In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, millions of civilians—primarily women and children—fled their homes in search of safety. Along the Polish–Ukrainian border, humanitarian needs escalated rapidly, with tens of thousands of refugees arriving exhausted, injured, ill, and often without access to basic medical care.
Under the leadership of Hadassah International, and through the clinical expertise of the Hadassah hospitals, Hadassah’s mission was critical and was defined by speed, scale, professionalism, and deep human compassion.
Medical Care at the Point of Greatest Need
Within weeks of the invasion, Hadassah established a medical presence in Przemyśl, just miles from the Medyka border crossing—through which more than one third of all Ukrainian refugees entering Poland passed.
Working at the invitation of Polish authorities and in close coordination with local and international partners, Hadassah:
- Operated medical clinics at refugee centers and transit hubs
- Provided urgent primary care, pediatric care, and trauma support
- Addressed chronic conditions, lack of vaccination, and acute psychological distress
- Reached refugees housed in hostels, private homes, and temporary shelters
Many arriving refugees had travelled for days under extreme stress. A significant proportion lacked basic vaccinations or access to ongoing medical treatment. Hadassah’s presence helped stabilize care during a moment of profound vulnerability.
Over the course of the mission, more than 35,000 Ukrainian refugees received medical attention through Hadassah-supported services.
A Global Medical Effort, Coordinated by Hadassah International
The Hadassah Medical Humanitarian Mission became the largest single medical presence by an international medical institution on the Polish–Ukrainian border.
This effort was made possible through close collaboration between:
- Hadassah International, which coordinated logistics, partnerships, fundraising, and deployment
- Hadassah hospitals, whose doctors, nurses, and trauma experts delivered care and shared expertise
- Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America (HWZOA), working in unity with the global Hadassah movement
Over 100 Israeli doctors and nurses participated, rotating through 15 successive medical delegations across 110 days.
In a powerful demonstration of international cooperation, approximately one third of the 150 healthcare professionals came from Poland, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Switzerland, and other countries, working side by side with Hadassah hospitals teams.
Hadassah trauma experts also trained local medical staff in mass-casualty response and trauma medicine, strengthening local capacity beyond the immediate crisis.
Building Lasting Partnerships
The mission catalyzed enduring professional collaboration.
A particularly significant outcome was the establishment of the first official partnership between an Israeli hospital and a Polish hospital, forged between Hadassah and Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 4 (SPSK4) of the Medical University in Lublin. Polish medical teams joined Hadassah clinics at the border, while Hadassah clinicians trained their counterparts in emergency and trauma care.
Additional partnerships included leading hospitals and medical institutions from Chile, Argentina, and Mexico, reinforcing Hadassah’s role as a convener of global medical expertise in humanitarian settings.
Close coordination with organizations such as the Polish Red Cross, WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières, INTERSOS, and others ensured effective, non-duplicative care.
Human Dignity at the Center
Beyond statistics and infrastructure, the mission was defined by individual human stories.
Hadassah teams cared for patients whose needs extended beyond medicine alone working with local NGOs and authorities to secure housing, social support, and dignity for the most vulnerable.
These encounters reinforced a core principle guiding Hadassah’s humanitarian work: medical care must be delivered with humanity, continuity, and respect for the whole person.
International Recognition
In 2023, Hadassah was named a Genesis Prize honoree for its humanitarian work in support of the Ukrainian people—an acknowledgment of exceptional impact, leadership, and adherence to Jewish values. Hadassah was the only hospital to receive this distinction.
The recognition reflected not only medical excellence, but also the unity of the global Hadassah movement in responding decisively to human suffering.
A Model for Future Humanitarian Response
The Medical Humanitarian Mission to Poland stands as a model of how global coordination, medical expertise, and values-driven leadership can meet crisis with effectiveness and compassion.
For Hadassah International, it reaffirmed a long-term commitment: to support and strengthen the Hadassah hospitals so it can respond—wherever and whenever medical leadership is needed most.
