The Israel Healthcare Highlights Podcast

When Denial Becomes Survival: The Psychology of Living with Constant Threat

This episode introduces "conflict psychology," showing how people cope when danger is a constant and denial becomes a functional strategy to preserve daily life. It discusses why many struggled to prepare early in the recent war—not from apathy, but because acknowledging the threat was emotionally costly—and warns against framing preparedness solely through fear. The episode concludes that preparedness should be treated like a health behavior: messages must be empowering, manageable, and supported, because psychological sustainability is as important as physical readiness.

Urgent Care in Israel: Terem’s Work in Peace & War

This episode explores how Terem, a nationwide urgent care chain, operates in both peacetime and wartime through the perspective of Hannan Kranc, director of Terem’s southern region. Hannan describes Terem’s role in easing hospital crowding, the network of clinics across Israel, and the rapid adaptations made during the recent war—extending hours, opening temporary clinics, protecting staff and patients, and serving diverse communities.

Building bridges with Kalaniyot: Israel–U.S. Academic Collaboration & Community Support

Kalaniyot is a faculty-led initiative that strengthens academic ties between leading U.S. universities and Israeli researchers while building a supportive campus community for Jewish and Israeli staff. Professor Mark Perzansky of Harvard Medical School discusses creating funded postdoctoral fellowships, and community support to counter isolation and promote scientific collaboration.

Promoting innovation and commercialization at the Sheba Medical Center

Avner Halperin, CEO of Shiba Impact, explains how Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Global Innovation Network trains clinicians to innovate, spins ideas into startups, and has grown an ecosystem of 120 companies worth $6 billion and employing 3,500 people. He shares concrete examples — a mitral valve replacement startup acquired by Edwards and an AI-based PTSD diagnostic built with Microsoft — and describes how hospitals worldwide can partner through ARC summits, training, and co-development.

How a US physician is helping Israel develop hospital at home programs

In this episode Dr. David Levine explains the "home hospital" model: delivering hospital-level care in patients' homes as a substitute for traditional inpatient stays. He outlines appropriate conditions, limitations, and evidence supporting better outcomes and cost savings.  Dr. Levine also discusses his work in Boston, collaborations with Israeli programs, and the role of technology and policy in expanding home hospital care.