedding was served on the hotel lawn.
The following day, 9 May, 2004, the conference was held in the hospital. Dr. Shechter gave lectures on the subject of treatment with Statins - latest developments - and afterwards on the treatment of heart disease with magnesium, while Dr. Har-Zahav participated with the local doctors in catheterizations that were broadcast live from the catheterization room to an auditorium packed with hundreds of cardiologists, local doctors and doctors from the surrounding area who watched the live broadcast complete with explanations. A number of Indians thanked Dr. Har-Zahav who had performed their catheterizations as well as sophisticated stenting. Here too, pro-Israel speeches were made and the conference concluded with the hope of continued scientific cooperation between the two hospitals and with the aspiration that in the future, as well, doctors will come from Israel to help provide guidance to the local doctors.
The Indian people made every effort to make the occasion pleasant. Despite the extreme heat (40-45 degrees Celsius), despite the copious amounts of sand in the streets and the extreme poverty, the spiritual riches were abundant.
