ZAIẒOV, RINA

ZAIẒOV, RINA (1932–2005), Israeli pediatrician who specialized in blood disorders and malignancy in childhood. She received her M.D. from the Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1959) and trained in pediatrics in the U.S., where she developed her lifelong interests. She returned to the Beilinson Medical Center in Petaḥ Tikvah (1966) and became director of the national center for pediatric hematology and oncology (1973–97), professor of pediatrics in the Sackler faculty of medicine of Tel Aviv University (1988), and Josefina Maus and Gabriela Cesarman-Maus professor of pediatric hematology and oncology (1992). She established the department that became Israel's national center for treatment and research in blood disorders and malignant diseases in childhood. The center provided the most advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment, and support for patients and their families. She made major internationally recognized contributions to many clinical and laboratory and epidemiological research programs concerning genetic disorders of blood production, leukemia, lymphomas, bone tumors, tumors of the nervous system, and the genetic disorder Gaucher's disease. Her enthusiasm and humanity were also reflected in the comprehensive program for treatment and support that she established in the community. She had formidable teaching and organizational skills, recognized in her contributions to many national and international committees concerned with organizing clinical care, research, and education. From 1998 she was chairman of Kuppat Ḥolim's program for services in pediatric hematology and oncology. Her many honors included the Geifman Prize for developing pediatric oncology in Israel (1978), the First Prize for Research of the Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma Conference (2000), the Kadezky Award for oncology research of Tel Aviv University (2001), and the Israel Prize for medical research (2005).

[Michael Denman (2^nd ed.)]