Minister Miri Regev, who is in charge of events for the 75th Independence Day of the State of Israel, informed Prof. Avi Rivkind from the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem that she had chosen him from among the recommendations of the public advisory committee, to light a torch on Mount Herzl on Independence Day.
Prof. Avi Rivkind is one of the pioneers of trauma medicine in Israel. During his many years he was at the forefront of the medical response to victims of terrorism in the capital, and he is the leader of the national initiative "Young people drive differently" to explain the risk of careless driving. Prof. Rivkind volunteers with many medical and aid organizations, advises the chief medical officer in the IDF in the field of general surgery and trauma, and leads the "Israel Medical Conference" which he initiated and established.
Minister Regev commented: "Prof. Rivkind's pioneering work saved countless people, regardless of race, religion, or gender." In his professionalism, his love of people, his dedication and tireless energy, Prof. Rivkind is the symbol of Israeli trauma medicine.''