Prof. Avi Rivkind | Photo Credit: Avi Hayun

March 30,2026 – Prof. Avraham (Avi) Rivkind of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) Faculty of Medicine received the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement – Special Contribution to Society and the State. The Israel Prize is the country’s highest civilian honor and will be awarded at the conclusion of Israel’s 78th Independence Day celebrations.

The Israel Prize committee noted that Prof. Rivkind is a pioneer in developing innovative approaches and medical tools that save lives. Prof. Rivkind initiated and established a comprehensive, life-saving trauma system, both in the field and in hospitals, that serves as a model and source of inspiration in Israel and around the world. As a physician and researcher, he has educated generations of doctors, students, medics, and paramedics specializing in trauma medicine.

Prof. Rivkind’s trauma treatment approach has been recognized as one of HU’s 100 most significant contributions. This pioneering approach to trauma care has substantially reduced mortality rates across all levels of injury. The unit has treated thousands of patients, many in critical condition, including terror attack victims in Jerusalem.

The only child of Holocaust survivors, he graduated from the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School. Prof. Rivkind later trained at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland in the United States.

Prof. Eli Pikarsky, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, stated, “It is a great honor to celebrate Prof. Avi Rivkind’s extraordinary achievements. His work has endowed us with knowledge, vision, and a deep commitment to doing good and changing reality for the better. He has touched countless lives, both through the patients he has saved and the generations he has trained. On behalf of the entire Faculty of Medicine, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and thanks and wish him continued success for many years to come.”

Prof. Oron Shagrir, Rector of the Hebrew University, said, “We take immense pride in Prof. Avi Rivkind, whose lifelong dedication to medicine and humanity has transformed trauma care in Israel and saved innumerable lives. Through innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to saving lives, he exemplifies how academic excellence can shape an entire field and deliver profound impact on society.”