Shaare Zedek CEO Leads Hospital's Growth After Trauma Unit and Field Hospital Command
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
The CEO of Shaare Zedek Medical Center, who previously commanded IDF field hospitals and managed the hospital's trauma unit, is now leading its expansion. Appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has navigated significant budget challenges and secured a $200 million donation from WhatsApp founder Yan Koum for a new tower. The hospital plans to grow from 1,000 to 1,800 beds, serving Jerusalem's diverse population.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shaare Zedek CEO previously commanded IDF field hospitals and managed trauma unit.
- Hospital received a $200 million donation from WhatsApp founder Yan Koum.
- The hospital plans to expand from 1,000 to 1,800 beds within a decade.
- CEO was appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic with a 2.5 billion shekel budget.
- The hospital aims to serve all of Jerusalem's diverse residents.
The CEO of Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a 66-year-old married father of four living in Mevaseret Zion, has overseen significant developments at the Jerusalem hospital. He previously managed the hospital's trauma unit and commanded the IDF's field hospital unit. His background includes a childhood in Jerusalem, with a Holocaust survivor father who became an ophthalmologist and a mother who was a nurse. He recalled selling candies as a child and later running a car wash business before enlisting in the Paratroopers and becoming a medic, which led him to pursue medicine.
He joined Shaare Zedek as an intern and eventually specialized in cardiac surgery. Later, he was tasked with establishing the hospital's trauma unit. During the wave of terror attacks in 2015-2016, he served as the trauma director, recalling the profound difficulty of informing families of patient deaths. He was appointed CEO of Shaare Zedek at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, managing a budget of 2.5 billion shekels during a challenging period when Jerusalem was a high-infection zone. His leadership approach involved direct communication with staff and leading by example, including entering infected wards himself.
Since 2003, he has commanded the IDF's field hospital unit, which provides humanitarian aid internationally. He has deployed field hospitals in Japan, the Philippines, Jamaica, Macedonia, Armenia, Turkey, and twice in Syria. The unit's expertise was recognized by the World Health Organization after the Haiti earthquake, ranking Israel and China as the most expert nations.
Shaare Zedek, a non-governmental public hospital, struggled for equitable funding compared to government hospitals until about five years ago, though the situation has improved. The hospital still faces budget shortages impacting staff and patient wait times. The CEO, whose father was a physician at Hadassah, acknowledges the competitive relationship between the two Jerusalem hospitals, emphasizing the city's need for both. As the first non-religious CEO, he aims to serve all residents, including secular, ultra-Orthodox, and Arab populations, while adapting services for the ultra-Orthodox community.
A significant donation of $200 million from WhatsApp founder Yan Koum is funding the construction of a new inpatient tower. Shaare Zedek currently has approximately 1,000 beds and 6,000 employees, with plans to expand to about 1,800 beds within a decade. His hobbies include spending time with grandchildren and challenging nature trips.