(Courtesy of ScienceAbroad) ScienceAbroad, the global network uniting thousands of Israeli scientists across the world, hosted the “Pioneering Israeli Medicine Conference” on Sunday, Sept. 22 in New York City, showcasing new data about the tragic events of Oct. 7 and the miracles performed on that day by leading Israeli experts.
Magen David Adom’s Uri Shacham, chief of staff to the director general, shared never revealed statistics from Oct. 7. On that fateful day, Magen David Adom — Israel’s emergency service — collected 3,800 units of blood compared to the usual 900 units per day, and the organization handled 22,000 emergency calls, up from the daily average of 4,800.
Additional data from the ongoing Swords of Iron war was presented by Dr. Aviv Gelber, head of the commanders and officers branch at the IDF Military Medical Academy. He shared that from Oct. 27, 2023-Sept. 8, 2024, the IDF’s efficiency in treating wartime casualties reached a new standard. The IDF handled 1,534 urgent casualties, with an impressive response time of less than four minutes from 680 Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers, of which 80 were women. He also noted there have been an impressive 1,311 air evacuations with an average time of just 64 minutes from injury to arriving at the hospital, underscoring the IDF’s rapid and effective medical response on the battlefield.
These life-saving efforts and the lessons learned from Oct. 7 and the days after have helped Israeli medical professionals prepare for the current escalation in northern Israel with Hezbollah.
The “Pioneering Israeli Medicine Conference” highlighted leading Israeli medical experts who presented innovations across trauma (PTSD) treatment, mental health care and rehabilitation techniques. Organized in collaboration with the Sheba Research Authority, the Israeli Medical Association and Nefesh B’Nefesh, the day-long program detailed critical advancements developed in response to the Oct. 7 attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Professor Robert Langer, one of nine institute professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; biotech innovator Professor Yanay Ofran; and pediatric geneticist Professor Rivka Carmi, chair of ScienceAbroad’s Executive Board and former president of Ben-Gurion University, were among the guest speakers throughout the day.
“From what we saw at this conference, it’s clear that Israeli and Jewish medical professionals are facing unprecedented challenges — both in Israel and in the Diaspora,” Carmi said. “Amid rising antisemitism and pressures from working in war-torn areas, our doctors continue to drive forward critical innovations. Their resilience is not only reshaping wartime healthcare but will also influence global medical practices.”
Executive Director of ScienceAbroad Nadav Douani said: “We are seeing Israeli and Jewish doctors rise to challenges that no one could have imagined. This conference highlighted the breakthroughs that are not only saving lives today, but will also shape the future of healthcare on a global scale. The Israeli medical realm was always at the forefront, but Oct. 7 put our medical abilities to the test. Our first responders showed that Israel is full of heroes who did everything they can to save lives while utilizing unique capabilities developed in Israel.”
Dr. Dror Harats, founder of VBL Therapeutics, said: “The war and its aftermath have brought tremendous challenges, but have also highlighted the crucial role of science and medicine in mitigating suffering and promoting healing. This conference, now more than ever, served as a platform for collaboration, innovation and, most importantly, hope.”
Tani Kramer, director of Israel strategic planning for Nefesh B’Nefesh, said: “Through our new International Medical Aliyah Program, Nefesh B’Nefesh, together with our partners, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Ministry of Health, have once again shown that aliyah can be a powerful tool in addressing national challenges, from healthcare shortages to demographic concerns. The success of these programs demonstrates that aliyah is not just a goal, but a critical component of Israel’s strategy for a sustainable, secure and prosperous future.”
Dr. Zeev Feldman, neurologist and vice chair of the Israeli Medical Association and moderator of the “War Wounds: The Journey of Rehabilitation and Recovery” panel, said: “The rehabilitation system in Israel has faced unprecedented challenges since the war began. In just one month, hospitals like Sheba had to double their capacity to accommodate the overwhelming number of injured patients. Our conversation covered not only the physical wounds but also the emotional scars and how our healthcare system is working to help these individuals reclaim their lives, bringing them as close as possible to who they were before their injuries. It’s a journey of both medical care and emotional resilience.”
