The second annual Research Conference in memory of Dr. Ido Yatziv, former Director of Hadassah’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), highlighted studies conducted by residents, nurses and paramedical staff.

Dr. Yatziv, who was a key figure in establishing Hadassah’s new PICU, passed away suddenly in December 2011.

During the Conference, the Ido Yatziv Prize for Excellence in Patient-Doctor Relations was awarded to Dr. Tomer Tzur of the Department of Plastic Surgery for his outstanding compassion and dedication to his patients as well as professional distinction.

The Pediatric Division Award for Excellence in Research was awarded to Dr. Polina Stepensky, Senior Physician in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department and Coordinator for pediatric bone marrow transplantations. Her research includes clinical trials of bone marrow transplantation among children and the development of new treatment methods; genetic diagnosis and characterization of immunological diseases; and characterization of the immunological function of congenital diseases of the immune system.

The Prize for Excellence in Nursing was awarded to Galit Copenhagen of the Pediatric Surgery Department. Recognized as a leader by her peers and managers, Ms. Copenhagen is respected for her devotion to raising the bar for professionalism in her department. Additionally, she has helped to promote the department’s pain management project.

Among the topics discussed during the Conference were: nutrition among children, developing new diagnostic methods for treating children, the issue of pain management, and basic and clinical research dealing with common chronic and complex diseases in children.