On behalf of the Board of Directors of American Friends, and the entire staff of Soroka Medical Center, I extend warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a Happy and Healthy New Year, and a meaningful High Holy Day season. I am proud to share with you an update on our recent activities, some plans for upcoming events, and relay two moving patient success stories.

We have enjoyed a wide array of events over the past 3 months that advanced our goals of raising funds for critical hospital projects and building awareness in America for Soroka – a unique and treasured Israeli institution. Our inaugural Musical Evening launched our fundraising initiatives for the future Comprehensive Cancer Center; we arranged a Visiting-Professor Panel at Soroka featuring four top American Urologists; our Neonatal Intensive Care Director visited Charlotte, NC to train hospital staff in emergency disaster preparedness; Dr. Michael Sherf led a delegation of Soroka medical “stars” in a fascinating Shabbat symposium at The Hampton Synagogue that underscored how we protect our humanitarian mission in challenging times; and Senior Surgeon Michael Bayme visited Great Neck Synagogue to share his personal story of how his career at Soroka intertwines trauma surgery, state-of-the-art breast surgery, intense community involvement and Army service. In presenting Soroka’s story to new and appreciative audiences we illuminate our unique challenges and capabilities.

One of these challenges – threat of Missile attacks – unfortunately persists. Even as school-children throughout Israel prepared for the first days of school, children in the South spent time in emergency shelters, in the face of missile attacks from Gaza. Our staff works in a complex environment where patients are often facing emotional trauma from exposure to violence, and where routine activities have to be calibrated to accommodate emergency scenarios – for example, when neighborhood schools are ordered closed by homeland security forces, staff children accompany their parents to work, and are provided informal education opportunities in protected space.

In the past month we have had some unique patient stories that serve to underscore the excellence and capabilities of our medical staff. Read below to learn of the bold and innovative heart surgery that saved a Russian man’s life when local doctors there offered him no hope, and of Soroka physicians who successfully diagnosed and excised a brain tumor and restored a small child’s vision when the child complained: “I can only see the night”.

My overwhelming emotion in reflecting on these events is PRIDE. As I have said in this space before, Soroka is a beacon for safety, healing and unity in the most trying of situations – and we are also a Global beacon – with a stellar reputation for excellence, from translational research to the most advanced therapies, all within a holistic framework, where the patient’s well-being is foremost.

I hope you will consider including Soroka in your donations for the New Year – and make a gift to support Soroka Medical Center. Your help will enable us to provide critical care to Israelis at times of emergency, and resources to further our innovative, cutting edge research.

With our Sincere Appreciation for your Support,

Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld

Executive Director

Dr. Asher Bashiri

Dr Asher Bashiri is a senior gynecologist at the Soroka University Medical Center’s Delivery and Gynecology Unit, and senior lecturer at the Ben Gurion University’s Faculty of Medicine. Asher was born and raised in Be’er Sheva, where he lives today with his wife and four children. Dr. Bashiri specializes in childbirth, high risk pregnancies, recurrent pregnancy losses, maternal fetal medicine and ultrasound. He has published many articles in his area of expertise and presents regularly at medical conferences worldwide. His clinical expertise in these very sensitive areas helps support and heal families facing the unique pain and stress resulting from a pregnancy loss. Asher embraces his profession as a personal mission for promoting the health system in the Negev, a tremendous personal priority given his local roots.

Asher is a Sephardic Jew, and immensely proud of his heritage. He was awarded a grant by ISEF – The International Sephardic Education Foundation - during his fellowship in the ultrasound unit in NYU during 2002-2003, and since then has been actively involved in many activities in conjunction with ISEF. Asher is in very close contact with ISEF students – particularly the medical students. He advises and mentors them, helping them to navigate their career development and maximize their potential. Asher understands the huge impact that ISEF had on his own personal development, and helps to connect other up-and-coming medical student from the periphery with ISEF so that they can apply for scholarships as well. This is closely aligned with his mission to strengthen the health-care delivery system in the Negev.