An international pediatric genetics conference recently held at Rambam’s Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital included participants from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in Ohio. The two institutions signed an official cooperation agreement in 2015.

An international pediatric genetics conference was held recently at Rambam’s Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital. Taking part in the conference were experts and leaders from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in Ohio, which is currently rated second in its field in the USA.

In 2015, an official cooperation agreement was signed between the two institutions for academic, clinical, and research work in the field of pediatric facial deformities. The agreement was considered unique — although the prestigious hospital in the US maintains extensive professional relations with various bodies in Israel, this was the first time that the Cincinnati hospital had collaborated with a university-medical institution in Northern Israel.

The conference at Rambam was held to strengthen ties between the two hospitals, serving as a meeting between staff with parallel positions from both institutions and fostering the sharing of knowledge and experience. The conference reviewed various issues related to pediatric genetics, including advanced methods of treatment and diagnosis, treatment procedures, different studies, and more. The American colleagues also visited other departments at Rambam and learned first-hand about what it’s like to work in Northern Israel’s largest hospital.

“We are talking about high-level cooperation not only at the personal professional levels, but also – and primarily – in terms of developing our professional capabilities,” explains Professor Myriam Ben Arush, Director of the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam. “We are joining forces and plan to conduct joint studies, learning together as well as training our staff in one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. A number of programs are already up and running, while others are currently in the planning stages. Once we have completed these processes, I have no doubt that all of us – our medical staff and our patients – will benefit from this cooperation.”

In the photo: Professor Myriam Ben Arush (center) and doctors from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, at the conference held at Rambam.

Photography: Pioter Fliter