With support from donors all over the world, and after many years of planning, construction and anticipation, Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem welcomed the first patients into its reimagined Round Building, including the Alberto and Vicky Saba Internal Medicine Complex, in Jerusalem on May 2.
“I’m very excited and thankful to our donors, our supporters and to HWZOA, to the Hadassah organization,” said Dr. Yaniv Sherer, Hadassah Ein Kerem director, standing in one of the newly renovated patient rooms. “From me and from the entire management and the employees of the hospital, thank you.”
The Round Building has been an iconic mainstay on the hospital campus for decades. Since its opening in the early 1960s, however, the population of Jerusalem has tripled and medical demands on the Hadassah Medical Organization have grown exponentially.
“I’m so proud that we could do this. It’s truly l’dor v’’dor because my mother-in-law and father-in-law were at the opening of the original Round Building,” said Miki Schulman, chair of the 360 Degrees of Healing campaign, which made the opening of the renovated structure possible. “Here we are full circle –– and it’s the Full Circle campaign –– here in 2024 and we have the privilege of witnessing the opening again of this wonderful facility.”
The newly designed building stands in the footprint of history and significantly enhances the hospital's capacity, providing a modern space for some of Israel’s most cutting-edge medical care and top experts, especially in the fields of internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, maternity, oncology, dermatology and more. Patients are now being cared for on Floors 7 and 8 of the Round Building, with Floors 6 and 9 slated to open early this fall.
When fully complete, new features will include an additional 200 beds as well as the modernization of 17 operating rooms.
In 2020, architect Arthur Spector, who also designed the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower at Hadassah Ein Kerem, told supporters, "The challenge is to save the icon but update it to become a completely contemporary inpatient building." Construction continued through the COVID pandemic.
The new Round Building design prioritizes efficiency. Larger, more comfortable rooms, as well as visitor lounges, will help patients and their families feel more at home so that they can focus on treatment and recovery.
More than 25,000 donors have contributed to the 360 Degrees of Healing campaign, with more than $42 million raised to date.
“Our donors made it happen,” added Schulman. “Their commitment to Hadassah and Israel enabled us to do this.”
The reimagined Round Building is just a start, however, as the 360 Degrees of Healing campaign continues to deliver hope for Israel’s children, now focusing on enhanced services in pediatrics.
Donate to the 360 Degrees of Healing Campaign
Read More
Round Building Progress: Photos and Updates
Reimagining Hadassah's Iconic Round Building: The Art of the Possible
Donors to Hadassah’s Round Building Hear Campaign Update
Video: True Colors: Delivering Hope, 360 Degrees of Healing