Dr. Amram "Ami" Cohen was the driving spirit of this life-saving undertaking. He immigrated to Israel from the United States in 1992. He joined the staff of the Wolfson Medical Center and served as the Deputy Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Head of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

In 1988, while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea, the head of an international organization, Save the Hearts approached Dr. Cohen. The organization was sending orphaned and indigent Korean children to western countries for medical care not available locally. Dr. Cohen was so impressed with the concept that he requested and received permission form his superiors to participate in the program. During the remainder of his time in Korea, he performed 35 pediatric cardiac operations.

Save A Child's Heart came into being in 1995 when an Ethiopian doctor referred to him by a mutual friend at the University of Massachusetts contacted Dr. Cohen. He asked for Dr. Cohen's help with two children in desperate need of heart surgery. From this beginning until his death in August 2001, Dr. Cohen and his diligent and highly skilled staff of doctors, nurses and paramedics examined over 2,800 patients and treated 703 children, with an astounding success rate of 96%. Our greatest achievement is that all the children, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, or financial consideration are treated with finest medical care at the cutting edge of technology, provided by Save A Child's Heart in cooperation with the Wolfson Medical Center.

Ami's passing leaves a painful void and deep sense of loss in the hearts of all who knew and worked with him. His life's project, Save a Child's Heart, transcends national boundaries and political differences, building bridges of peace and understanding between Israel and the nations of the world. The goals that he lived for will be carried on by the organization he so successfully created. This is a most fitting memorial to his uniquely productive life.

In His Own Words…

" I am convinced that for the vast majority of people who chose cardiothoracic surgery as a profession, idealism was initially a strong factor. For those of you who are reading this and just starting out, hold fast to your 'day after-vision' because, if it fades, despite all the skills acquired, there will be something missing. For those who are searching, join us and together let us make the network to help children with heart disease globally big enough to be equal to the task. There is work for everybody. There are no dollars and cents in it, but it is worth a fortune." Amram Cohen