Here is another example of the flowering of an idea from one person's mind and initiative, followed by people beginning to cooperate for the good of all. -- L&L

In December, 1998, Raz Winiarsky, MD, Chief Resident in Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, conceived and called together the first all-day planning meeting and large dinner event to launch the new Middle East Medical Society.

Physicians, allied health professionals, scientists, and philanthropists convened at The University of Pennsylvania on December 12 to create the Middle East Medical Society to form several functional dialogues for opening new and broader channels of communication. They intend to (1) improve health care in the Middle East and simultaneously (2) learn to understand and appreciate each others' similarities and differences.

The immediate plans are twofold and will be developed simultaneously. One is to build the society's infrastructure, and the other is to launch projects aimed at standardizing health care in the Middle East.

Some of the participants were:

Dr. Silberberg, Chairman Emeritus of Neurology, Senior Dean, University of Pennsylvania, and Director of Int'l Medical Programs

Dr. Najat Arafat Khelil, Nat'l Vice President, Palestinian American Congress; National President, Arab Women's Council

Dr. Abass Alavi, Chairman, Nuclear Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. M. Samir Ahmed, Associate Professor of Surgery, New England Medical Center

Dr. Adel Abu-Mustafa, Dean of Int'l Affairs, Tufts University

Dr. Dan Shanit, Cardiologist, and Chairman of Telecommunications, Peres Peace Center, Tel-Aviv

Richard Goodwin, Member, Board of Directors, and Chair of Development Committee, American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam

Ohad Bar David, Cellist, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Co-founder of Arab/Israeli Orchestra

Marcia Presky, Director, Int'l Development Program of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

Dr. Barbra Zasloff, Clinical Child Psychologist, and Vice-chairman of Seeds of Peace

Contact:

Raz Winiarsky, MD
Chief Orthopaedic Resident Univeristy of Pennsylvania E-mail: razw@mail.med.upenn.edu
Home telephone: 215 508-0632

RECRUITING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

We are looking for health care professionals to volunteer with us. Our group, informally known as the Palestinian Israeli Health Care Group, is one that has Israeli health care professionals working in partnership with their Palestinian colleagues. All of our work is carried out in accordance with our philosophy of Israeli and Palestinian professionals working in cooperation as peers.

Our first project, which started in October of 1997, is that of Israeli medical specialists seeing patients together with Palestinian general practitioners. This work is taking place in clinics that are affiliated with the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC), located in the Hebron area.

The group is now embarking on its next project which involves screening, diagnosing and treating children with developmental delays. The targeted population is Palestinian children, aged 0 to 6, living in the area of Hebron. As of now, there are very few services in Hebron for these children.

We are currently seeking more Israeli volunteers to work with us on these and other projects. Professionals who would be welcome to work with us include but are not limited to physicians, dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, midwives, mental health professionals, and nurses.

Kate Sugarman, MD -- Irit Oryan, MD -- Yael Amitai MD

Please contact me if you would like more information or if you would like to join us in our work. Kate Sugarman