Prof Bar-On Captivates Audience at Jerusalem Post Conference

Speaking at the annual Jerusalem Post Conference in New York on April 29, Prof. Elhanan Bar-On, Director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response at Sheba Medical Center captivated the audience with heretofore unknown stories of how his organization is saving lives and spreading a message of peace all around the globe.

“Our role extends beyond the boundaries of Israel. If in our everyday work we use our heads as doctors and our hands as surgeons here in Israel, where we go is with our souls, with no difference to race, religion or gender. We will cross every boundary to assist," Prof. Bar-On proclaimed. “We also realize that there are large parts of the world’s population that do not have access to this treatment. Sheba sees humanitarian aid as part of our mission.”

Since Prof. Bar-On established the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response last year, he has sent cardiac surgeons to Nigeria; orthopedists and general surgeons to Tanzania, ear, nose, and throat specialists to Mongolia, as well as multidisciplinary team to Zambia to help treat an outbreak of cholera. Recently, a team of ophthalmologists was dispatched on a mission to Papua New Guinea to perform cataract surgery on those in need.

Prof. Bar-On added, “Tikkun olam (repairing the world) is part of our DNA at Sheba. By going to these places, we become better doctors and nurses, as well as better human beings.”