Rambam Health Care Campus - Hospital

11/08/2025

🤖 What happens when robotic surgery is no longer just “assisted” — but fully autonomous?

A new study from Johns Hopkins University has demonstrated the capabilities of SRT-H, an autonomous surgical robot that successfully performed complex steps in gallbladder removal with 100% accuracy, adapting in real time to each patient’s unique anatomy.

The system scanned the abdominal cavity in 3D, responded to voice commands, and executed 17 intricate surgical maneuvers flawlessly. Researchers see this as a major milestone — another step toward integrating AI into the operating room.

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Eylon Lahat, Senior Physician in the General Surgery Unit at Rambam Health Care Campus, explains:
“You can compare it to an autonomous vehicle, but the surgical system is more advanced and sophisticated. Every surgery is different, with unexpected events that require a surgeon ready to step in. The potential is tremendous, but expectations must remain realistic.”

Dr. Lahat envisions a future where fewer surgeons can oversee multiple procedures simultaneously — but emphasizes: “We’ll never reach the stage where we no longer need surgeons.”

Before such systems can be used on live patients, years of rigorous testing, ethical deliberation, and regulatory approval are required — with one guiding principle always at the forefront: patient safety.

Photo by Juo-Tung Chen/Johns Hopkins University/PA
📌 Based on an article first published by Ynet

06/08/2025

From Inventor to Patient: The Parkinson’s Breakthrough That Came Full Circle

In a unique twist of fate, an engineer who spent decades developing cutting-edge technologies for Israel’s defense sector, found himself not only the creator of a groundbreaking Parkinson’s treatment but a patient treated with the very device he had developed.

After transitioning from a career in defense to healthcare innovation, Kobi Vortman, PhD set out to develop a non-invasive method to treat brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Two decades later, he found himself on the receiving end of the treatment he had invented. Vortman’s innovation, focused ultrasound (FUS) with the guidance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), targets the deep areas of the brain responsible for tremors, offering a non-invasive alternative to brain surgery. The technology has already benefited over 22,000 patients worldwide and is reshaping treatment for conditions like Parkinson’s and essential tremor.

Six years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Vortman underwent FUS at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, the first hospital in the world to implement the new treatment. Following treatment, Vortman’s life has completely turned around. “I’m taking long walks again, something I struggled with before.”

During the treatment, a helmet is worn, through which high-intensity ultrasound waves are used to precisely target the diseased area of the brain without affecting any surrounding tissue. The ultrasound rays pass through the intact skull and pinpoint a particular area in the center of the brain (the thalamus) for ablation. The result is interruption of the abnormal flow of electrical signals and cessation of tremor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used by the surgeon to accurately direct the ultrasound waves to the specific site in the brain where the tremor is initiated—hence the treatment name—MRI-guided FUS. The doctors monitor the results in real-time and adapts treatment to a patient’s specific condition for optimal results.

Because the beams pass harmlessly through the intact skull, the treatment is incision-free, requires no general anesthesia or hospital stay, and produces rapid and often immediate tremor relief, particularly in patients who have stopped responding to medication.

Dr. Lior Lev-Tov, the head of Functional Neurosurgery Unit, underscores the accuracy of the treatment: “This technology allows us to target energy with pinpoint precision—down to 0.1 mm—in the 2 mm area responsible for tremors in the thalamus.”

Professor Ilana Schlesinger, director of the Movement Disorders Institute in the Department of Neurology at Rambam, adds: “We have come a long way since the first FUS treatment in the world was performed at Rambam. Read more... https://lnkd.in/e88Ht8fk

31/07/2025

🌍 A Heartwarming Reunion in the Midst of Crisis 🩺

At Rambam Health Care Campus, an extraordinary story unfolded when a Druze family from Southern Syria, evacuated after a deadly attack, met their long-lost relative—an Israeli Druze physician.

Separated by borders drawn over 75 years ago, the Druze communities in Israel and Syria share deep roots. This week, a mother, her teenage daughter, and young son, critically injured in a violent attack in Sweida, Syria, were brought to Rambam. During triage, a nurse noticed their surname matched that of a doctor on duty. A conversation revealed they were distant relatives, connected by family ties split by history.

