Rambam Health Care Campus - Hospital

24/12/2025

87 years of Rambam. Honestly? It doesn’t feel like it.

Eighty-seven years ago today, we began our journey here in Bat Galim. Since then, so much has changed. Buildings have risen higher, and what was once considered science fiction is now part of our daily medical reality.

What has remained exactly the same is our core purpose: a steadfast focus on people, health, and well-being.

Rambam is a mosaic of staff and patients, proving every single day that before anything else, we are simply human.

Our deepest thanks to our teams, past and present, and to you, our patients and community, who have trusted us to walk alongside you for nearly nine decades.

We wish us all days of peace, happiness, and above all, good health.

21/12/2025

Last week, we marked a historic milestone at Rambam Health Care Campus: the final Beutler Symposium: Israel’s Frontiers in Genomic Medicine.

Since its founding in 2012 by Bonnie Beutler in memory of the legendary Dr. Ernest Beutler, this program has been a cornerstone of Israel’s scientific landscape. For over a decade, it has bridged the gap between fundamental discovery and clinical care, empowering the brightest minds to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine.

Highlights from a day of world-class science:

✅ Nobel Laureate Prof. Bruce Beutler delivered a keynote on identifying cancer resistance mutations, proving that fundamental genetic research remains the key to future therapies.

✅ Cross-Institutional Impact: The program has supported 10 elite investigators from Israel's top institutions—including the Technion, Weizmann Institute, Sheba, Tel Aviv University, and Hebrew University.

✅ Cutting-Edge Frontiers: From gene therapy for deafness and epigenetic liquid biopsies to predicting antibiotic resistance, the research presented showcases how genomic medicine is fundamentally changing patient care.

As we conclude this chapter, the legacy of the Beutler family lives on through the researchers supported and the lives improved by their discoveries.

Special thanks to Prof. Rafael Beyar, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council, and Dr. Michal Mekel, Director General of Rambam, for their leadership and vision in making Israel a global hub for genomic innovation.

18/12/2025

Happy Holidays from Rambam 🕎 🎄

14/12/2025

14/12/2025

When a Fertility Specialist Becomes the Patient 🩺

December 10, 2025 – One of Rambam's reproductive endocrinologists and fertility specialists, Dr. Ola Gutzeit, recently chose to undergo fertility preservation after years of caring for women facing the same decision. Moving from physician to patient gave her a deeply personal understanding of the fears, practical challenges, and emotional complexity faced by many women during this process.

As the head of the Fertility Preservation Clinic and an attending physician in the Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam), Dr. Ola Gutzeit has spent her career guiding women through in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols, fertility injections, and follicle counts. She understands every step of the fertility treatment process from a clinical perspective, yet she found herself asking whether she truly understood what the experience feels like.

Only when she chose to undergo a fertility preservation procedure herself, more commonly known as “egg freezing,” did she understand what the process demands from a patient’s perspective. From deciding on a treating physician, coordinating injections around full clinical days, and traveling with refrigerated medications to managing the constant mix of hope and anxiety showed her that IVF and egg freezing are far more complex than any protocol or medical textbook suggests. “Only when you go through it yourself do you really understand,” Dr. Gutzeit explains. “This experience didn't make me a different doctor, but it made me a more humane doctor,” she continues.

Her experience also highlights the range of reasons women pursue fertility preservation. Some face urgent medical need. Others choose elective preservation to maintain the possibility of building a family later, when personal, professional, or medical circumstances allow. Regardless the underlying reason, for many women, egg freezing is a proactive step to protect future fertility.

When Dr. Gutzeit’s own treatment cycle fell during an international medical conference, she was forced to balance a demanding travel schedule with time-sensitive injections. She confronted the same logistical puzzle her patients face: medications that must be taken on time, regardless of meetings, work obligations, or family responsibilities. “The drugs wait for no one,” she explains. While Dr. Gutzeit prepared for her trip, she packed suits and presentations, alongside syringes and ice packs so that she could continue her treatment protocol as scheduled. Although is a physician, she admits the first time that she injected herself felt completely unnatural, but by the second time, it became almost routine.

To keep up with her demanding schedule and knowing the experience might also give her a deeper appreciation of what some patients feel Dr. Gutzeit chose to undergo egg retrieval without anesthesia. The procedure gave her insights no textbook could provide, revealing points of discomfort often overlooked in clinical descriptions. While she does not routinely recommend this choice to every patient, it allowed her to avoid recovery time and continue with her routine and obligations.
Dr. Gutzeit's journey underscores the essential role of Rambam’s Fertility Preservation Clinic, which offers women advanced treatment along with real emotional and practical support during some of the most personal decisions they will ever make. Fertility preservation is, in many ways, an insurance policy for the future. Approximately 11% of women will use the eggs they freeze, but for those who do, it can determine whether a long-held dream remains possible. For many, taking the first step can feel daunting, making clear information and supportive counseling important throughout the process.

