Hadassah Medical Center

04/08/2026

In her column on The Times of Israel, Keren Goth, a volunteer at the Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospice, offers us a glimpse into some of the sensitive and complex work carried out each day by the dedicated team at this very special place, supporting patients as they approach the end of their lives.

The Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospice is currently marking 40 years of compassionate care, combining extraordinary heart with a profound sense of purpose and commitment.

Read the full story>>

From the blog of Karen Guth at The Times of Israel

03/08/2026

A cancer patient who lost vision due to a brain tumor recently regained it after scientists discovered that the underlying mechanism was driven by an allergy-related immune response.

Read the full article by Prof. Yuval Tal, Director of the Immunology and Allergy Unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center

A cancer patient abandoned plans to die in Switzerland after doctors ended relentless itching by targeting an immune pathway linked to allergies; Prof. Yuval Tal explains how immunology is moving beyond disease labels to treat underlying mechanisms

03/08/2026

An innovative procedure performed at Hadassah by Prof. David Smadja, Director of the Refractive Surgery Unit in Hadassah’s Division of Ophthalmology, restored Aya’s vision from approximately 10% to 90% with glasses.
The breakthrough treatment allowed her to return to driving, working and teaching and regain her independence.

Read the full article

Surgeons implanted donor corneal tissue to treat severe keratoconus, allowing the 38-year-old teacher to resume driving and working

02/08/2026

Just weeks after a severe incident in Gaza, during which he was buried alive under rubble for 15 full minutes, Y., a soldier from the Haruv Reconnaissance Unit of the Kfir Brigade, is back on his feet after intensive treatment and rehabilitation at Hadassah and is already talking about returning to his unit.
“I felt the sand filling my lungs,” Y. recalls. “I tried to get up, but something heavy fell on me and pinned me to the ground. I felt my body being crushed. At that moment, I understood this would probably be the end.”
The incident occurred when a bulldozer began dumping soil and debris on Y. and two other members of his unit. The other two soldiers managed to escape at the last moment, but Y. was buried alive.
His fellow soldiers immediately began digging with their bare hands.
“They didn’t give up on me,” Y. says. “They dug with their hands until they found me.”
When they reached him, they discovered a heavy log pressing directly on his chest. An excavator was brought in to help remove it, and only after 15 minutes was Y. finally able to breathe freely again.
He was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for urgent robotic surgery.
Despite the severity of his injuries, the medical team believes the protective equipment he was wearing helped save his life. “I had a front ceramic plate and a side ceramic plate,” Y. says. “That’s what kept my lungs from completely collapsing.” The force was so great, however, that the ceramic plate broke and all of his ribs were fractured.
“The ability to survive such significant pressure on the chest is rare,” says Prof. Josh Schroeder, Director of the Spine Surgery Unit at Hadassah Medical Center, who led the operation. “Crush injuries of this kind can cause extensive rib fractures, lung damage, internal bleeding and severe respiratory complications.”
Y. underwent robotic surgery using advanced miniaturized surgical instruments at Hadassah Ein Kerem. The surgical team included Prof. Leon Kaplan, former Director of the Spine Unit at Hadassah Mount Scopus and a spine surgery specialist; Dr. Adva Gutman; anesthesiologists Dr. Abed Abu Biah, who also treated Y. in the Intensive Care Unit, and Dr. Ahmad Toukan; together with nurses Mohammad Konbar and Salma Hamdan.
Today, Y. is undergoing intensive physiotherapy at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Mount Scopus, working to restore his respiratory function, strengthen his muscles and gradually regain full mobility.
“My experience at Hadassah has been an incredible process, from hospitalization to rehabilitation at Mount Scopus,” he says. “There is a community of disabled IDF veterans here. I meet interesting people every day, and we share this journey together.”
His mother adds: “The orthopedic rehabilitation team at Hadassah Mount Scopus has been amazing. They do wonderful work and are attentive to every need.”
Weeks after the incident, Y. continues to improve.
“I’m going to be able to do everything again,” he says with a smile. “It’s only a matter of time.”

