
The 2023 Rambam Summit – The Largest Hospital in Northern Israel Celebrates 85 and Announces a New Vision and Masterplan for 2048
June 1, 2023 – The 2023 Rambam Summit, incorporating the prestigious Rambam Awards Ceremony, was held from May 30th – June 1st, 2023, at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel. In addition to celebrating the hospital’s 85th year, research and innovation were a significant focus of the Summit. A groundbreaking master plan, taking the hospital well into the future was officially announced.
Celebrating the hospital’s accomplishments and the people who helped make them possible, the Summit took place from May 30 – June 1. Donors, Rambam friends from the USA, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Spain, Rambam executives, including Professor Miki Halberthal, Rambam’s general director and CEO, Rambam leadership, other international and local VIP guests, and Rambam employees participated in the historic event.
By 2048, Israel’s population will reach 15 million. To serve Northern Israel’s future medical needs, Rambam’s new vision and master plan for the future was announced. Plans to enlarge the campus five-fold include, construction of ten new high-rise buildings, gradually replacing many of the current ones, is scheduled for completion by 2048. With health and well-being taking center stage, bed space will grow from the current 1,100 to a total of 2,600 beds by 2065.
Identifying the 21st-century healthcare needs, Rambam’s establishment of the Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital, the Joseph Fishman Oncology Center, the Helmsley Health Discovery Tower, and the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital on Rambam’s west campus are part of Rambam’s commitment and dedication to human health, these cutting edge facilities will promote life-saving treatments and interventions.
Professor Halberthal commented, “Rambam will be a beacon of light for healthcare, synthesizing research, innovation, and technology. Implementing the most advanced technologies, and the most sophisticated laboratories will allow the implementation of advanced treatments emphasizing the aging process and early detection of disease.”
Halberthal went on to say, “Rambam research, innovation, and collaborations with esteemed academic institutions like the Technion form a solid foundation for advancing healthcare.”
Rambam’s vision does not just include the construction of new facilities; it also emphasizes research and innovation as a cornerstone and maintaining its status as the leading medical center in Northern Israel. Rambam’s state-of-the-art laboratories, ensure that our medical teams provide patients with the best possible care, promoting recovery and preventing illness.
Summit attendees watched a mass casualty drill in the Green – Wagner Department of Emergency Medicine demonstrated by Rambam’s staff from the internationally renowned Teaching Center for Trauma, Emergency, and Mass Casualty Situations. Thereafter, David Green and Daphne Wagner, long-standing Rambam friends, were honored at an appreciation and plaque unveiling ceremony of the Green – Wagner Department of Emergency Medicine.
Additional appreciation ceremonies took place during the Summit. The extreme generosity of Herta Amir, from California, and her love for Israel and Rambam made the newly renovated Herta and Paul Amir Internal Medicine Building a reality, followed by an outdoor plaque unveiling ceremony.
Danny and Cathy Rosenkranz from the UK were honored for their generous contribution towards the Danny and Cathy Rosenkranz Oncology ER in the Joseph Fishman Oncology Center .
A dedication ceremony was also held in honor of Bita Nuhavandi and in memory of her husband David Morovati from California. Bita was recognized for raising additional funds for the Danny and Cathy Rosenkranz Oncology ER towards vital medical equipment.
Participants also enjoyed five TED-talks at the Madatech Museum in Haifa, featuring brilliant Rambam physician-scientists who presented their cutting-edge research in neurosurgery, cardiology, and melanoma research, to name a few.
Additionally, Dr. Tal Zaks, an internationally recognized scientist in cancer and immunization, who served as Moderna’s chief scientist and led the development of the Covid-19 vaccine, and a recipient of a 2023 Rambam Award, presented a riveting lecture entitled “Developing mRNA Medicines.”
A sound and light show celebrating 85 years of Rambam was screened at the gala event and closing ceremony. The prestigious Rambam Award was awarded to three deserving recipients for their unparalleled contributions to Israel, healthcare, and humanity: Dr. Tal Zaks; Professor Emeritus Moussa Yadim, an Israel Prize recipient, inventor, and developer of groundbreaking drugs for Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s; and the Tannous Family – Eva, Elias, Ghadir, Alla, and Wassim, owners of the BST Group – who made a significant donation towards the construction of the Badia Tannous Heart Institute in the Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital honoring the family’s patriarch, Badia Tannous of blessed memory.
Local entertainers, delighted the audience with their performances and talented musicians, a child ensemble, and children of Rambam employees surprised the audience.
Professor Halberthal summarizes, “In the past year, Rambam has seen tremendous growth, new and innovative research, and expanded facilities and services. New collaborations have been forged, and relationships with communities worldwide have been cemented. Exciting plans for Rambam’s future are in place. I have been at Rambam for 37 years and have been acting as CEO for the past four years – this is my term’s most significant event. We have announced a groundbreaking master plan for a groundbreaking medical center, bigger than the pandemic and bigger than anything I will ever do. Rambam is creating the future of medicine.”
Professor Halberthal thanked everyone who make the Rambam vision and mission possible, “The 2023 Rambam Summit was a resounding success. Excellence in healthcare and innovation is core to our DNA. Rambam is a world leader, and our reputation is made possible by the hard work of our staff and the commitment of our many friends across the globe. We are sincerely grateful to you all.”
Photo: The unveiling ceremony of the Green-Wagner ER
Photography: Rambam HCC