Since the unfathomable events of October 7, many of Rambam’s physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers have been called up for reserve duty or are volunteering in many fields of activity. Two physicians from Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, share their unique perspectives while serving on the frontlines.
L) Dr. Joseph Schnapp. R) Dr. Mor Kadusi. Photography: L) Rambam HCC and R) Courtesy of Dr. Mor Kadusi
Rambam is proud of each staff member who is serving or volunteering in the IDF or other national services. Dr. Joseph Schnapp and Dr. Mor Kadusi are just two examples.
Dr. Joseph Schnapp
Dr. Joseph Schnapp is an attending physician in Rambam’s Department of Maxillofacial Rehabilitation and the Temporomandibular Disorders Unit and currently volunteering with the Israel Police. A past volunteer with ZAKA – Israel’s non-governmental search and rescue organization, where he specialized in victim identification, he witnessed many distressing cases. Despite his experience, Schnapp and his colleagues were unprepared for the scale of tragedy witnessed at the Shura Camp – the Rabbinate’s center for identifying the deceased. “When I saw the numbers in the Shura camp, I just cried," he says. “We stood amazed at the magnitude of the disaster, the endless flow of bodies and coffins. We have never experienced anything like this.”
Dr. Schnapp’s unit at the Shura Camp tackle the intricate process of identifying each corpse. The process is complex. He explains that each body is initially identified by a number. Their job is to make sure that every number becomes a name. The amount of tests needed to identify each body is mind-boggling. Everything from DNA, X-rays, and physical details to the items found with the body are catalogues and entered into a special database with the police. From there, the data is cross-referenced with dental and medical records and other information until a partial or full identification can be made.
Schnapp explains that this work takes an emotional toll and emphasizes the need to compartmentalize emotions to get the job done. He recounts an incident where he contacted a colleague at Rambam for information on a victim, only to discover that the victim was a friend of the colleague’s son.
Dr. Mor Kadusi
Dr. Mor Kadusi, a physician in the Green-Wagner Department of Emergency Medicine at Rambam was exempt from compulsory reserve duty in the IDF. However, as the events of October 7 unfolded, she didn’t think twice about volunteering. Her request to serve in the Medical Corps was approved and she was assigned to a combat battalion in northern Gaza.
Dr. Kadusi describes the diverse medical challenges in the field, including viruses, diarrhea, infections, and trauma injuries such as shrapnel wounds, burns, and bruises. Dedicated to their mission, the Medical Corps works hard to ensure the soldiers' well-being.
“Life has stopped, there is homesickness.” Kadusi shares. “We get leave only one every two weeks.” However, Kadusi remains positive amidst this and other challenges. She reflects on the strong personal bonds she has established and describes the intensity of the training they underwent in preparing for battle. “There is something bigger than all of this.” She explains, “My team is very strong; people who have been together for years.” Despite the gender disparities –Kadusi is a female doctor in a predominantly male environment, she feels that her environment is quite supportive. “They give me everything needed to get the job done. There is no difference between me and a male doctor.”
Dr. Kadusi talks admirably of Israel’s medical system and its ability to seamlessly transition from civilian to military mode. Although her field team include professionals who have served in the regiment for years and a senior doctor, she sometimes contacts her Rambam colleagues for consultations. Speaking of her role in the IDF, Kadusi smiles and says, “They took an emergency room doctor, but they brought all of Rambam Medical Center here with me.”
Emergency medicine is Kadusi’s passion. Regarding her career and service in the military reserves she concludes, “This is my home. I really like to deal with what is critical, what is important here and now.”
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