Medical Student's Project Honors Deceased Cousin, Fosters Empathy

Roni Hershkovitz, a 22-year-old student in the IDF's elite "Tzameret" medical program, has initiated "Project Hadar" in collaboration with the "Ezra Mitzion" organization. The project aims to provide support to families of hospitalized patients. Hershkovitz, who resides in Havat Yair, is entering her fifth year of medical studies, which involves clinical rotations in hospitals.

The project is named in memory of the cousin, Hershkovitz's second cousin, who was critically injured in a road accident and later passed away. Hershkovitz initially volunteered with "Lehoshit Yad," an organization supporting children with cancer and cerebral palsy, before joining the military's medical program. Recognizing the proximity of nearly 500 medical students to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, she saw a significant opportunity for volunteerism.

After the hospital initially declined responsibility, Hershkovitz partnered with "Ezra Mitzion," which embraced the initiative. The organization facilitated the project's naming after Hadar and welcomed the collaboration with secular students, appreciating their dedication. "Project Hadar" has grown from an initial group of ten friends to a volunteer base of 340 students, with over a hundred actively participating over the years, accumulating more than 1,500 volunteer hours at Hadassah Ein Kerem and the Alin Rehabilitation Hospital.

Hershkovitz believes the project significantly enhances the students' future medical practice by exposing them to patients' experiences early in their studies. "It teaches a lot about how things look from the other side and influences what kind of doctor you want to be," she stated. The volunteers provide support, often staying overnight with children or elderly patients, and families have expressed profound gratitude for the assistance during difficult times.

Hershkovitz is committed to a long service in the IDF after her studies, aspiring to be a battalion doctor in a maneuvering unit. She emphasizes the importance of communication and empathy in medicine, aiming to be the best possible doctor for her patients, both professionally and humanely.