A distant embrace: What did trauma doctors from Australia discover when they arrived in Israel?

A group of senior trauma doctors from Australia arrived in Israel earlier this month for a special medical delegation. The official goal: learning and continuous training to improve trauma care in both countries. But beyond the professional aspect, this visit proved that overseas, Israel has quite a few true friends.

The delegation, organized by the AUSiMED organization and the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, was led by Dr. Nir Shmuel, director of the pediatric trauma service and an emergency medicine specialist at the Schneider Medical Center; Prof. Mark Fitzgerald, director of trauma services at The Alfred hospital in Australia and director of the National Trauma Research Institute in the country; and Dr. Dani Ben-Eli, a senior emergency medicine physician and trauma consultant at The Alfred. The delegation members, who landed in the country on August 1, toured a series of hospitals and medical institutions among the leaders in Israel — from Hadassah Ein Kerem and the Institute for Military Medical Research at the Hebrew University, to Schneider, Rambam, and Sheba Tel HaShomer. Along the way, the doctors from Australia learned from their Israeli colleagues, and at the same time shared with them the rich knowledge and experience they brought with them.

"Two mature systems working together"

"We built a program that focuses on mutual learning and training," said Dr. Shmuel. He emphasized not only the activity in the field, but also the professional discourse that developed in departments like the MSR center at Sheba, which is considered a world leader in simulation-based medical education. One of the central ideas that came up in the discussions there is bringing a large team from Australia to Israel, to share its expertise, and at the same time acquire skills that will help in promoting the field of medical simulation in Australia.

"Professionally it was very strong, but on a personal level, as an Israeli doctor, it simply warmed the heart," adds Dr. Shmuel. "To see one of the leading trauma teams in the world come to Israel to support us in such a time — this is really not taken for granted." Israel and Australia have a long history of close ties, but since October 7, the headlines often focus on the worrying rise in antisemitism on the distant continent and political disagreements between the leaders of the countries. Delegations like this illuminate another, more beautiful side of the relationship, one that is based on professional cooperation and deep human connection.

Knowledge from Australia proved critical after October 7

Dr. Shmuel's connection with The Alfred hospital began when he decided to establish at Schneider the first dedicated pediatric trauma service in the country. At the beginning of 2022, he traveled to The Alfred, the largest trauma center in Australia and one of the leaders in the world — as part of a fellowship. He performed a fellowship there for about 18 months before returning to the country in May 2023. He, of course, could not have imagined what was about to happen on the black Saturday of October 7. In the end, the skills and connections he developed in Australia proved especially critical in the years that followed.

Although Israel prides itself on one of the most advanced health systems in the world, Dr. Shmuel explains that even the best must continue to learn from colleagues overseas to remain at the forefront. "You must be exposed to different approaches," he notes. "It is not about a resource-poor country that came to learn from a rich country, but about the way work processes are implemented and things are done differently. This is an interaction between two mature systems for the benefit of both sides." According to him, international cooperation is a breath of air for Israeli medicine: "If Israel is boycotted and people do not travel to study abroad, we will fall into a difficult situation."

Looking to the future

For Dr. Shmuel, this delegation had a meaning that goes far beyond the walls of the hospital. The colleagues from Australia made a huge effort, physically, mentally, and financially, to come to Israel, express support, and work shoulder to shoulder with the local doctors. "It is encouraging to know that there are more people like this in the world," he said. Alongside the professional tours, the delegation members found time to eat together, tour the Old City in Jerusalem, and deepen the personal friendship that stands at the base of the cooperation.

Now, Dr. Shmuel sees this partnership developing along three central axes: the first is staff exchanges, including short-term and long-term fellowships in Australia and Israel for doctors from both countries; the second focuses on promoting bilateral medical research; and the third concerns innovation, while creating a connection between Israeli and Australian startups within the medical ecosystem.

Opportunities of this kind will also be at the center of the first Australia conference of The Jerusalem Post, which will take place in Sydney on November 19. The event, which includes a gala evening and a prestigious reception, will present a fascinating two-hour program in cooperation with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, and will provide an opportunity for leaders from the worlds of medicine and high-tech to discuss collaborations and investments. Companies and professionals interested in examining similar partnerships between Israel and Australia are invited to take part in the conference in November. For more details, you can visit the website at www.jpost.com/Australia2026, or contact the conference organizers by email: conferencep@jpost.com.