In the leadup to her appointment as Director of Shaare Zedek Medical Centre’s new Breast Oncology Unit, Australian born and trained Dr Shani Paluch-Shimon will be visiting Australia over the Chagim.
Shani is an international expert on breast cancer. She established and heads the only dedicated multidisciplinary breast cancer service for young women in Israel and has authored close to 40 scientific papers and international guidelines on breast cancer.
Now Shani is set to establish and direct the new Breast Oncology Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre.
Shani says, “Young women have unique needs when faced with the challenge of breast cancer. There are important issues of fertility, genetics and the much more complex psychosocial needs that are especially significant.
Shaare Zedek is planning to open a Department of Radiation Oncology as a core component of its new oncology department.
Shani says, “This is a game changer to me and is the difference between a medium sized medical facility and a department that can provide comprehensive cancer care.
“Shaare Zedek is a dynamic and growing hospital with a strong culture of clinical excellence and compassion. It has shown that it knows how to build up national centres of excellence and I am looking forward to contributing to an important element of health care.
“In my new role at Shaare Zedek’s Breast Oncology Unit I will be establishing a breast oncology unit that will include a dedicated young women’s program.
“There is a great deal of work to be done. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, yet it has no dedicated, comprehensive breast oncology unit. My aim is to provide a service that women deserve, one that will offer the full range of necessary cancer care.
“Shaare Zedek has one of the best onco-genetic services in the country and this compliments my key areas of clinical and research interest – breast cancer in young women and hereditary breast cancer. Also, for each platform of clinical service I intend to set up a research program.
“This is an exciting opportunity to build something unique and very much needed.