The orthopedist from Hillel Yaffe who was called up for reserve duty as a physician for a company of combat soldiers

Dr. Noa Gips, 32, normally works as a resident in the Orthopedics Division at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. On Saturday, October 7, in the afternoon, she got a phone call telling her to report to the northern front quickly. Noa, who does her reserve duty as a physician in the Front Resuscitation Company (Palhak), didn't think twice, packed her things and made her way north to take up her position in the field, out of a serious concern that the war in the south would spread to north as well. She was assigned to the Mobility Unit, which is part of the combat forces on Hummers and which is responsible for, among other things, the transport and evacuation of wounded.

Noa is the unit physician on a team that also includes male combat soldiers. “The thought of joining the combat forces was very concerning at first, but they very quickly understood that what was important was that they have a physician with them, whose job is to provide a quick and professional medical response,” she said.

Dr. Noa Gips in her scrubs at Hillel Yaffe and in her IDF uniform

Two months after the outbreak of the war, Noa was discharged from reserve duty and went back to work at Hillel Yaffe. Last week, Noa was called up again and reported immediately. “There wasn't even a question in my mind. The fact that I’m the only woman on the team means nothing. What's important is providing initial life-saving medical care. What we're seeing in the north is rough. Walking around and seeing Hummers and armored personnel carriers at kindergartens and old age homes reminds us of why we’re here. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the north who opened their homes to military security coordinators and members of the rapid response teams from the towns who cooperate and work with us - it’s not a given.