“Fostering Cultural Sensitivity: Opportunities and Challenges in Pediatric Rehabilitation” was presented by Dr. Maurit Beeri on August 2, 2016. Dr. Beeri is the Director General (CEO) of ALYN Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem, Israel where she also heads the Multidisciplinary Clinic for Infants and Children with Feeding Disorders.  Prior to accepting her current position, Dr. Beeri served as Vice Hospital Director and Head of the Medical Day Care Rehabilitation Department at ALYN.

Dr. Beeri received her medical degree and training as a pediatrician at Hebrew University Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.  She also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a Wexner Israel Fellow.  Her medical background is broad including experiences such as directing a home-hospitalization program for the largest health provider in Israel and consulting at the Familial Dysautonomia Center at Hadassah. Dr. Beeri also helped to establish a hospice ward for children on ventilators at the Hertzog Hospital in Jerusalem.

The promotion of cultural competence in healthcare is important to Dr. Beeri.  Under her leadership, ALYN Jerusalem was the first hospital within Israel to be recognized as a culturally competent organization.  She is involved in various health and social initiatives to promote the healthcare rights of children with special needs including the Early Intervention Coalition, which represents over 60 organizations and associations for children with special needs. On a personal note, Dr. Beeri is married, is the mother of three boys, and is the caretaker of two cats.

At the end of the session, each participant will:

• Understand the cultural and social settings of ALYN hospital in Jersualem, Israel;
• Identify the impact of culture and social issues on the provision of rehabilitation services;
• Become familiar with the ALYN model of cultural competence; and
• Recognize universal implications for provision of culturally competent healthcare.

View the recorded webinar here. Visit the IPRC website here.