Under Dr. Gutzeit’s leadership, the clinic provides clear guidance, compassionate care, and state-of-the-art technology that give women meaningful control over their reproductive futures. Her experience highlights the importance of ensuring that fertility preservation services remain well-resourced, accessible, and responsive to patients’ needs so that every woman, regardless of background or circumstance, can make informed decisions at the right time.

Dr. Gutzeit’s story reinforces a central truth: fertility preservation is not simply a clinical service. It is a profound investment in women’s lives, autonomy, and future families.

This story is based on a Hebrew language article published by ynet

08/12/2025

They came to give strength and left even stronger! 💪

On Israel’s national day honoring injured IDF soldiers and victims of hostile actions, students from Ironi Aleph High School in Haifa paused their studies to show the soldiers and warriors hospitalized at Rambam Health Care Campus appreciation for their service and sacrifice, bringing love, gratitude, and encouragement.

Led by Ilana Siman-Tov Doodles, CPR head nurse and coordinator at Rambam, they went room to room - listening, embracing, and most importantly, thanking our heroes for everything they've done, and continue to do, for us.

The power of community is often the best medicine!

07/12/2025

Rambam Opens Nazarian Mental Health Clinic for IDF Veterans

Rambam Health Care Campus has officially opened the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Mental Health and Wellness Clinic in Haifa's City Center Mall.

Made possible through the vision and generosity of the Nazarian family, this new clinic marks a major expansion of critical mental health services for IDF veterans coping with PTSD and combat-related conditions.

The facility was intentionally designed as a calm, welcoming "non-hospital" environment in the heart of the city, aimed at eliminating perceived stigma and facilitating recovery.

In response to a 30% increase in veterans seeking care since October 7, the new clinic provides enhanced capacity with 18 private treatment rooms and dedicated areas for advanced therapies like neurofeedback and group sessions.

Rambam’s Veterans’ Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, has served veterans for over 40 years, and this expansion ensures their continued, comprehensive support.

We extend our deepest thanks to the Nazarian family, as well as to additional supporters: The Jewish Federations of North America, UJA-Federation of New York, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and the Grace and Truth Congregation.

As Dr. Sharon Nazarian noted, "There is no better way we can imagine having long-term impact than helping the healing of our brave soldiers in this beautiful new clinic."

We are committed to standing with Israel's veterans on the road to healing, today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Jewish Federations of North America UJA-Federation of New York , CJP - Combined Jewish Philanthropies ,Grace and Truth, Israel/ קהילת חסד ואמת

01/12/2025

A bullet to the heart 🫀

Overnight, between Thursday and Friday, two soldiers were airlifted to Rambam Health Care Campus following a firefight in Beit Jinn, Syria. They arrived in critical condition, requiring immediate life-saving intervention.

One of the soldiers suffered a severe gunshot wound to the chest. The bullet had penetrated his protective vest and stopped inside his heart.

Prof. Gil Bolotin, Director of Cardiac Surgery, describes a complex and challenging operation. The team had to open the chest cavity to control the bleeding, only to find the bullet lodged in the heart’s septum.

Faced with this delicate situation, the medical team made a critical call.

"We unanimously decided to leave the bullet in place," explains Prof. Bolotin. "He may require further surgery later, perhaps by catheterization, but for now, this was the safest path."

Against the odds, the soldier is now recovering well, communicating, and his condition is defined as stable. The second soldier is also under observation in the ICU in stable condition.

We are closely monitoring their progress and hoping for a full recovery.

🎥 Watch the evacuation footage:

12/11/2025

Dr. Ayelet Shay, director of the Breast Oncology Unit at the Joseph Fishman Oncology Center, highlights the latest global breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Conference. These new drugs—already approved in several countries—are reshaping care for women with advanced and high-risk disease and could soon be included in Israel’s national health basket.

According to Dr. Shay, the past year has seen a turning point in the management of metastatic and hormone-sensitive breast cancer. New targeted drugs such as Datroway®, Trodelvy®, and Verzenio® are extending life expectancy, improving disease control, and reducing side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. “These treatments mark a real shift toward personalized care,” she says. “They target cancer cells directly while sparing healthy tissue. This translates into patients living longer with higher quality of life.”

