From October 7 to Australia: Soroka Surgeon Shares Life-Saving Lessons in Emergency Medicine
Dr. Zvi Perry, a surgeon at Soroka Medical Center in Israel, visits Australian hospitals to share firsthand experiences from October 7 and strengthen international preparedness for mass casualty emergencies.
When hundreds of wounded patients arrived at Soroka Medical Center following the October 7, 2023, attacks, doctors faced a medical emergency unlike anything they had experienced before.
Among them was Dr. Zvi Perry, a bariatric surgeon whose regular work focuses on treating obesity through surgery. On that day, however, his responsibilities changed dramatically.
“At that day everyone became a trauma surgeon,” Dr. Perry recalled during an interview with Australia’s 7NEWS.
Located approximately 40 kilometres from Gaza, Soroka Medical Center received around 700 casualties in just 18 hours, placing extraordinary pressure on its medical teams, facilities and resources.
“We saw things we never ever envisioned in our worst nightmares,” Dr. Perry said.
700 Patients in 18 Hours: An Unprecedented Medical Challenge
The scale of the emergency was overwhelming. Doctors and nurses worked shifts lasting up to 20 hours, treating critically injured patients while facing shortages of basic medical supplies and uncertainty about their own safety.
Specialists from different medical disciplines had to adapt immediately to the demands of emergency trauma care.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances, Soroka's healthcare professionals continued working to save as many lives as possible.
Their experience demonstrated not only the dedication of Israel's medical community but also the importance of emergency preparedness, flexible medical teams and effective hospital coordination during mass casualty incidents.
Sharing Israel's Experience with Australian Hospitals
Dr. Perry's experiences have now taken him thousands of kilometres from Israel to Australia, where he has been visiting leading hospitals and meeting with trauma specialists.
As reported by 7NEWS, his visit included Royal Perth Hospital and other medical institutions along Australia's east coast.
His objective is twofold: to share the lessons learned at Soroka during October 7 and to understand how Australian hospitals prepare for and manage large-scale medical emergencies.
“Mass disasters can happen anywhere at any time, and it may not be even from acts of war,” Dr. Perry explained.
His message extends beyond the circumstances Israel faced. Natural disasters, major accidents and other emergencies can overwhelm healthcare systems without warning.
By exchanging knowledge and practical experience, medical professionals from different countries can improve emergency protocols, strengthen trauma response capabilities and prepare their teams for situations in which every second matters.
Learning Together to Save More Lives
One of the most important messages from Dr. Perry's visit is that no healthcare system can afford to underestimate the possibility of a major emergency.
“It’s very important for us to realize that we should be prepared at all times," he emphasized.
For Australian surgeons, the opportunity to hear directly from a physician who experienced one of Israel's most demanding medical emergencies provides valuable insight into the realities of mass casualty response.
For Dr. Perry, the visit also offers an opportunity to learn from Australia's trauma care systems and bring new perspectives back to Israel.
This international exchange reinforces a fundamental principle of modern medicine: sharing experience and expertise can help healthcare professionals become better prepared to save lives.
Strengthening Soroka Medical Center for the Future
Soroka Medical Center plays a critical role in providing healthcare to the communities of southern Israel. Its medical teams have repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary commitment under challenging circumstances.
Following the October 7 attacks and the subsequent damage caused by an Iranian missile strike in June 2025, strengthening the hospital's medical infrastructure and capabilities remains essential.
Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC) is supporting the rebuilding and strengthening of Soroka Medical Center by helping provide new, advanced medical equipment.
Working with Soroka, IMFoC is committed to improving critical healthcare services, strengthening the hospital's ability to respond to medical emergencies and ensuring that healthcare professionals have access to the technology they need to deliver life-saving care.
Because when the next emergency comes, preparation, medical expertise and the right equipment can make the difference between life and death.
