Dear Friends & Supporters of Medicine in Israel,
As my term as APF President draws to a close, I would like to thank you all for the opportunity and privilege of serving in this capacity for the past two years. Thanks to the support, dedication and hard work of our members and our Board, we have been able to accomplish much and genuinely impact the health and well-being of all Israelis. As I turn my post over to the incoming president, Nancy Schmidt, RN, I would like you to consider three areas that could use your tangible support.
1) Disaster Preparedness:
Every resident of Israel is now within range of missiles from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, and remain potential targets of individual acts of terror. In light of that grim reality, APF sponsors an annual Emergency Preparedness Course in Israel; provides scholarships to train nurses from all over Israel in disaster preparedness; and, has responded to special requests from Israel’s Home Front Command to provide all-terrain ambulances and even a bomb shelter. But our ability to contribute to Israel’s defense capabilities in these ways requires funding.
How can you help?
(1) Establish or renew your membership to APF.
(2) Add a special contribution to provide additional assistance as Israel prepares for what might come next.
(3) Attend the 2020 Emergency Course in Israel.
2) Access to Medical Care Across Israel:
There are many places in Israel where access to subspecialty services is hours away, causing unacceptable wait times that can jeopardize health. Since its inception in 1950, APF has provided Fellowships for Israeli physicians to come to the finest medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada to learn advanced techniques and bring them back to Israel—often to remote regions previously lacking such expertise. Many of our Fellows have become leaders in Israeli medicine, including as department chairs and CEOs of leading hospitals.
How can you help?
At a cost to you (or your group) of only $5,400, you can sponsor an Israeli Fellow in North America who’ll bring that advanced training back home for the benefit of Israelis for generations to come.
3) Medical Volunteering in Israel:
As a result of our unique connections with Israel’s Ministry of Health, Home Front Command and premier hospitals, we can assist American and Canadian physicians who would like to spend one to two months as a volunteer in Israel. This experience will enhance your knowledge and familiarize you with the Israeli healthcare system should you one day decide to volunteer for a longer duration or during a time of crisis.
How can you help?
(1) Contact APF. We can help to match your specific interests and preferences with hospitals that would be happy to welcome you. You can reach us by phone, email or talk to any one of our members or board to find out how you can get involved.
Phone: 617-232-5382
Email: info@apfmed.org
(2) Join the Emergency Volunteer Registry of healthcare professionals who are willing to come to Israel at a moment’s notice to provide medical care during crises.
If we focus our efforts, energy, and resources on these three areas over the coming years, we will undoubtedly see a continued improvement in the quality of life for all residents of Israel.
B’Shalom,
Jeffrey M. Devries, MD, MPH
President
JeffreyDevries@apfmed.org