02/08/2026

“I got my independence back.”
Aya, a 38-year-old high school teacher in Jerusalem, had been living for years with worsening keratoconus- a condition that gradually distorts the cornea and can severely impair vision.
Over time, special contact lenses were no longer enough.
Aya stopped driving, struggled to work on a computer, and even had difficulty seeing the board while teaching.
“I began to think there was no real solution for me,” she says.
A routine visit to replace her contact lenses eventually led her to Prof. David Smadja, Director of the Refractive Surgery Unit in Hadassah’s Division of Ophthalmology.
After examining her, Prof. Smadja told Aya that surgery could help. The procedure was performed at Hadassah together with Dr. Itay Lavi, a cataract and cornea specialist and the Director of the Anterior Segment Surgery Unit.
Aya remained awake during the procedure and says she began noticing a change almost immediately.
“Within the first few minutes, I could feel my vision becoming more stable. I was fully awake, and I felt safe throughout the surgery.”
After several days of recovery, the improvement was dramatic. The pressure and pain in her eyes subsided, she could see her surroundings more clearly, and she returned to driving, working and teaching.
According to her doctors, Aya’s vision improved from approximately 10% before surgery to around 90% with glasses afterward.
“I could see colors again, the pain was gone and I got my life back,” she says.
“It wasn’t only my vision that improved. I got my independence back.”

29/07/2026

Exciting Medical News!

An international clinical trial by Hadassah Medical Center, led by Prof. Ran Nir-Paz alongside The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is evaluating a unique, innovative treatment aimed at preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Read the full article to learn more:

European-funded consortium brings together researchers from 13 countries to evaluate bacteriophage therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections.

26/07/2026

Dr. Abed Khalaileh, Director of Solid Organ Transplantation at Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem, believes transplantation is about more than medicine-it’s about giving people a second chance at life.

Tap the link in the comments to watch the full video.

19/07/2026

Warm congratulations to Professor Lior Katz, Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Hadassah, on his election as President of the Israeli Gastroenterology and Liver Association. In his new role, he will lead the professional organization representing gastroenterologists and hepatologists across Israel over the coming years.

Professor Katz brings to the position extensive clinical, research, and leadership experience. He completed his medical degree at Hadassah Medical Center and the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He subsequently completed his residency in internal medicine at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital), followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology with distinction at Sheba Medical Center. Alongside his medical training, he earned a master's degree in Health Systems Management with highest honors.

He later completed an advanced fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, one of the world's leading oncology centers. During this fellowship, he focused on the research and management of individuals at increased risk of developing cancer, with particular emphasis on genetics, cancer prevention, and the early detection of gastrointestinal diseases. Throughout his career, Professor Katz has received numerous awards for excellence and prestigious research grants in recognition of his clinical, academic, and scientific contributions. In parallel, he served in the Israel Defense Forces for nearly twenty years in a variety of roles.

Today, in addition to leading Hadassah's Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases and directing the Institute of Gastroenterology, Professor Katz serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah. He is recognized as a leading researcher in his field, having published more than 120 papers in international peer-reviewed medical journals. He is also an active member of leading professional organizations in the United States, Europe, and internationally, focusing on hereditary gastrointestinal cancers. Alongside his clinical and research work, Professor Katz has held numerous leadership positions within the Israeli Gastroenterology and Liver Association, including Secretary of the Association, Chair of the Pricing Committee, Chair of the Appeals Committee, and member of the Association's Examination Committee.

In his new role, Professor Katz aims to strengthen the field of gastroenterology in Israel by advancing the quality of patient care, promoting the integration of innovative technologies, and expanding collaboration between hospital-based and community physicians.

"To me, the Gastroenterology Association is not just a professional organization; it is a community," says Professor Katz. "I approach this role with humility and a deep sense of responsibility, ready to listen, to lead, and to bring people together."

According to Professor Katz, one of his key priorities will be creating a shared professional platform for physicians across the full spectrum of gastroenterology, from central and peripheral regions, from hospitals and community clinics, and for both early-career physicians and experienced specialists.

"In the coming months, I will continue visiting gastroenterology institutes across the country, listening to ideas about what can and should be advanced, and encouraging colleagues to take part in shaping our future. Throughout my term, I will lead the Association with transparency, accessibility, collaboration, and a strong commitment to advancing its mission."

16/07/2026

What happens when antibiotics stop working? One patient's story of hope.

After years of battling an antibiotic-resistant infection, one patient shares her personal journey and how Hadassah's pioneering phage therapy research is giving new hope to those facing life-threatening bacteria.

Read her inspiring story 👇

From the blog of Karen Guth at The Times of Israel

09/07/2026

Sixteen of the victims from the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning incident at a hair salon in East Jerusalem were brought to Hadassah Ein Kerem.

They were treated overnight in the hyperbaric chamber and remain hospitalized for observation. Their condition is stable, and some are expected to be discharged later today.