Teddy Bear Hospital
The "Teddy Bear Hospital," organized annually by the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University in Safed, is a community-educational initiative designed to alleviate the fear of medical treatments and hospitalizations among children aged 3-8.
The 2023 event marked the 11th year of this project, made possible by the dedication and initiative of student volunteers in collaboration with the Faculty’s administration and the Matat Foundation, established by Freddy Zinger.
As part of the "Teddy Bear Hospital," medical and research students, along with faculty staff, transform the campus into a "hospital" for a day. The Faculty grounds host various "treatment stations," including an emergency room, surgery, orthopedics, ENT, ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology, healthy lifestyle, and a laboratory. Parents and their children are warmly invited to visit the Safed campus free of charge. They bring along their child's beloved teddy bear or doll, describe the "medical issue," and consult with a "doctor" specializing in the relevant field.
The "doctors" at the hospital’s simulated departments are active medical students at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite doll or teddy bear, ask questions about illnesses, injuries, or treatments, and participate actively in the simulation. Students and faculty members engage with the children, offer "medical treatment" for their toys, explain the procedures, and answer questions. This hands-on experience helps children become familiar with the process of receiving medical care in a real hospital setting.
At the end of the event, each child receives a graduation certificate from the "Teddy Bear Hospital."
Children enjoy direct interaction with medical students, share the "medical issues" of their toys, and actively participate in the admission, examination, diagnosis, and referral process. In the various departments, they experience a full simulation of medical care, tailored to the "diagnoses" they described on the admission forms. The students, acting as treating physicians, guide the children throughout the process with explanations and answer their questions.
Photos from the March 27, 2023 event are here.
The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine extends its gratitude to Mr. Freddy Zinger, Chairman of the Matat Foundation, for his many years of collaboration and meaningful contributions to the Galilee community.
