Hospital CEO Shares Personal Story of Son's War Injury

Professor Anat Engel, CEO of Wolfson Medical Center, shared her deeply personal experience as the mother of a soldier critically wounded in Gaza during the "Swords of Iron" war at a Ministry of Health conference celebrating 30 years of the National Health Insurance Law. Engel described how her perspective on the healthcare system transformed when her son, Yoav, a tank crew member, was severely injured in combat in Shejaiya. "I went from managing an excellent system that treats the wounded to being the mother of a wounded soldier," she recounted, emphasizing her profound trust in Israel's healthcare capabilities during this difficult time.

Her son, Yoav Engel, who is now a medical student, also spoke at the event about his long rehabilitation journey and his decision to pursue medicine after his experience as a patient. He highlighted how his interactions with the medical teams who saved his life influenced his choice to be on the caregiver side in the future, aiming to provide patients with the same level of care he received. His story underscored that recovery from severe injury extends beyond immediate life-saving treatment, often involving months or years of physical rehabilitation, regaining independence, and rebuilding future plans.

Dr. Yoav Bichovsky, a senior intensive care physician at Soroka Medical Center, shared his own experience of being severely wounded during reserve duty in Gaza. Having been treated at the same hospital where he previously worked, Bichovsky's story raised questions about how a doctor's perspective changes after personally experiencing the uncertainty, dependence, and family anxieties associated with being a patient. He reflected on what insights he carries back to his practice after his time on the patient's side.

Professor Engel concluded by stating that the true measure of a healthcare system lies not just in its resources like beds and technology, but in its ability to provide professional care, hope, and a sense of control to individuals during their most vulnerable moments. The discussion, featuring the hospital CEO, the recovering soldier turned medical student, and the doctor who became a patient, ultimately brought the conversation about the future of healthcare back to its fundamental human element: the individuals and families who rely on the system during critical times.