Recently in Israel, collaboration among Israeli, Palestinian and American doctors saved the life of a Nablus teen. Jummana, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, had been suffering from a rare but serious endocrine problem. Her Palestinian Authority doctors referred her to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where she underwent a successful operation. This was part of a new model of treatment called "Bring the Patient, Bring the Surgeon."
Professor Dov Tiosano, an Israeli pediatric endocrinologist, had examined Jummana and diagnosed a tumor related to a genetic disease resulting from consanguinity. Tiosano contacted a colleague in the U.S. National Institutes of Health who confirmed the diagnosis and contacted Professor John A. van Aalst, director of the plastic surgery division at Cincinnati Children's Hospital for advice as to the best place to have surgery on the Palestinian teen.
Van Aalst, who has strong professional connections with both Palestinian and Israeli doctors, then suggested that the surgical procedure take place at Rambam Medical Center. He considered that the safest, easiest and overall more convenient place for the operation. The interaction among Palestinian, Israeli and American doctors led to a successful outcome, which can be a learning experience for future similar cases.
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