Professor Shlomo Mashiach, IVF Pioneer in Israel, Passes Away at 89

Professor Shlomo Mashiach, a founding figure in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Israel, has passed away at the age of 89. Mashiach was a former director of the Women and Maternity Hospital at Sheba Medical Center and established the IVF unit at Assuta Medical Center, which now handles about half of Israel's fertility treatments. He was also one of the founders of the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine and was widely regarded as a leading gynecologist and obstetrician in Israel.

The Israeli Medical Association praised Mashiach for fulfilling the dream of parenthood for thousands of families, with many former patients expressing deep gratitude. One patient, Shir, said, "Thanks to him, we became parents. Our hearts are broken with pain." Another, Liat, added, "Because of him, I am a mother today. A pure soul who came to do only good. A million children on earth thanks to you, and happy parents who had lost hope."

Assuta Medical Center honored Mashiach’s legacy, noting that his professional contributions and long-standing dedication to fertility medicine will continue to inspire medical teams and patients for years to come. Professor Sheli Mazaki-Tovi, current director of the Women and Maternity Hospital at Sheba, described Mashiach as "the foremost pioneer of our discipline," highlighting his role in transforming the department into a leading national and international institution. Mazaki-Tovi extended condolences to Mashiach’s sons, Roy and Guy, and his entire family, emphasizing the lasting impact of his work on the history of women’s health care in Israel.

Mashiach’s death marks the loss of a central figure in Israeli gynecology and fertility medicine, whose innovations have shaped the field and brought hope to countless families across the country.