This Canadian cardiologist flew to Israel immediately after the Hamas attack to volunteer—and save lives

Cardiologist
Canadian cardiologist Dr. Bradley Strauss left his work at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital and flew to Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack to volunteer at the HaEmek medical centre in Afula, near Israel's West bank and the northern border with Lebanon. (Submitted photo)

Subscribe to (opens a new window)

Dr. Brad Strauss is a cardiologist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, with a roster of patients and several new medical devices under development. But immediately following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, Strauss dropped everything and booked a plane ticket to Tel Aviv. Despite his flight being delayed by missile threats—it took him two days in transit—he arrived ready to work. He was accepted by the cardiology team at the HaEmek hospital in Afula, in the country’s north—within firing range of Hezbollah’s rockets.

Strauss is the only Canadian doctor volunteering with that hospital’s heart unit right now. But The CJN is aware of many other Canadian medical professionals who are on the ground to help.

And there will be thousands more, as Israel wants foreign-trained medical staff from Canada, the U.S. and the European Union to volunteer, anticipating casualties straining their health care system.

In the second episode of our week spotlighting “The Helpers” in the Holy Land, Strauss speaks to The CJN Daily host Ellin Bessner about what motivated him to come and why stress is causing heart problems for his new Israeli patients.

hjWhat we talked about

  • Help the HaEmek hospital in Afula buy a portable x-ray machine for the ER and a portable cardiac echo machine. Tax-deductable donations can be sent via the Neeman Foundation
  • Learn about Israel’s health ministry creating this web portal for foreign-trained medical professionals from Canada and abroad to sign up to volunteer
  • If you missed Monday’s The CJN Daily episode with the Canadian toymaker Ronnen Harary of Spin Master and how he is delivering 25,000 toys to displaced Israeli kids, listen here

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer.Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.