Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Ronit El Hasid
38 years of experience
Clinic is certified :
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| High intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFU) | from $15,200 | from $4,000 | from $12,000 |
| Chemotherapy for breast cancer | from $22,500 | from $1,200 | from $15,000 |
| Cryotherapy | from $14,500 | from $250 | from $8,000 |
| Radiation therapy for colorectal cancer | - | from $7,000 | from $12,000 |
| Photocoagulation | - | from $250 | from $750 |
Dr. Ronit El Hasid specializes in pediatric bone marrow and umbilical blood transplants, with over 300 procedures performed.
Dr. Zvi Cohen is the Director of the Neurosurgery Department at Sheba Medical Center. He was recently recognized in Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors list for 2025. Dr. Cohen specializes in treating complex brain, pituitary, and spinal cord tumors. He founded the brain tumor tissue bank at Sheba to support oncological research. Dr. Cohen is board-certified in neurosurgery and leads clinical trials for malignant brain tumors.
Dr. Yuri Goldes is the Deputy Director of General Surgery at Sheba Medical Center. He pioneered some of Israel’s first robotic resections for stomach and pancreatic cancers. Forbes Israel named him among the nation’s best gastrointestinal surgeons. In 2019, he received the Best Doctor of the Year award from the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Leads the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department at Sourasky Medical Center – a major Israeli hospital.
Israeli oncology centers report exceptionally high survival rates for retinoblastoma, typically exceeding 95%. Localized cases specifically reach up to 98% survival. Leading institutions prioritize globe salvage and vision preservation. Advanced intra-arterial chemotherapy protocols help avoid eye removal in 70% to 90% of patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli specialists like Dr. Gal Goldstein at Hadassah Medical Center focus heavily on precision medicine and genetic RB1 mutation testing. This approach is vital because even with high survival, there is a 20% to 30% recurrence risk in advanced bilateral cases if focal therapy alone is used. Selecting a center with integrated genetic research helps tailor long-term monitoring for your child.
Patient Consensus: Parents emphasize requesting an intra-arterial chemotherapy eligibility assessment immediately to maximize eye salvage chances. They also note the importance of tracking long-term vision function metrics alongside survival outcomes.
Israel offers advanced treatments for retinoblastoma including intra-arterial chemotherapy and cryotherapy. Specialized centers like Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center provide precise focal therapies. These methods prioritize eye preservation and vision salvage using integrated oncology protocols. Most leading hospitals maintain JCI accreditation for safety.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data suggests specialized pediatric units like those at Sourasky Medical Center report a 90% oncology success rate. Patients seeking eye salvage should look for centers with established intra-arterial chemotherapy programs. While 26 clinics serve international requests, only those with dedicated pediatric onco-hematology departments provide the necessary multi-disciplinary expertise.
Patient Consensus: Parents report that choosing intra-arterial chemotherapy early often helps avoid eye removal and shrinks tumors significantly. Many note that while procedures like cryotherapy cause temporary swelling, the benefit of preserving sight outweighs the recovery time.
Doctors in Israel create personalized treatment plans by integrating precision diagnostics with a multidisciplinary approach. Specialists use DNA sequencing and advanced imaging to identify specific tumor markers. This data allows oncologists to select targeted therapies like intra-arterial chemotherapy or cryotherapy to preserve vision and health.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from top Israeli centers like Sourasky and Rambam shows a high demand for pediatric specialists who hold international board certifications. For example, Dr. Gal Goldstein at Hadassah Medical Center focuses specifically on retinoblastoma and precision medicine. This specialization is a key indicator of quality, as these doctors often manage over 400,000 patients annually in their respective facilities.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the speed of diagnostic results in Israel is a major relief. They often highlight the comfort of having a dedicated pediatric team that explains every step of the vision-sparing process clearly.
Israel hosts several internationally recognized centers for retinoblastoma care. Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center lead in eye preservation technologies. These JCI-accredited facilities maintain high success rates. Specialized pediatric units utilize intra-arterial chemotherapy and advanced plaque brachytherapy to save sight.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a high concentration of expertise in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Both Sheba and Sourasky manage over 1.8 million patients yearly. This massive volume allows surgeons like Dr. Ronit El Hasid to specialize deeply. She alone has conducted over 300 transplantations for complex pediatric cases. High-volume centers often provide better access to specialized intra-arterial chemotherapy protocols.
Patient Consensus: Parents note that tumors can shrink significantly after just two chemotherapy cycles. Many families emphasize that integrated surgeon-oncologist teams provide faster recovery than facilities in other countries.
Retinoblastoma care in Israel involves a multidisciplinary team led by pediatric ocular oncologists and hematologists. Specialists coordinate targeted therapies like chemo-plaque or cryotherapy within JCI-accredited facilities. This integrated approach ensures vision preservation while managing systemic health through genetic screening and precision imaging.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers often assign a pediatric oncologist as the primary case coordinator. This role is vital because retinoblastoma treatments frequently require exams under anesthesia. Having one lead doctor synchronized with anesthesiology prevents scheduling delays and simplifies the complex travel logistics for international families.
Patient Consensus: Parents emphasize naming one doctor as the main contact to avoid missed messages between departments. They also recommend requesting imaging on a USB drive after every scan to maintain a portable medical history.
International families receive administrative assistance with medical visas and treatment coordination through dedicated international departments. Israeli hospitals provide official invitation letters to facilitate the visa process. Professional translators and nursing coordinators assist with appointments. Multi-specialty centers help manage logistics for complex cases including retinal imaging and chemotherapy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While major centers like Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center serve over 1 million patients annually, logistical support remains decentralized. Families should prepare for a self-funded stay of 1 to 3 months. Leading institutions often integrate social care into oncology programs. This helps bridge the gap between medical treatment and the practical needs of traveling families.
Patient Consensus: Families note that while hospitals provide coordination and translators, you must handle your own flights and housing. Many suggest joining local community groups on social media to find reliable short-term rentals and transport near Tel Aviv.