Save a Child's Heart (SACH) exists today because of the vision, passion and boundless energies of the late Dr. Amram (Ami) Cohen. An excellent surgeon, an inspiring leader, and a warm and caring person, Ami was the driving force that created SACH and turned it into an important contributor to children's health worldwide. Ami 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 the 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 from his superiors to participate in the program. During the remainder of his time in Korea, he performed 35 pediatric cardiac surgeries.
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, SACH has repaired the hearts of more than 2,800 children from a wide variety of countries. Our greatest achievement is that all the children, regardless of race, color, gender, 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.
