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"I think of every patient as if they're my family members," said Mahmoud Gaber. "My patients are all scared. Anything involving the heart is scary for them.”
Gaber, 29, is a heart catheter technician at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO). He assists cardiologists in performing minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. He prepares patients, operates advanced X-ray imaging equipment, monitors vital signs and maintains a sterile field while doctors insert catheters into blood vessels.
Gaber's kindness, dedication and commitment to treating every patient like family have not gone unnoticed. Patients and their families chose him in a hospital-wide contest because of the reassurance and compassion he brings to every patient interaction. He is among the eight HMO staff members who recently received this year's Medicine With Soul award.
"We all want our family members to be well taken care of and treated respectfully," said Gaber. "That's what we have to do for our patients. I was really happy and surprised when I was told I was awarded the prize."
Gaber grew up not far from Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, in the village of Abu Ghosh, six miles west of Jerusalem. He studied medical device engineering in Jerusalem. "Medical device engineering combines both my passions — working with patients and technological advancement," he said.
At the end of his studies, he completed a 10-month internship at HMO. He has worked there for the past three years.
"I've always wanted to work at Hadassah hospitals," said Gaber. "I'd heard it was a great place to work, and I've learned that's true."
"I truly love my work. Being on standby in the middle of the night and working under pressure in a fast-paced environment can be challenging, but I feel I'm part of something big. Every day brings advances in our catheterization laboratory. Many procedures that once required open-heart surgery are now performed in the cath lab, and I get to keep learning alongside those advances. The heart is the same heart, the arteries are the same arteries, but every day you learn something new. As part of the cardiology team, I get to help save lives. What's better than that?"