“It was a very emotional moment,” the doctor shared. “To meet a relative I’d never known, with the same name as mine—I felt my hair stand on end.” The mother added, “I felt like I was home, with family. I hope Israel continues to help the Druze community.”

Rambam is providing the family with trauma, orthopedic, pediatric, and psychological care, continuing its mission to treat all patients, regardless of background.

A story of hope, humanity, and connection in the face of tragedy. 💙

Based on a News Haifa Krayot article. Names withheld for security reasons.

27/07/2025

Historic Breakthrough at Rambam: Israel’s First Endoscopic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

For the first time in Israel, surgeons at Rambam Health Care Campus have successfully performed a minimally invasive, ni**le-sparing preventive mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

This groundbreaking procedure preserves the ni**le, reduces scarring, lowers complication risks, and offers a safer, more aesthetic recovery—especially significant for women carrying the BRCA gene mutation, which sharply increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Led by Dr. Aviad Hoffman, Director of the Breast Surgery Unit, and Professor Assaf Zeltzer, Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, this achievement marks a new era in breast cancer prevention and care in Israel.

17/07/2025

From tragedy to triumph: Hani and Elhanan Greenberg faced a life-altering car accident while Hani was 24 weeks pregnant with twins.

Trapped in a wrecked car, Hani suffered a severe neck fracture, fearing for her life and her unborn children. Rushed to Rambam Health Care Campus, a multidisciplinary team worked tirelessly to save her and her twins. After emergency surgery, intensive care, and months of rehabilitation, Hani delivered healthy twins at 34 weeks via Caesarean.
The compassionate staff at Rambam became their lifeline, offering unwavering support. Now, with the twins home and Hani continuing her recovery, the Greenbergs’ faith and the care at Rambam have restored their hope for a bright future. 🙏💙

13/07/2025

First-Ever Hibuki (“Snuggle”) Therapy Pilot Helps Rambam Pediatric Patients Express Their Feelings.

Hibuki Therapy, a research-backed program, is transforming how traumatized children process emotions. Using a sad-eyed stuffed puppy with extra-long hugging arms, kids express their fears and sadness in a safe, playful way.

Since the October 7, 2023 attacks, nearly 2,850 children in Gaza-envelope and Ashkelon received Hibuki puppies at evacuation centers. Globally, over 150,000 kids have benefited! Now, Rambam Health Care Campus is piloting this therapy in its Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital, integrating it into pediatric care in Hebrew and Arabic.

During Operation "Rising Lion," the Hibuki Patrol Team supported over 500 displaced kids, even at Rambam’s Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital during missile alerts.

On July 9, Rambam honored partners from Amal U'Meever and Haifa Municipality, with President Isaac Herzog praising the project’s impact.

“The Hibuki project was a lifeline for my son Yuval’s recovery,” shared Adi, a patient’s mom. “It’s a heartfelt mission.”

Dr. Shay Chen Gal, who developed Hibuki during the Second Lebanon War, says, “We promise to reach every child who needs Hibuki. No child will be left alone.”

08/07/2025

Personalized Cancer Vaccines Show Early Promise: Two new studies published in Nature offer hope in the fight against kidney and pancreatic cancer. For the first time, personalized vaccines have shown success in human trials.

Dr. Ruth Peretz, Director of Rambam’s Oncology Day Care Unit, calls the findings “very encouraging,” though she cautions the vaccines are still in early stages. “Most treatments aim to extend life,” she says, “but this approach may lead to a full recovery for patients with advanced kidney cancer.”

In one study, a kidney cancer vaccine triggered a 166-fold increase in cancer-fighting T-cells, and all patients remained cancer-free for an average of three years.
Another study tested a three-part therapy for pancreatic cancer, combining immunotherapy, a personalized mRNA vaccine, and chemotherapy. “Pancreatic cancer is a frustrating disease,” says Peretz. “Until now, immunotherapies haven’t shown much promise. But in this study, patients who responded to the vaccine lived significantly longer. That suggests the vaccine has a real biological impact.”

While both studies were small, the early evidence is compelling. “Although these particular studies were not conducted in Israel, Rambam has already been involved in a joint trial with Moderna for a cancer vaccine,” says Peretz. “Israel is helping lead the way.”

