Courtesy of The Australian Jewish News
When Dr Mark Suss, a specialist anaesthetist and vice-president of Hadassah Australia, was given the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Hadassah Medical Organisation in Israel, he jumped at the chance. Mark has long admired Hadassah’s contribution to the health of local communities in Israel – dating back to the days of the Yishuv and through the establishment of Israel.
"Volunteer work such as this can foster rewarding connections both locally and around the world."
“I am inspired by how Hadassah is bringing together diverse communities in Jerusalem despite the broader conflict in the region, and by how it engages its staff in contributing to both Israel and global health,” said Mark.
Mark had the privilege of volunteering at the hospital and considers his time working in the anaesthetics department at the Hadassah Mount Scopus campus to be one of the most interesting and meaningful work experiences of his career. Indeed, he is part of a global anaesthetics community that has supported hospitals across Israel and the Hadassah Medical Organisation, in particular during the current conflict.
“I feel that my engagement with Hadassah Australia is valuable not only for supporting healthcare in the Jerusalem region but also for building global partnerships and healthcare innovation,” Mark said, adding that this is a role he sees himself building upon in the future. “Volunteer work such as this can foster rewarding connections both locally and around the world, and contribute to a sense of doing something positive and productive in a world with many challenges,” he said.
Mark credits his interest in healthcare and community to a family background marked by volunteering and governance roles, as well as the support of his wife Suzy, now also a Hadassah volunteer, chairing the Achotenu Ethiopian-Israeli Scholarships in Health committee.