Translated from Ynet: https://www.ynet.co.il/health/article/hjsoz5wr1g
An innovative program initiated by Dr. Ahmad Nama, Director of the Emergency Medicine Department at Hadassah Ein Kerem, in collaboration with experts from Hadassah and around the world, offers hands-on training in the field for physicians from various countries and has garnered widespread interest. The course, recently held in Prague, aims to enhance critical skills in life-saving and pain management – and has successfully achieved impressive international recognition.
Amidst a challenging period for Israeli science and academia, dozens of physicians from around the world recently gathered in the Czech Republic for a groundbreaking course in emergency medicine. The initiative, led by Dr. Ahmad Nama, Head of the Emergency Medicine Department at Hadassah Ein Kerem, represents a unique collaboration between leading experts from Israel and Europe. The course’s objective is to equip physicians with practical knowledge and cutting-edge tools for saving lives and pain management.
The idea began back in 2020,” says Dr. Nama. “I thought about the skilled and talented people I know in the field, and I wanted to introduce something different—a hands-on experience with cadavers alongside these experts, as is customary in medical practice in Europe. I reached out to leading experts from eight or nine countries; all of them responded enthusiastically, and I started putting the program into motion.”
The course, held at the Faculty of Anatomy at Charles University in Prague—one of the world’s leading universities—lasted two days and included practical training in life-saving procedures, along with instruction on advanced and innovative pain management techniques.
Hands-On Training: From Theory to Practice
The first course welcomed physicians from ten different countries, all of whom enthusiastically signed up to participate. On the first day, the course focused on life-saving procedures—critical skills such as advanced airway management, thoracotomy, and other emergency interventions requiring precision and immediate execution. “You can’t teach these skills in real time when a patient arrives at the emergency room with a severe injury,” explains Dr. Nama. “That’s why preemptive practice is essential—using cadavers, which provide the most accurate simulation of real-life scenarios.”
According to Dr. Stéphane Ledot, Head of the Anesthesiology Department at Hadassah Ein Kerem and one of the course instructors, “Hands-on training with cadavers is the closest model to reality—it’s incredibly practical for physicians. You cannot achieve this level of skill when a doctor is under the pressure of a real emergency situation in the field. A physician in an emergency must be 100% prepared, leaving no room for error.
“Thanks to the course, I believe participants will be better and more confident in saving lives in the future. It enhances their skills, and ultimately, it’s also about safety. It increases patient safety because the outcomes will be better. I am confident this will save many lives in the future.”
According to Dr. Nama, the course integrates various disciplines: “Emergency medicine is a broad field that requires collaboration between anesthesiology, trauma, and intensive care. That is our strength—the integration of disciplines and working together in real time.”
A Pain-Free Department: Revolutionizing Pain Management
On the second day of the course, the training focused on innovative pain management techniques, with a primary emphasis on peripheral nerve blocks—a method that neutralizes pain through targeted anesthesia. “When an elderly patient arrives with a hip fracture, for example, we’re accustomed to giving them strong painkillers,” explains Dr. Nama. “But this can cause severe side effects, such as confusion or blood pressure issues. Instead, we can block the nerve at an early stage—and that changes everything.”
Course participants practiced using advanced technologies, such as smart ultrasound devices, which assist in the precise identification of nerves and blood vessels. “This, of course, enables faster and more effective treatment,” Dr. Nama emphasizes.
The course received recognition from the EACCME, the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, which grants it prestigious status. According to Dr. Nama, “This recognition is of great importance, especially at a time when Israel is facing challenges on the international stage. Our course received amazing feedback from all the participants and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Hadassah management, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, and my department at the hospital.”
The Head of the Trauma Unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem, Prof. Bala Miklosh, who also instructed participants in Prague, states that for him, the initiative holds significant meaning in terms of global medical community involvement and highlights its uniqueness: “This is not just another regular course. It offers an exceptional collaboration between various medical fields focusing on emergency situations—and that is exactly what we do at Hadassah.”
