“Save one life, and you are a hero. Save 100 lives, you are a nurse,” this quote from an unknown source summarizes a nurse’s calling. At Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel, the generosity of others has saved thousands of lives.
Recipients of the 2022 Cheryl Spencer Nursing Award. Bottom R) Mrs. Gila Hyams, Director of Nursing and Director, Teaching Center for Trauma, Emergency and MCS. Photography: Rambam HCC.
Speak to committed nurses, and they will say, “It’s my calling.” Nursing is an art and a science, a heart and a mind. Respect for human dignity, compassion, and dedication are at the core of this noble profession, and the magnanimous generosity of our friends has dramatically impacted the quality of care Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) provides its patients.
More than four decades ago, Aaron and the late Irma Spencer established a scholarship program at Rambam in memory of their daughter Cheryl. The Cheryl Spencer Nursing Award ceremony takes place during the Jewish Festival of Lights – and Aaron and the late Irma always attended. At the recent December 2022 ceremony, Aaron, his son Mark in the USA, joined via zoom. Thirteen Cheryl Spencer Nursing Award scholarships were distributed, totaling 528 since inception.
Hilary Stone was a highly respected member of the London Jewish community, and recently a nursing scholarship fund was established by her aunt, Mrs. Laura Simons. Family members in Israel, attended the ceremony and congratulated the 14 scholarship laureates. The British Friends of Rambam in the UK joined in the ceremony, via zoom.
Scholarships from the Nursing Management team were also awarded. These scholarships enable Rambam nurses to obtain advanced education and training, raising the standard of care our patients receive.
Tireless work, nurses must identify and protect the ever-evolving needs of their patients. The care journey and patient experience move this profession forward to greater heights.
Many people are familiar with the legendary and inspiring 19th Century nurse Florence Nightingale. She saved thousands of lives, and with a gift she received from Queen Victoria, she established a nurses’ training school and a hospital. Nightingale said, “Ignite the mind’s spark to rise the sun in you.” This spark is ignited every year at Rambam when nursing staff found to be worthy of the honor are given a Cheryl Spencer Nursing Award scholarship. Rigorous learning and a vast range of specialties ensure that each nurse becomes an expert in her studied field, and an indispensable part of the public healthcare system.
The Spencer family’s generosity extends beyond scholarships. The Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department in the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam is the largest pediatric emergency department in Northern Israel. Expert medical teams treat all cases, including referrals and complicated medical issues from 12 other regional hospitals.
The Department’s nursing staff are required to undergo extensive training upon joining the department. Through their meaningful support of the Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department and the Cheryl Spencer Nursing Award scholarships, the Spencer family has impacted the countless lives of patients cared for at Rambam.
Through the generosity of friends worldwide,
Rambam Health Care Campus has achieved and maintains world-class recognition.
