Hospital Emergency Preparedness

On May 12th, 2026, healthcare leaders from around the world joined Sheba Medical Center’s webinar “Hospital Emergency Preparedness: Reaching the Gold Standard in Operational Continuity.” Moderated by Dr. Galia Barkai, the 75-minute session drew on Sheba’s firsthand experience during Operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, sharing how the Middle East’s largest medical center maintained full clinical operations under crisis, transitioning fully to underground facilities in 36 hours with zero patient abandonment.

Dr. Noya Shilo combines trauma-informed care with innovative solutions at Sheba Medical Center. Leading both the “Back to Life” Clinic for returned hostages and the Sheba Beyond Virtual Hospital, she’s redefining patient care with a focus on the human experience.

A delegation of seven Ukrainian parliamentarians involved with Ukraine’s healthcare system visited Sheba Medical Center to learn from the hospital’s world-renowned expertise in emergency and crisis medicine. The visit focused on understanding Sheba’s hospital operations that could help support Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to treat the wounded amid continued missile and drone attacks.

In a world facing threats, from war zones to natural disasters, for the first time in Israel’s medical history, Sheba Medical Center has merged battlefield medicine with hospital-grade infrastructure by building an emergency field hospital completely underground. Amid the escalating conflict and missile attacks targeting central Israel, Sheba activated its Humanitarian & Disaster Response Center (HDRC) and deployed a fully equipped 100-bed field hospital, not in tents, not in makeshift shelters, but in a protected underground area within days to deliver world-class care.

As Iran launched more than 380 missiles targeting central and southern Israel, Sheba Medical Center transitioned within 48 hours into full emergency mode, moving critical departments underground, activating advanced remote care systems, and supporting its people through extreme conditions. Operation Rising Lion isn’t just a response; it’s a model for real-world emergency preparedness and healthcare leadership under conflict.