Israeli Cardiologist Discusses Medical Revolution and Personal Choices

Professor Issi Bar-Shai, director of the Invasive Cardiology and Heart Catheterization Unit at Sheba Medical Center, emphasized his desire to be recognized for his own achievements, separate from his prominent father a figure known for advancing Israeli medicine. Bar-Shai, 53, discussed his upbringing, his marriage to Dr. Zohar Bar-Shai, a biologist and CEO of the startup LEMBAS, and their three daughters, noting his eldest daughter's marriage at 21 to a religious air force pilot. The family resides in Shoham, in a traditional Zionist household.

Bar-Shai recounted that his father did not push him or his siblings toward medicine, and his daughters have also expressed no interest in the profession. He served in the IDF's Patriot missile battery and decided to pursue medicine during his service. After studying in Beersheba, he chose Sheba for his professional path, partly to distance himself from perceptions of favoritism due to his father's legacy. He completed advanced training at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C., where he and his wife received job offers but ultimately chose to return to Israel to raise their children.

Upon his return, Bar-Shai introduced advanced technologies to Sheba, including electrosurgery, a minimally invasive technique that uses a millimeter blade inserted through standard catheterization equipment to perform cardiac procedures, transforming cardiologists into "delicate surgeons." He explained this represents a paradigm shift, moving beyond treating blocked arteries to addressing structural heart issues, a revolution in which Israel is actively participating through technological development that enhances patient longevity and quality of life.

Bar-Shai highlighted Israel's strong position in cardiac care, attributing it to effective community-level management of cholesterol and blood pressure. He expressed concern over the low number of female cardiologists in Israel compared to the US and Europe, actively encouraging female trainees to pursue careers in the field. He also addressed the issue of doctors leaving Israel, a phenomenon he finds increasingly worrying, noting that he and his wife chose to return despite facing more challenging professional development paths in Israel.

Reflecting on recent events, Bar-Shai, a reservist who served with Unit 669, joined his unit during the Gaza operation, expressing anger at those who refuse military service and emphasizing the need for all citizens to contribute. He condemned the refusal of soldiers to operate with a female paramedic as illogical and unacceptable behavior.