GSDM Welcomes Director of Israeli Medical Center for Guest Lecture

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015, the Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC) and the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) welcomed Director General of Ziv Medical Center in Safed, Israel—Dr. Salman Zarka—to campus for a special guest lecture in the Hiebert Lounge about the Center’s role in the humanitarian treatment of Syrians suffering from severe wounds sustained during the country’s civil war.

Dr. Zarka’s lecture took place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and was attended by more than 50 members of the GSDM and BUMC community. His lecture focused on the efforts of Ziv Medical Center to care for and treat casualties of Syria’s civil war. Ziv Medical Center has thus far treated hundreds of Syrian casualties. The average cost to care for each severely wounded Syrian, according to Ziv Medical Center’s website, is $15,000.

Dr. Zarka’s lecture was facilitated by Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Practice Leader in the Pre-doctoral Patient Treatment Center Dr. David Dano.

It has been a great pleasure hosting Dr. Zarka for a fascinating and informative lecture,” said Dr. Dano. “It was heartwarming to see that people received medical treatment regardless of their origin or religion. We all have the moral responsibility to help to those in need.”

According to Dr. Zarka, the complex and violent history between Israel and Syria does not interfere with the Israeli treatment of Syrian casualties. “As a physician, when you think about wounded people, it doesn’t matter if they are Syrian or Israeli, you have sworn to provide medical support to save lives,” said Dr. Zarka.

Syrians who arrive at Ziv have typically followed a similar trajectory of treatment upon reaching the border between Syria and Israel. At the border, wounded Syrians are transferred to a field hospital operated by the Israeli Defense Forces, where they are treated and then transferred to Ziv Medical Center if they require lifesaving care. According to Ziv Medical Center’s website, “beyond the initial trauma care, most of the casualties are in need of emergency surgery, and indeed, many require repeated complex surgical procedures.”

Dr. Zarka was accompanied to BUMC by Ms. Jennifer Sieber Director of Academic Affairs for the Consulate General of Israel to New England.

Dr. Zarka delivered the lecture to numerous other area audiences during his trip to the United States.

Prior to his position at Ziv Medical Center, Dr. Zarka served as a Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces for 25 years in a variety of positions, the last of which was as Commander of the Military Health Services Department. Prior to this position, Dr. Zarka was the head of the Medical Corps of the Northern Command and Commander of the Military Field Hospital for the Syrian casualties in the Golan Heights.

“I would like to thank Dr. Dano for facilitating Dr. Zarka’s fascinating presentation,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is certainly a globally engaged institution, and we always appreciate opportunities for our faculty, staff, students, and residents to learn about important medical and health-related activities from around the world.”

Photos from Dr. Salman Zark’s lecture can be found on Facebook and Flickr.