Among the promising developments, Datroway has improved survival in women whose cancer stopped responding to hormonal therapy, while Trodelvy offers a major advance for those with triple-negative breast cancer. Verzenio, already available in Israel, has proven to reduce recurrence risk in early-stage, high-risk patients and is now considered a new global standard of care.

Dr. Shay also noted encouraging trial results for Giredestrant, an experimental Roche therapy that could help patients whose tumors developed resistance to existing hormonal treatments.

“These innovative drugs represent a new era of precision medicine in oncology,” emphasizes Dr. Shay. “However, to make them accessible to all patients, Israel’s health budget must expand to keep pace with the rapid progress seen worldwide.”

10/11/2025

Low-cost cosmetic procedures abroad, in Turkey, Thailand, or Eastern Europe, may seem appealing, but an increasing number of Israelis are returning with severe, even life-threatening complications caused by flying too soon after surgery.

In recent weeks, three Israeli women were hospitalized in serious condition at Rambam Health Care Campus after undergoing aesthetic procedures overseas and boarding flights home just days later.

“We are treating patients with infections, open wounds, and tissue damage, some requiring multiple surgeries,” says Prof. Assaf Zeltzer, Director of Rambam’s Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

A joint study by Rambam and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion, led by Dr. Yoav Pikkel and Prof. Zeltzer, found that flight conditions such as low air pressure and reduced oxygen levels can critically disrupt blood supply to healing tissues, leading to necrosis, wound reopening, graft failure, and dangerous blood clots.

Another Rambam study, published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, reviewed 56 Israeli patients hospitalized after cosmetic surgeries abroad:
• 91% were women (average age 37)
• 59% had open sutures
• 48% suffered severe infections
• 20% required further operations
Half of all bacterial cultures revealed antibiotic-resistant strains, endangering both patients and caregivers.

“Even a smooth surgery can turn dangerous mid-flight,” warns Prof. Zeltzer. “The body is still in recovery mode, and flying alters internal pressures, increases swelling, and may cause blood clots, sometimes with fatal outcomes.”

These findings will be presented at the annual conference of the Israeli Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery.
Prof. Zeltzer concludes:
“Plastic surgery is real medicine. No aesthetic result is worth risking your life.”

27/10/2025

Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine Day Hospitalization Center

Rambam Health Care Campus has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Internal Medicine Day Hospitalization Center, featuring 14 advanced treatment stations and providing ambulatory care across several specialties, including Neurology, Pain Management, Liver Diseases, and soon Gastroenterology.

Designed for patients who do not require full hospitalization, the center enables them to receive infusions, medical supervision, and diagnostic procedures under close professional oversight. It operates two daily shifts to ensure continuous, high-quality care.

🧠 The initiative was led by Rambam’s Department of Neurology, headed by Dr. Shahar Shelly, who identified the opportunity to introduce a new care model. Under the direction of Dr. Alla Shifrin, Rambam’s Neurology Day Hospitalization Unit now brings together advanced services in neuroimmunology, neuromuscular disorders, cognitive neurology, and headache management, all under one roof.

“Neurology is advancing rapidly, with innovative treatments now available for patients who once had no options,” says Dr. Shelly. “Through this multidisciplinary center, patients receive the same high standard of care without extended hospitalization, while maintaining continuity and quality.”

👩‍⚕️ The new center reflects Rambam’s broader strategic vision: improving patient experience, reducing inpatient burden, shortening waiting times, and ensuring access to advanced medical care, all within a modern, patient-centered ambulatory setting.

23/10/2025

Rambam Honors the Azrieli Family

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Azrieli Foundation Pediatric Rehabilitation Center

Rambam Health Care Campus celebrated a moving milestone with the Azrieli Foundation, breaking ground for the new Azrieli Foundation Pediatric Rehabilitation Center-a first ofits kind facility in Northern Israel.

Thanks to a $7.2 million donation from the Azrieli Foundation to the Canadian Friends of Rambam Medical Center, this stateof the art centerset to open in spring 2026-will provide vital rehabilitation services for children recovering from illness, injury, or trauma, close to home.

At the ceremony, Danna, Naomi, and Sharon Azrieli received the Rambam Award in recognition of their visionary philanthropy and their profound impact on medicine, science, and society.

“This center stands as a beacon of resilience and renewal for Israel’s children,” said Danna Azrieli, Chairwoman of the Azrieli Group.
“We are proud to help ensure every child has access to the care they deserve,” added Dr. Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation.

Professor Miki Halberthal, Director General of Rambam, expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“This transformational gift fulfills a long-held dream-bringing specialized pediatric rehabilitation to Israel’s North.”

The Azrieli Foundation