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Naomi Amir

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Naomi Amir
Born
Naomi Kassan

January 23, 1931
Chicago,Illinois,US
DiedJanuary 4, 1995(1995-01-04)(aged 63)
Jerusalem,Israel
Education
OccupationPediatric neurologist
Years active1968–1995
Known forEstablished first pediatric neurology clinic in Israel
Medical career
Institutions

Naomi Amir(Hebrew:נעמי אמיר) (January 23, 1931 – January 4, 1995)[1]was an American-Israelipediatric neurologist.After earning her M.D. atNew York University School of Medicinein 1952, she undertook her residency atHadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centerin Jerusalem the following year. Choosing to specialize in the field of pediatric neurology, which at the time was new to Israel, she established the first pediatric neurology clinic in Israel in 1968 atBikur Holim Hospital.She later expanded this clinic into a full-service diagnostic, evaluation, and intervention center. In 1990 she and her team moved toShaare Zedek Medical Center.She is credited as "the founder of modern child neurology in Israel".[2][3]

Early life and education

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Naomi Kassan was born inChicago,Illinois, to Shalom Kassan, a Jewish Palestinian émigré, and Eva Dushkin, a first-generation American child of Eastern European immigrants.[1]She had one older sibling.[1]When she was four, her family moved to Palestine, where her father was a judge in theMandatory Palestinelegal service.[1]Eighteen months later her mother took the children back to the United States for a year, returning to Palestine in 1937. The following year her mother returned to New York City permanently with the children.[1]

Naomi graduated fromThe Bronx High School of Science.She earned herB.A.fromNew York Universityand her medical degree from theNew York University School of Medicinein 1952.[1]Desiring to live inIsrael,she undertook her residency at theHadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centerin Jerusalem beginning in 1953.[1]She completed her second M.D. at theHebrew University of Jerusalemin 1957.[4]

Career

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When Amir chose to specialize inpediatric neurology,this field was not yet recognized in Israel, and women represented a small minority of physicians in the country. Amir was mentored by Dr.Helena Kagan,founder and head of the department of pediatrics atBikur Holim Hospitalin Jerusalem. Kagan offered her a small room separate from the pediatrics ward to use as a neurological clinic.[1]

Before establishing her practice, Amir returned to New York for two years to take a clinical fellowship at the Neurological Institute ofColumbia Presbyterian Medical Center.[1]She returned to Israel in 1968 to establish the first pediatric neurology rehabilitation daycare center in the country at Bikur Holim Hospital.[1][3]This center offered both inpatient and outpatient services, and included a rehabilitation kindergarten in which Amir and her team could evaluate interventions over the long-term.[2][3]In 1979 Amir expanded the center into a full-service diagnostic, evaluation, and interventionday hospital.[1]In its first six years, the day-hospital screened more than 1,000 children.[5]A sleep clinic for children was installed in 1984.[5]

In 1990 Amir and her team of seven specialists moved toShaare Zedek Medical Center,which provided an entire wing for her day-hospital.[1]In 2009 the rehabilitation kindergarten moved into its own facility adjacent to the medical center. Approximately 70 children ages 3 to 7 are enrolled in the kindergarten, half of whom will eventually enter regular schools.[6]

Amir also practiced at the Spafford Clinic in theOld Cityof Jerusalem, treatingMuslimchildren, and the Mukassed Hospital on theMount of Olives.[1]She set up a number of satellite neurology clinics in Arab villages.[3]

Research interests

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Amir co-edited two books and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles. Her research interests includedcognitive development,epilepsy,neurometabolic disorders,aphasia,anddevelopmental disorders.[1][4]

Amir joined the staff of theHebrew University of Jerusalemin 1974 as a lecturer. She became a clinical senior lecturer in 1983 and a clinical associate professor in 1993.[4]

Honors

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She received the IsraeliWomen of Achievement Awardin 1989.[1]

Personal life

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Naomi married Shlomo Amir in March 1955. They had two sons and one daughter.[1]Naomi died ofcanceron January 4, 1995.[1]

Selected bibliography

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Books

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  • Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine: Childhood Seizures.Karger.1995.ISBN978-3-8055-6009-2.(co-edited with S. Shinnar)
  • Pediatric Neurology: Behavior and Cognition of the Child with Brain Dysfunction.Karger Publishers.1991.ISBN978-3-8055-5223-3.(co-edited withIsabelle Rapin)

Articles

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklmnopqMoore, Deborah Dash (March 1, 2009)."Naomi Amir".Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia.Jewish Women's Archive.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  2. ^abHarel, Shaul (2000)."Pediatric Neurology in Israel".Journal of Child Neurology.15(10): 688–689.doi:10.1177/088307380001501008.PMID11063083.S2CID37784146.
  3. ^abcdRapin, Isabelle(July 8, 2007)."The International Child Neurology Association: The first 25 years".International Child Neurology Association Website.21(1): 3–15.doi:10.1016/s0387-7604(98)00087-4.PMID10082246.S2CID38479708.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  4. ^abc"Naomi Amir, Clinic Assoc. Professor in Pediatrics".Hebrew University of Jerusalem.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  5. ^ab"Behind the Headlines: A Unique Sleep Clinic in Israel".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.September 25, 1985.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  6. ^Livneh, Idit (January 2, 2009)."מרכז להתערבות מוקדמת"[Early Intervention Center].Maariv(in Hebrew).RetrievedDecember 11,2016.
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