We Made It Happen: 11th Teddy Bear Hospital a Success

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine 11th Teddy Bear Hospital community event was a success!

Despite the broad-based national strikes that took place on the day, and potentially inclement weather, close to 700 children and their families visited the Faculty on March 27, 2023 to bring their loved teddy bears and dolls in for their annual check-ups and acute care needs.

This year the children received personal stethoscopes upon registration, vitamins from Altman, and at the end of the activity, certificates of completion.

The Teddy Bear Hospital is a highlight event of the Faculty, geared towards exposing young children to medical personnel and treatments in a very friendly, non-stressful environment - via their loved stuffed animals who "undergo" the check-ups and treatments. In addition, this community event teaches all participants about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Visitors had the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at medical departments such as the emergency room, surgery, radiology, laboratory tests, orthopedics, ENT, ophthalmology, virtual reality, cardiology, dentistry, family medicine, and the pharmacy.

Adding to the festive environment were magnet and Snapchat stands, medical clowns, as well as Kupat Holim Clalit, Beterem and Bishvil Hamishpacha (Family Trips) booths. Magen David Adom also participated, enabling the children to get a glimpse of the inside of an ambulance.

In addition to the dedicated participation of some 100 medical students, 50 local medical high school "cadets," and of course, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine staff, the event was made possible thanks to the longstanding, active, and enthusiastic support of Freddy Zinger who said, "We are proud of this wonderful project. In the complex reality we are experiencing today, this is an island of sanity. Dedicated students and faculty share in this important work whose goal is simply to do good. We make many hundreds of parents and children happy every year. Some of the children of 10 years ago are parents today, and we are all proud of the hope and joy we bring to the children of the north."

A few pictures can be seen below and here.