Dear Friends,
We are delighted to send you the first of our new quarterly Reuth updates. Especially during these days when personal visits to Reuth are practically impossible and when our possibilities to meet in person are sparse, we want to make sure that we keep you aware of our progress, activities, challenges and dreams.
2020 has been a year like no other. Human society the world over faces unprecedented health and economic challenges that are testing us in ways few could have imagined just a short time ago.
As 2021 begins, the corona vaccination campaigns underway are generating much optimism. We are very pleased to let you know that earlier this month we have managed to vaccinate 1500 medical staff members, patients and residents of Reuth for the first round, and already have dates for the second round. This gives us much hope for a much brighter future.
Reuth has recently undergone a few changes in management personnel and we would like you to now meet two of our leadership team:
Dr. Orit Stein Reisner was recently appointed Director General of the Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital instead of Dr. Dov Albukerk. Dr. Stein Reisner, who joined our team as Deputy Director a year ago, is a psychiatrist, an expert in medical management, and a graduate of INBAR, a prestigious leadership program for health executives. Her professional approach promotes collaborative teamwork and a transparent, productive multidisciplinary dialogue. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Albukerk for his professionalism and devotion and for promoting the hospital during his term. We wish him much success in his new position.
Kelly Avidan has joined the Reuth team as the VP of Resource Development and Communications. Kelly was the Director of Resource Development and Secretary of the Association at the Weizmann Institute of science and brings with her years of knowledge and experience.
She is taking over from Miriam Frankel who after 27 years at the helm, will be retiring. Miriam Frankel has been the face of Reuth for decades, and her part in the development of the organization over the years is absolutely invaluable.
January 2021
Her footprints are spread all around Reuth and will serve as a solid foundation towards new and exciting challenges that lie ahead.
‘Looking back, the challenges of the pandemic have impacted the overview of the past year. In immediate response to the early stages of the Covid 19 crisis, the Reuth management decided to add 8 new stations for patients on ventilator support. An emergency fund raising campaign was positively received and with the support of crowd funding, foundations, and private donors, we raised over one million shekels to purchase the new vitally needed equipment and adapt existing departments to integrate the new stations. We would like to deeply thank the Reuth Board members in Israel, medical staff and employees of Reuth and our Association of friends around the world for their significant part in the success of the crowd funding project.
As for the day to day routine we have been doing our utmost to protect the safety and welfare of our staff, patients and residents, and cope with quarantines, isolations and social distancing from the family members who cannot visit their loved ones.
In other news, our American Friends recently held their annual gala, in an online platform this time, honoring three of our supporters: Daniel Arison Dorsman, who received the Circle of Life Award in honor of his support for the Children’s department at Reuth, Tomer Raved, recipient of the Future Builder Award and distinguished Renee Landau, for her longtime support. The virtual event, led by co-chairs Beth Bengualid and Sharon Freudenstein, was a resounding success, and the funds raised are being put towards Covid-19 rehabilitation at the hospital, renovation of subsidized housing units, state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment, and more. We would like to deeply thank all our friends from around the world who took the time to celebrate with us.
Before we close, we would like to revisit the topic of optimism.
Optimism is a central part of what we do at Reuth; of who we are, and a valuable tool in patients’ and professionals’ engagement in recovery and rehabilitation. This is exemplified by the story of Igor Levin, a 70-year-old recovering from a very severe case of Covid-19 who came to Reuth after three months on a ventilator. A couple of months into his hospitalization at Reuth, he is finally breathing by himself again. Our team managed to wean him off the ventilator, and he is now administering the much-needed multidisciplinary physical, occupational, and speech therapy he needs in order to resume basic activities.
One of our most important sources of optimism is your enduring support and warm friendship. The vision and passion of our friends have made you our partners in facing these challenging times, and in what still lies ahead. We would like to take this opportunity to convey our deep gratitude for your dedication, encouragement, and support.
It is with your support that we face the future with hope and certainty that we will continue to provide the very top services to all who need them.
On behalf of all of us here, at Reuth, we wish you and your loved ones health, happiness and safety, and a very optimistic 2021.
Sincerely,
Ami Arica Ido Sharir
Chairman Reuth CEO, Reuth
CC: Dr. Orit Stein Reisner, General Director, Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital Barak Tovi, VP, Senior Citizens
Kelly Avidan, VP, Resource Development
