TORONTO — The last time supporters of the Meir Medical Center in Israel got together at gala dinners, they raised $2.5 million for the Kfar Saba-based regional hospital.
This time, an estimated 500 guests are expected at a fundraising dinner in October 2015 and the target being set in the campaign is $1 million, said Arie Raif, vice-chair and CEO of Canadian Friends of Meir Medical Center.
The money is slated to go towards the construction of a new orthopedic hospital at the centre, which is affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University (TAU), and which serves about 10 per cent of the Israeli population.
Two prominent Ontarians – Premier Kathleen Wynne and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Fehlings – will be honoured at the dinner. They have been named recipients of the Meir Medical Center’s Medals of Merit awards. Two other recipients will be named in the future, said Raif.
“Wynne has supported us for the last five years, not only as premier but as an MPP,” said Raif. “She cares about Israel, she shows support not only in words but in action – in the expansion of trade and the expansion of relations between the province and Israel.”
“Prof. Fehlings is a world-renowned neurosurgeon” active in stem cell research, Raif continued. “His research labs are something to be admired.”
Fehlings serves as head of the spinal program at the Toronto Western Hospital, which is part of the University Health Network. A professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, Fehlings also holds the Gerry and Tootsie Halbert chair in neural repair and regeneration. In 2014, he was appointed vice-chair of research at the department of surgery at the University of Toronto. He leads a multi-disciplinary team examining the application of stem cells, nano-technology and tissue engineering for central nervous system repair and regeneration.
Raif is hopeful the gala dinner can build the relationship between Meir hospital, TAU’s faculty of medicine, and Fehlings. “He’s been invited to speak to the Israeli Neurological Society. As a guest speaker he came back impressed with Israeli know-how, progress and research.”
“We’re trying to connect him to Meir for spinal surgery and other issues. Our possibilities with Prof. Fehlings are endless. We can create a lot of connections,” Raif said.
The $1-million fundraising goal for the gala is part of a $100-million budget for Meir Medical’s orthopedic wing and emergency department. Half is being contributed by the Israeli government, and the other half is the responsibility of Meir Medical and its support groups worldwide.
The new orthopedic and emergency building will include 99 care stations in its emergency department; nine operating rooms; two orthopedic hospitalization departments; two orthopedic rehabilitation departments; a spinal surgery department; outpatient clinics; a pain treatment clinic; and a rheumatology unit.
Last year’s gala raised funds in part for the Children’s Hospital and for cardiology equipment. Meir Medical treats nearly 50,000 children annually, from newborns to 18-year-olds. Comparable in size to Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, it’s located in central Israel north of Tel Aviv. The 863-bed hospital serves 58,400 inpatients a year and performs 20,000 surgical procedures annually. It’s one of the largest emergency hospitals in the country.
It prides itself in providing excellent service to all, regardless of religion or nationality. Twenty per cent of the hospital’s patients and staff are non-Jews.
This has made it attractive to non-Jewish supporters, who give substantially to the facility’s Canadian campaign, Raif said.
Overall, supporters realize their contributions make the difference between life and death, particularly in times of conflict.
“During war, the hospitals in Israel are the most important element that have to be protected, that have to be modern,” he said. Future campaigns will focus on making the hospital more able to withstand rocket attacks, Raif said.