FALL2011 - Columbia University Medical Center

WHO’S WHO: AN MSIH STAFF INTERVIEW
Tell us about your childhood. Where did you grow up?
I was born here in Israel 68 years ago. My parents moved
here from Russia and Czechoslovakia before the Second
World War. My father was a police officer and was transferred
around a lot, so I grew up in various places all over
Israel.
How did you decide that you wanted to become a Biochemistry
professor?
After finishing my Bachelor’s and my Master’s, I moved
to Be’er Sheva with my husband. I found a job at Soroka
working with children with metabolic disorders. It was
through this work that I was inspired to pursue a PhD,
which I got from Hadassah in Jerusalem. The subject of
my PhD was glycogen storage disease. Because I was
already a biochemist working in the clinics at Soroka, I
was asked to become a professor when BGU’s medical
school was established. I’ve been teaching
biochemistry to medical students ever
since.
What do you love most about
Biochemistry? What was
your inspiration for getting
into the field?
I consider myself a
clinical biochemist.
My interest in research
flowed from
a desire to answer
the clinically relevant
questions that
were raised during
my time helping
those with metabolic
disorders in
the pediatric wards of
Soroka. The connection
between the knowledge
and patients and knowing
that my research may tangibly
help those kids is what inspired
me.
What do you think is the most fascinating biochemical
pathway?
My recent research has focused on glucose transport, focusing
on the effect of oxidative stress on glucose transport.
We’ve also discovered that abdominal fat is a lot
more dangerous than subcutaneous fat in those with
diabetes. We’re trying to correlate the amounts of macrophages
in fat tissues with the incidence of disease. But
I’ve actually recently passed the age of retirement in Israel,
so one of my associates has taken over my research.
Are you involved in any international medical endeavors?
Yes. In Nepal, there is a big problem with doctors leaving
to practice medicine in other parts of the world. There is
a new medical school in Kathmandu that trains doctors
from rural areas of Nepal. They don’t have to pay tuition
– it is not for the rich people. The graduates return to
THE BALAGAN
with prof. nava bashan
the rural areas. I recently spent two weeks training the
professors at this medical school. In fact, they’re now
using many of the same biochemistry materials that you
are familiar with!
Rumor has it Dr. Lewis was once your pupil. Is this true?
Indeed. Before switching to focus on biochemistry Dr.
Lewis spent three years as a medical student here, and I
was one of his professors.
Do you have a family?
I do! I have three children and six grandchildren.
Yofi! What are some of the biggest differences between
teaching Israeli and American students?
American students are a lot more gentle. They come to
me at the end of the course and tell me “thank
you, we enjoyed the course!” They don’t
fight. The Israeli students tend to be
a lot more aggressive. Another difference
is that the American
students come with much
more previous knowledge.
We have twice as much
class time to teach the
Israeli students the
same material that
we teach you.
Do you have any
pets?
If you came to my
house right now this
is what you’d find.
A cat in my bedroom
that can come and go
through a little door.
It’s name is Leni. We are
also currently doing some
dogsitting.
What is your favorite holiday?
I think it would be Passover, because family
comes together and the weather is marvelous.
For me the most important aspect of holidays is the
time with family.
Besides teaching us, what do you enjoy doing in Be’er
Sheva?
I enjoy walking in the desert. There are marvelous wadis
and such to explore. My dream had always been that
when I retired I would get an apartment
in Tel Aviv. I’d spend the mornings on
the beach and the evenings at restaurants
and listening to live music. But
I’m still here! A lot of it has to do with
the work.
Toda raba!
interview by Jason Toews
class of 2015
16
FALL 2011