The Maimonides Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater gathered at the home of Jody and Alan Wagner, MD last month to socialize and discuss future plans.
Comprised of a variety of Jewish healthcare professionals, Maimonides Society members have been a collegial group over the years, involved in social, fundraising, educational and charitable programs. Providing education and services locally and globally, The Maimonides Society hopes to revitalize its purpose and membership in Tidewater, one of 50 such medical professional affinity groups at Jewish Federations throughout the country.
The Maimonides Society steering committee and chairs Adam Foleck and Michael Gross, together with Carolyn Amacher, UJFT community development specialist, decided on a social for the first event to help Jewish medical professionals in Tidewater, many of whom have relocated here for their medical practices, feel a heightened sense of community. On Sunday, April 22, approximately 80 members and their spouses attended the event at the Wagners.
“We’ve found that sometimes Jewish professionals feel isolated from the Jewish community, and they would like to feel a sense of connection,” Amacher says. “These professionals have a real passion to support local and global Jewish agencies, and the Maimonides Society can provide that opportunity for them.”
The Maimonides Society is helping coordinate a series of upcoming events including visits from Israeli medical luminaries, a tour aboard the United States Navy’s Comfort hospital ship, and a medical supply collection for needy Jews and others in Cuba, the site of the next Federation Women’s mission in October. On Sunday, Sept. 30, the group will hold a brunch at the Simon Family JCC under the Sukkah with a special presentation by Dr. Lior Nesher who heads Emergency Medicine at Ben Gurion University. Dr. Nesher will discuss cross-border emergency preparedness training with Jordanian medical professionals, treating those wounded by bombs and rockets, as well as his innovations in high-tech Indulge Mom with a gift of beauty and pampering. medical simulation training.
The Maimonides Society welcomes all Jewish healthcare professionals who have Dr. as their title, and to PhDs in medical research, as well as medical students. For more information, call Carolyn Amacher at 452-3181, email camacher@ujft.org, or visit www.jewishva.org.