According to him, hands-on experience is critical: “In Israel, there aren’t enough opportunities to learn on cadavers, so this course provides a unique opportunity for physicians to enhance their skills.”
Prof. Miklosh further adds, “In a difficult and complex time, when Israeli initiatives and the achievements of our healthcare system are often met with rejection and lack of support, the commitment of instructor teams from around the world is an excellent achievement. Not only for Hadassah, but for the entire State of Israel. A medical program like this attracts experts and key figures who later apply the knowledge in their own hospitals, and this is a true source of pride for all of us.”
Dr. Najib Nasrallah, Director of the Emergency Department at Nazareth Hospital EMMS, who professionally supported the development of the program, also emphasizes its uniqueness and the reason why so many physicians are registering for the course. “This is a very high-level program, aimed at physicians and residents—healthcare providers dealing with extreme emergency situations, such as emergency medicine doctors, anesthesiologists, and surgeons, all learning advanced skills in saving lives”.
The advantage of the course is that people with many years of experience working in the field teach and provide younger doctors with the best knowledge, which, in my opinion and in the opinion of many, cannot be taught solely through lectures—but through real-world application. This is why learning on cadavers donated to science, in a professional and unique setting as was done in Prague, is so important.”
It is clear that on October 7th, Israeli medical teams encountered situations unlike anything they had ever faced before. At Hadassah, we continue to treat war casualties whose recovery and rehabilitation are expected to take many months, due to the severe injuries they sustained and their evacuation by helicopter from the battlefield. This is why, particularly this year, The Hadassah Medical Center is proud to grant the prestigious “Medicine with Soul” award for the second consecutive year, recognizing outstanding team members for their exceptional contributions.
This is the first initiative of its kind in Israel, where the Hadassah Board of Directors, led by former Minister and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, invites the public to choose from a range of healthcare professions at the hospital, and identify the team members at Hadassah who have provided them or their family members with healthcare that combines soul, personal attention, compassion, and exceptional dedication—team members who are remembered long after the medical treatment has ended.
This year, the award committee is chaired by Iris Chaim, the mother of Yotam Chaim, who was killed by IDF fire while fleeing captivity in Gaza. Chaim shares that her selection to lead the committee reflects the values she believes in, which were also important to her son—seeing the good in people and contributing to the creation of a better world.
A success story: Testimony from the Field
One of the participants in Dr. Nama’s course, a doctor from Israel, shared with him how the training he received has already saved lives: “The doctor heard gunfire not far from where he was, and he immediately ran to see if he could offer help on the ground. The following day, he called me and told me that thanks to the course he took with us in Prague, he knew how to stop the massive bleeding of the patient and accompany him to the hospital. It really gave him the confidence to act correctly in real time, and I’m very happy about that,” shares Dr. Nama.
At the conclusion of the first course, the program is emerging as a significant step forward in advancing global emergency medicine. The next course is already scheduled for this coming June, and Dr. Nama anticipates high demand: “The number of participants is limited, and I receive many inquiries from around the world, but we plan to expand the training in the future. We are here to teach and save lives.”
“Since the war, we’ve seen an increase in activity. Our doors are always open to everyone: war casualties from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the population that receives daily care here, including the largest psychiatric center.”
“In Jerusalem,” he explains. “The emotional care already provided at the emergency department stage is crucial for individuals who are experiencing trauma or heightened stress. Anyone who feels the war is affecting them in any way comes here for acute psychiatric support from skilled team members.”
“We are here to be the best professionals we can be, and for that, we work in collaboration. We are constantly learning and teaching. We have the ability to adapt. If there’s something new, we’ll listen, accept it, and learn from it. And if there’s something we know, we’ll pass it on. We’re here for each other,” shares Dr. Nama with enthusiasm.
“We’re not stopping here,” concludes Dr. Nama. “Our goal is to continue striving for excellence, passing on knowledge, and teaching the next generation of doctors. Because, in the end, when it comes to saving lives—there’s no room for compromise.”