Wolfson Medical Center CEO Shares Personal Story of Wounded Soldier Son

Prof. Anat Engel, CEO of the Wolfson Medical Center, revealed her personal story on Wednesday as the mother of a soldier wounded during the Iron Swords war. Speaking at the Ministry of Health conference marking 30 years of the National Health Insurance Law, Engel shared her perspective as both a healthcare executive and a family member of a patient.

The conference, titled "How We Will Ensure the Next Thirty Years," focused on the future of Israel's healthcare system. Engel led a panel discussion exploring the transformation of a medical professional into a patient's relative, and the vital role families play in rehabilitation.

A Mother and Son's Journey

For the first time publicly, Engel spoke about her son Yoav Engel, an armored corps combat soldier who was severely wounded in battles in Shejaiya. Yoav, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation and has begun studying medicine, joined his mother on stage to share his arduous journey. They were joined by Dr. Yoav Bichovsky, an intensive care physician who was seriously wounded in the war and later returned to medical practice.

"I went from being a person who manages an excellent system that treats the wounded, to the mother of a wounded soldier. Suddenly I knew, in the deepest sense of the word, what it means to entrust the life of the person you love most into the hands of our healthcare system," Engel said.

The Ultimate Test of Healthcare

Engel emphasized that the true test of a healthcare system lies in its ability to provide professional care, hope, and restored control during a person's most vulnerable moments. Yoav Engel explained that his harrowing experience as a patient inspired him to study medicine, driven by a desire to give back to others the dedication he received from medical teams.