Save a Child's Heart

Save a Child's Heart
Name	Save a Child's Heart
Type	Non-profit organization
Founded	1995
Founder	Dr. Amiad (Ami) Bakshi
Headquarters	Holon, Israel
Area served	International
Focus	Pediatric cardiac care

Save a Child's Heart is an international humanitarian medical organization originating in Israel that arranges pediatric cardiac surgery and training for children from low- and middle-income countries. Founded in the mid-1990s by Israeli medical professionals, the organization coordinates patient referrals, surgical missions, capacity building, and long-term follow-up in collaboration with hospitals and ministries across Africa, Asia, and beyond. Its work intersects with global health institutions, philanthropic foundations, academic centers, and international diplomacy initiatives.

History

The organization was established in 1995 by Israeli physicians associated with Wolfson Medical Center, launching partnerships with surgeons and institutions from Tel Aviv University, Hadassah Medical Center, and international hospitals. Early patient referrals came from countries such as Palestinian Territories, Ukraine, Russia, and African nations including Ethiopia and Angola. Over time the group expanded ties to international actors like World Health Organization, medical schools such as Johns Hopkins University, and humanitarian networks involving foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Key historical milestones include the initiation of overseas training programs, the opening of specialized pediatric cardiac units in partner hospitals, and participation in multinational conferences at venues such as Geneva and New York City.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission centers on saving the lives of children with congenital and acquired heart disease while building local capacity in partner countries. Objectives list patient care through pediatric cardiac surgery, training of surgeons, nurses, and perfusionists, and the development of sustainable cardiac centers in collaboration with hospitals such as Sheba Medical Center and academic partners including Harvard Medical School and University of Oxford. The organization frames objectives within global health priorities articulated by actors like United Nations and regional health ministries in countries such as Uganda and Ghana.

Programs and Services

Programs include surgical referrals to Israeli hospitals, in-country surgical missions, fellowship and training programs for physicians and allied health professionals, and telemedicine consultations linking centers such as Rabin Medical Center with clinics in Sierra Leone and Jordan. Services extend to preoperative diagnostics, postoperative intensive care using technologies developed in collaboration with manufacturers like Medtronic and training curricula influenced by standards from American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology. Specialized initiatives involve outreach for neonatal cardiac screening, collaboration with pediatric cardiology units at institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Great Ormond Street Hospital, and establishment of local pediatric cardiac centers modeled after units in Aarhus University Hospital and Karolinska University Hospital.

Geographic Reach and Impact

The organization has served patients from dozens of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, with referral networks spanning nations such as Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Mozambique, Syria, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Peru, and Honduras. Partnerships with regional hospitals and ministries have led to the establishment of cardiac programs in centers located in cities like Addis Ababa, Kigali, Accra, Beirut, and Amman. Reported outcomes include thousands of lifesaving operations and training of numerous local specialists, with program evaluations presented at conferences hosted by organizations such as World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery and published in journals affiliated with The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources combine private philanthropy, charitable foundations, hospital budgets, and governmental support, including donors such as the Rotary International network and philanthropic entities like the Schusterman Family Foundation. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with hospitals and universities—Sheba Medical Center, Hadassah Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Johns Hopkins University—and international NGOs and multilateral bodies such as UNICEF and UNRWA for refugee referrals. Corporate partners in medical devices and diagnostics, including Siemens Healthineers and GE Healthcare, have contributed equipment and training support. Fundraising efforts have been staged alongside cultural institutions and celebrities through events in cities like London, Paris, and New York City.

Governance and Organizational Structure

The organization is structured with an executive leadership team, medical advisory board, and a volunteer network that includes surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, and perfusionists. Governance involves a board of directors drawn from medical, legal, and philanthropic sectors, with operational hubs in Israeli medical centers and liaison offices in partner countries. Training and research oversight often engage academic affiliates such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem, King's College London, and University of Toronto, while clinical protocols reference guidance from bodies like International Society for Nomenclature of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease and regional ministries of health.

Controversies and Criticism

Critiques have addressed challenges common to international medical NGOs: sustainability of programs, dependency on external surgical missions, allocation of scarce resources, and transparency in donor reporting. Debates have involved comparisons with capacity-building models advocated by Doctors Without Borders and policy critiques aired in forums such as The Guardian and Haaretz. Additional scrutiny has arisen over geopolitical sensitivities tied to patient origin from conflict zones like Gaza Strip and West Bank, with discussions involving diplomats from Egypt and Jordan and statements by representatives to bodies including the European Parliament. The organization has responded by emphasizing measurable training outcomes, peer-reviewed publications, and institutional partnerships aimed at sustainable local care.

Category:Medical and health organizations Category:Pediatric organizations