Sheba Medical Center: Healing Beyond Borders in the Heart of Conflict
Despite relentless conflict and soaring challenges, Sheba Medical Center advances cutting-edge healthcare for soldiers, civilians, and even patients from Gaza, forging a path of healing that transcends borders and politics.
Adam Starzynski
Apr 30, 2024 - 3:02 PM
Note: V24 presents an in-depth series covering the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This comprehensive series features on-the-ground interviews, bringing firsthand insights from a diverse range of voices, including politicians, professors, journalists, experts and influencers. Our guest today: Steve Walz.
Sheba Medical Center: A Beacon of Healthcare in a Conflict Zone
Sheba Medical Center, one of the top hospitals in the world, stands as a leader in medical care amidst a region marked by conflict. Renowned for its ethical standards, cutting-edge research, and life-saving treatments, Sheba has long been a haven for wounded Israeli soldiers, victims of terror attacks, freed hostages, and, until recently, Palestinians from Gaza.
In this V24 exclusive interview with Steve Walz, Sheba’s International Media Spokesperson and Head of Global PR, we delve into how Sheba’s medical professionals remain steadfast in their commitment to providing healthcare that transcends politics and enmity. Even amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Sheba continues to prioritize patient care, showing how the power of medicine can bridge divides.
A Regional Leader in Healthcare
Sheba is the largest hospital in the Middle East and a pillar of clinical excellence and research innovation, particularly in times of crisis. Medical teams at Sheba have swiftly adapted to wartime conditions, incorporating AI-driven diagnostics and advanced imaging to enhance patient care. Through these technological advancements, Sheba continues to push the limits of what is possible in healthcare, proving resilient in the face of adversity.
Treating Hostages and Advancing Research
Freed hostages, often traumatized and with complex injuries, also find refuge at Sheba. These patients face unique physical and psychological challenges, but Sheba’s multidisciplinary teams are dedicated to not only restoring their physical health but also addressing their mental well-being. The hospital’s groundbreaking work in this area is helping to develop new insights into conditions that can surface long after release.
Additionally, Sheba’s research arm, including its innovation hub “ARC,” is at the forefront of testing solutions that can be shared globally. The hospital’s work in treating catastrophic injuries is leading to major advancements in trauma care, prosthetics, and mental health therapies.
“Our doctors are seeing things never encountered before, rewriting medical books as they go along. We are prepared for anything and for the unknown.”
Steve Walz
Head of Global PR - Sheba Medical Center
Healthcare Without Borders
One of Sheba’s most remarkable attributes is its tradition of treating Palestinians, including those from Gaza. Prior to the recent outbreak of war, Sheba provided care for many Palestinian patients, some battling rare cancers or complex autoimmune disorders. Tragically, some Israeli civilians involved in facilitating Palestinian patients’ treatment have become victims of Hamas violence.
Yet, despite the ongoing conflict, Sheba continues to care for Palestinians who are already patients at the hospital, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to medical ethics even in the face of violence. The hospital’s dedication to the principle of “first, do no harm” stands in stark contrast to the brutality of terrorist groups like Hamas.
The Future of Regional Healthcare Collaboration
Looking beyond the war, Sheba envisions a future where healthcare collaboration resumes with neighboring countries, especially those brought closer by the Abraham Accords. Although the war has halted certain partnerships, particularly with Gulf states, Sheba’s leadership remains hopeful that healthcare diplomacy will play a pivotal role in rebuilding trust and stability. Research exchanges, clinical trials, and telemedicine could once again serve as bridges between politically divided nations.
For decades, Sheba has been dedicated to sharing its knowledge freely. The hospital’s training programs for Palestinian and Arab doctors have shown that, even in turbulent times, medical professionals can find common ground. As Walz emphasizes, “Healthcare transcends politics.”
“Our doctors are seeing things never encountered before, rewriting medical books as they go along.”
Steve Walz
Head of Global PR - Sheba Medical Center
A Moral and Strategic Beacon
In a region fraught with complex moral and strategic challenges, Sheba Medical Center stands as a beacon of hope and compassion. Whether adapting AI for battlefield medicine or developing remote mental health solutions for traumatized hostages, Sheba’s mission goes beyond Israel’s borders. Amidst changing alliances and growing divisions, Sheba’s dedication to saving lives offers a reminder that healthcare is a universal human right, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.
In the end, Sheba’s doctors, nurses, and researchers continue their work with resilience and compassion, determined to break down barriers through skill, care, and unwavering commitment to healing, even as rockets fly overhead.
Adam Starzynski
Journalist | Foreign Policy Analyst