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Amraam CohenLieutenant Colonel of Medicine
Country:
 Israel |
Dr. Amram Cohen: A Life Devoted to Saving Children
A Medical Officer and Cardiac Surgeon
Dr. Amram Cohen, a lieutenant colonel in medicine and a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, dedicated his life to saving the lives of children from impoverished areas around the world. Born with a passion for medicine, Dr. Cohen made a significant impact by bringing at least 700 children to Israel for life-saving surgeries.
A Tragic Loss on Mount Kilimanjaro
Tragically, Dr. Cohen's life was cut short during a climb on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Accompanied by his daughter Tal, he suddenly fell ill. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Dr. Cohen succumbed to complications caused by altitude sickness. He was only 47 years old.
The Creation of a Special Fund
In 1995, Dr. Amram Cohen established a special fund and organization dedicated to bringing critically ill children from various countries to Israel for cardiac surgeries. Many of these children had congenital heart diseases that could not be treated in their home countries. The Wolfson Medical Center in Holon became a haven for these children, with hundreds of lives being saved over the years. Children from Ethiopia, Ghana, Vietnam, Jordan, Moldova, Nigeria, and Russia were among those who received a second chance at life.
A Legacy Continued
Despite the loss of its "spiritual father," Dr. Cohen, Dr. Aki Tamir, a colleague of Dr. Cohen's, reassured the Israeli radio that the organization he founded would continue its vital work. The Wolfson Medical Center, located south of Tel Aviv, had been under Dr. Cohen's leadership in the pediatric cardiology department, and his dedication and vision would continue to guide the hospital's efforts.
A Life of Service
Dr. Amram Cohen and his family immigrated to Israel from the United States in 1992. Prior to his immigration, he served in the military during the Korean War and the Persian Gulf War in 1991 as part of the Allied forces. He retired from his position as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. During the war with Iraq, Dr. Cohen left a message on a bomb attached to an American bomber that read, "To Saddam Hussein from the people of Tel Aviv," as reported by the Israeli newspaper "Maariv."
Dr. Amram Cohen's legacy lives on through the countless lives he saved and the organization he created. His selfless dedication to helping children from impoverished backgrounds will continue to inspire future generations of medical professionals and humanitarians.
