Haiti's Earthquake Crisis

The APF has received numerous inquiries from members with regard to a mission to Haiti following the recent devastating earthquakes.

Unfortunately, the APF does not have the ability (for many reasons) to send volunteers to Haiti for this most worthwhile humanitarian effort.

However, our close affiliate, the Israel Medical Association (IMA), may organize such a mission and is actively seeking volunteers. Further details may be obtained from

Tziona Greenberg’s her e-mail is: Tziona@ima.org.il . Please identify yourself as coming from APF.

EMV Registry Chair

APF November Course Participants at Rabin Medical Center

Photo labeled 2009 November Course Participants Rabin Medical Center: Group of November 2009 Course Participants at Rabin Medical Center

Photo labeled 2009 November Course Beilinson Hospital: From R to L: Dr. Eyran Halpern, CEO, RMC; Prof. Pierre Singer, Director, General Intensive Care, RMC, Aaron Karov; Dr. Steven Jackson, senior RMC neurosurgeon ; Dr, Boaz Tadmor, Director , Beilinson Hospital, RMC Photo labeled 2009 November Course: Dina Albour, Trauma Coordinator, RMC with Aaron Karov

American Physician Fellowship  Delegation Visits Rabin Medical Center The American Physicians Fellowship (APF) for Medicine in Israel is an organization made up of North American physicians and healthcare professionals who are committed to fostering ties between the North American healthcare community and the Israel’s healthcare system.   Several times a year the APF provides the opportunity for North American physicians to take part in a Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Course in Israel, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Within this framework a delegation of 31 doctors from leading medical facilities throughout North America visited Rabin Medical Centers Beilinson's Hospital where they were hosted by Dr. Boaz Tadmor, Director of Beilinson Hospital who has been involved with the APF for many years, specifically in their program which provides fellowship grants to young Israeli physicians going to study in North America. Presentations were made by the hospitals leading Emergency and Trauma professionals including Dr. Efrat Harlev, Deputy Director and Head of Emergency Services, on mass causality deployment in a level one hospital; and the need to be ready for all emergencies, Dr. Michael Stein, Director, of the Trauma Unit on management of a mass causality incident in the Emergency Department; Dina Albour, Trauma Coordinator, spoke about the challenges of a Trauma Coordinator and the need to help the family as well as the patient, and Professor Pierre Singer, Director of the  General Intensive Care Department talked about General Intensive Care management following a mass causality/emergency  event and the importance of  providing the best most advanced  medical care in order to save these patients,  who suffer from complicated injuries and diseases. Yet the pinnacle event was when Dr. Steven Jackson, Senior Neurosurgeon, told the unbelievable life saving story of 22 year old Paratrooper Aaron Karov, married only several days before the Gaza War "Operation Cast Led" in January 2009 and probably the most critically inured IDF solider. The delegation saw vivid pictures of Aaron when he was first brought to the hospital and Dr. Jackson an observant Jew, said he felt that God was truly with him during Aaron's brain surgery and that he considers Aaron a true hero of our nation.  But no picture was necessary, when at end of the presentation Aaron Karov walked in the room. Everyone one stood up and began to clap in what was an unbelievably emotionally moment and there were few dry eyes in the room. Dr. Eyran Halpern, CEO of Rabin Medical Center was also present for this very special event. Perhaps Aaron Karov symbolizes the importance of our entire medical team in time's of emergency and trauma as well as in everyday life, where they persistently save lives and face new medical challenges.  If you would like to visit the Rabin Medical Center website please click here

A Joint Message

Joint message from the APF and IMA American Branch It is with great pleasure that we announce the establishment of a formal relationship between the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel (APF) and the Israel Medical  Society American Branch  ( IMA- American) .This has come about because of the recognition of the need for both organizations  to be working together to support Israel in this time of great need to do so and in view of their common goals.  The areas where we will be working together include but are not limited to include all of the following:

·         Recognition of the importance of the APF   Emergency Medical Volunteer Program (EMV) and the registry of physicians committed to go to Israel if needed and requested to do so. The IMA has agreed to cosponsor this important program

·         Joint sponsorship of CME activities ,which will be significantly  expanded under the guidance of a committee with members  from both organizations which will be charged with developing this

·         The IMA-American branch already has a program in place to allow physicians wishing to do volunteer work  in Israel to be licensed to do so and APF /IMA members who  wish to do so can avail themselves of this opportunity noting that it may  take  up to 3 months to  be credentialed

·          An APF officer ( vice president) will be an ad hoc board member of the IMA –American executive committee and similarly an IMA officer ( also a vice president ) will be an ad hoc member of the APF executive committee This important step will  enhance communication and transparency of the work of both organizations . Note: the next APF board meeting is Nov. 1 in Boston

·         Members of both executive committees will become dues paying members of both organizations with a discount (which has been negotiated) for doing so. Further, we will encourage our memberships to do likewise.  We look forward to working together to support Israel. 

Norton J. Greenberger M.D., President APF 

Michael Lewis M.D. , President , IMA – American Branch