29/06/2025

💕 New Life Amid Grief: A Miraculous Birth at Rambam’s FUEH 💙

Just hours before the ceasefire, a ray of hope pierced through the darkness at Rambam Health Care Campus. In the depths of the Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital (FUEH), a baby girl was born on June 23, 2025, bringing new life to Shoval Kostanko-Tsarfati and her family—still grappling with the devastating loss of her brother, Ofir Tsarfati, murdered during the Nova festival attack. This birth marked Shoval’s second child in a year, following the arrival of her son Yam, born exactly one year prior.

The journey began with heartbreak. Shoval and her husband, Max, discovered they were expecting Yam just two days before October 7, 2023—Ofir’s birthday. Wanting to shield him from distraction, they delayed sharing the joyful news, a decision now tinged with regret after his abduction and murder in Gaza. “I dreamed of telling Ofir about the pregnancy, seeing his face light up,” Shoval recalls tenderly. “He knew how much we longed for another child after our daughter Emma, now four and a half. We believe Yam, born at Rambam, was his gift to us—a way to open our hearts to joy amid sorrow.”

Then, on October 7, 2024—the anniversary of Ofir’s abduction—another surprise: Shoval was expecting again. “Ofir was with me again,” she says with emotion. “I feel his presence constantly, even in the delivery room. I talk to him, tell him about the kids. He’s still part of our family.” Amid the wailing sirens of Operation Rising Lion, Shoval gave birth to her daughter in the FUEH’s safe haven, a stark contrast to Yam’s birth in a cozy ward.

“I live in two worlds,” she reflects. “Hostages remain in Gaza, yet I’ve birthed twice in a year. One world stands still, the other races forward. It’s a fragile balance of grief and joy.” Despite the pain, Shoval holds onto optimism for her children—Yam, Emma, and the newborn. “I pray for a miracle, a healing, a different reality for them. Maybe this joy can bring a little light, even for Ofir.”

📸 Photo: Rambam Health Care Campus

24/06/2025

Day 11 of the War: Rambam Makes History!

In Rambam’s fortified underground emergency hospital (FUEH), nearly 1,000 patients are receiving care—a new record! The center has become a vital hub for emergency medical response in Northern Israel, also hosting evacuees from Carmel, Fliman, Hillel Yaffe, Shoham, and Wolfson hospitals, all with compassionate care despite the challenges.

Life goes on underground: around 350 children of staff (ages 3 months to 12 years) are cared for in a dedicated daycare, allowing parents to focus on lifesaving work. Since the war began, 213 war-related injuries and cases of distress have been treated—most discharged with minor injuries or anxiety, though 10 remain with serious wounds.

On Friday, June 20, a missile strike hit downtown Haifa (less than 2 km from Rambam), bringing 31 injured to the trauma room. Among them were 16-year-old Itay and his father David, new immigrants from Manchester, hit by shrapnel under a bridge. Itay underwent emergency surgery as Dr. Wisam Matanis and Dr. Roee Noy removed shards just 1 mm from a major artery. “It was a miracle,” said David, now recovering with his son in the FUEH.

Amid the chaos, hope shines: Amit Samana (26), a nursing student and father, donated bone marrow to a child via Ezer Mizion, performed safely in the FUEH with support from Rambam’s active Blood Bank.

21/06/2025

20/06/2025

Following a barrage of missiles over Haifa, 19 individuals with shrapnel injuries were evacuated by Israel’s emergency response service—to the Eckstein Shock Trauma Room at Rambam Health Care Campus. All are currently receiving medical treatment. Of the 19 wounded, one is in serious condition, one is moderately injured, and the remaining sustained mild injuries.

Rambam has opened a public inquiry hotline: 1255144

19/06/2025

Yesterday, a heartwarming moment unfolded in Rambam’s Fortified Underground Daycare Center, a unique and secure environment for the children of Rambam staff during the war. While sirens blared warnings of missiles from Iran, some young children played, petted, and brushed Rambam’s beloved and gentle therapeutic dog—Tinka.

“Tinka’s presence is calming,” says Idit Leiba, her trainer and head of Rambam’s Canine Therapy Service, “but she was really caring for them.”

Tinka can regularly be seen across the campus, visiting patients and bringing smiles to all. Even in the most challenging moments, compassion finds a way