Executive Chair Report July 2018 – June 2019
During the past year the Association has continued to be involved in a range of different activities.
As a reflection of this range, and prompted by student and trainee members, it was agreed that the website needed a revitalising revamp. This new version is now accessible; the Association hopes that members will continue to explore and use it; and to make suggestions about items which might be incorporated into it.
Annual General Meeting
The 2018 Annual General Meeting was addressed by Prof Patrick Maxwell on the topic of “Genes(is)….the key insight to some medical challenges”. He reflected on work done in Israel on genetic aspects of renal disease and described his own studies in this field, which have shown that potentiation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor can be inhibited by hydroxylase enzymes, and thus that this pathway may have important therapeutic possibilities.
Highlights of the year since the last Annual General Meeting have included:
Presidential Address
Prof Liz Lightstone delivered the London Presidential Lecture on the subject of “The Accidental Nephrologist”. She told the Association how her career had evolved, from a chance starting point in kidney disease, via a fellowship which led to an interest in the immune system, and into her present role. She described her current work on kidney disease in pregnancy, and on her important treatment studies which are looking at the relationship between the use of steroids and biologicals for kidney disease.
Insights into healthcare in Israel – the view from 2019
Prof Ora Paltiel (Haematologist / Oncologist and Epidemiologist, Hadassah-Hebrew University, Israel) led a discussion on this theme. Prof Mark Clarfield (Geriatrics, Ben-Gurion University) spoke about “Care of the Aging”. The similarities in attitudes and perspectives towards healthcare between the two countries were summarized by Prof Martin McKee (Medical Director / Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
Women in Medicine – an Israeli Perspective
Prof Paltiel spoke to the Association at a meeting (organized together with the UK Medical Women’s Federation) about Women in Medicine – an Israeli Perspective. Her talk was followed by contributions from two Association members, Dr Nicola Rosenfelder and Dr Naomi Katz. The Federation’s Past President, Prof Parveen Kumar, and current President, Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, discussed the comparative Israeli and UK status. The event followed on from Prof Kumar’s 2017 meeting with the leading women in Israeli medicine, held at the British Embassy in Ramat Gan.
Annual Dinner
Prof Sir Simon Wessely (Professor of Psychological Medicine and Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College London and Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at King’s College and the Maudsley Hospitals) was the Guest Speaker at the Annual Dinner. In his talk Sir Simon reflected on his experience in sorting out fact from mythology in management of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. He used examples from military medicine to illustrate that interventions may not always be as effective as we think they are. Overall doctors need to have an open mind and to consider the evidence carefully in order retain our credibility.
Medical Student Activities
Twelve elective scholarships have been awarded during the past year. All medical schools are notified about Jewish festivals, and about the elective scholarships available for those wishing to go to Israel.
In London there was a medical student welcome event, a support session to help prepare prospective medical students for interviews, a Friday Night dinner, and a “mock OSCE” session. An Imperial College group organised a meet and greet event for their cohort, and additional OSCE mentoring sessions. In Birmingham there was a welcome drinks event, a Friday Night Dinner, a Purim party and a blood donation drive. The Birmingham Jewish medical student group worked with the local Jsoc and the charity Jnetics to provide a free screening initiative for almost 150 Jewish students in Birmingham. This provided testing for some of the common autosomal recessive diseases that Ashkenazi Jews may carry. The medical students were able to be screening advisors on the day and gained interesting experience about these diseases, and about how to discuss these important medical issues with their fellow students. In Leeds the group arranged a case-based discussion, a quiz, two OSCE practice sessions, and a Saturday night dinner.
Other activities
The Association continues to have a role in public education about Jewish issues that relate to medicine. For example, there have been media requests for comment about Milah, about organ donation and about the measles outbreak. In addition, there is contact with other faith medical groups, including Catholic, Islamic and Sikh. The Association has been invited to be a member of the General Medical Council’s Black and Minority Ethnic Group which looks at issues of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Unfortunately, there is also a continuing need for the Association to support medical students and doctors who are confronted with anti-Israel and / or antisemitic critiques.