Shaare Zedek Medical Team Leads Field Hospital Activities in Earthquake Zone
Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Centre announced that two of its senior medical personnel had been dispatched to Haiti as part of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's search and rescue mission to the earthquake ravaged region. Dr. Ofer Merin, recently named Deputy Director General at Shaare Zedek and Director of the hospital's Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme, was charged with setting up a field hospital in Port-au-Prince. He is accompanied by Gali Weiss, Head of Nursing Services at Shaare Zedek and a former career officer in the IDF's Homefront Command and will serve as the head nurse of the field hospital.
Shaare Zedek Medical Centre's Director General, Professor Jonathan Halevy, stated that , "this tragic disaster requires a massive response from people all over the world and we are proud that our doctors and nurses will be amongst those able to help the people of Haiti," he said.
Dr. Merin is charged with designing all emergency preparedness protocols for the hospital. A highly accomplished and nationally recognized trauma surgeon, he is also responsible for running Shaare Zedek's Trauma Unit. As Jerusalem's most centrally located major hospital, Shaare Zedek plays an integral role in the area's emergency management and regularly drills for a wide variety of potential disasters.
"The fact that our senior medical professionals have been chosen for this mission in Haiti is an important indicator of the central role played by Shaare Zedek in the realm of emergency management." Professor Halevy said. "We wish Dr. Merin and Ms. Weiss the greatest of success in this mission and look forward to their safe return as soon as possible."
_______________________________________________________________________

Editors' note: Shaare Zedek UK is a registered UK charity that has supported the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem for over 70 years. The hospital has played a critical role in assuring medical care for every citizen of Jerusalem regardless of religion, faith or ethnicity for well over a century.

Shaare Zedek has gained a global reputation for its skilful blend of patient-led compassionate care with cutting edge medical technologies yet without compromising traditional Jewish values. The hospital is currently undergoing a major period of development with the construction of the Wohl Operating Complex and the development of Jerusalem's dedicated Paediatric Facility, the Wilf Children's Hospital.

The Shaare Zedek Medical Centre receives no public or municipal funding, and operates as a not for profit organisation relying on the support of donors worldwide for all capital and equipment costs.

For further information contact Laurie Rosenberg -- Director of Development