A slice of peace.

Abstract

We rarely read or hear of good news from the Mideast and Israel: the second Lebanese war, Hezbollah, rockets raining down on Sderot, Operation Cast Lead, and Iran. Even an optimist like me could see little hope for this region in turmoil. In 2009 I visited a number of pediatric emergency departments in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to see whether there were opportunities for me to contribute as a physician. I was particularly taken with Professor Eitan Kerem, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Hadassah–Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. Professor Kerem described the history of Hadassah Hospital, the diversity of patients and disease, and the underserved population treated there. I left thinking what an incredible place this would be to work. By the time I landed home in Boston, my plan was in place. After numerous e-mails, Professor Kerem agreed to have me work as an attending physician in the Pediatric Emergency Department for 1 month and helped me obtain my temporary medical license. I started to study Hebrew seriously in Boston, worked out my leave of absence from work, rented an apartment, and left later that year. I was ready to care for “my people.” It would not take long for me to understand how unprepared I really was. I landed in Israel on a Monday morning and began work in the emergency department on Wednesday. I put on my freshly pressed white coat with stethoscope and other paraphernalia and walked into the department, still tired and foggy from jet lag. I blinked a few times as … Address correspondence to Sigmund Kharasch, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Zero Emerson Place, Suite 3B, Boston, MA 02114. E-mail: skharasch{at}partners.org