Carey Glass knew from his decades working as a certified prosthetist and orthotist, and his network in Israel, that the medical profession there could use his help. So he put together his own two-and-a-half-week mission to Israel. And his colleagues put his expertise to task, keeping him very busy throughout his stay.
Glass, an active member of the Jewish community in Highland Park, drew on a few contacts to plan the trip; Dr. Itzchak Kreiss, the director general of Sheba Medical Center/Tel HaShomer in Ramat Gan; Dr. Oren Barzel, orthopedist and head of rehabilitation and physical medicine at Sheba Medical Center; and Barbara Goldstein, formerly of Metuchen, now a public relations executive at Hadassah Hospital.
Glass visited Israel from July 4-July 21 and stayed with his nephew Calman in Ramla.
The clinician noted that there is currently no school for prosthetics and orthotics work in Israel; professionals must train in the United States or other countries to gain certification. Glass initiated discussions with the Adi Rehabilitation Center of the Negev which, along with Ben Gurion University, is actively exploring how to establish a training program in Israel.
Glass was invited to give a lecture on the latest developments in prosthetics and orthotics at Sheba Medical Center, which was attended by 24 physical therapists, 10 occupational therapists, and 12 doctors. He was then invited to give the same talk at Hadassah Hospital, speaking to a group of 35 medical professionals.
After the second talk, Glass was asked to attend the prosthetics/orthotics clinics at Hadassah Hospital and Sheba Medical Center, to see the more challenging patients. Over the course of his trip he saw and assisted in the treatment of dozens of patients.
Glass added that all three medical facilities—Adi Rehabilitation Center, Hadassah Hospital and Sheba Medical Center—have been struggling with the heightened demands of supporting IDF soldiers injured in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. He urged readers to consider supporting these institutions.
Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback.
