Noa Shuker is a third-year medical student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, but for the past two years, she has worn an additional hat — serving as a Casualty Officer in the IDF reserves since October 7.
“My job is to make sure the families of the wounded soldiers have everything they need in terms of financial and psychological support, as well as just being there for whatever they need, to help alleviate stress during what can be a very challenging time,” Shuker told ILTV.
Shuker is often among the first to meet wounded soldiers, greeting them as they arrive by ambulance or helicopter. If the soldiers are well enough to speak, she hands them a phone so they can reassure their loved ones with the sound of their voice. Other times, she must make that first call herself — or even visit a family’s home to deliver the news and accompany them to the hospital.
“A family can receive news that can change their lives,” Shuker explained, reflecting on the severe injuries that have affected thousands of soldiers over the past two years. “Those moments, when they arrive at the hospital, taking them into the emergency or operating room, and making sure they can see a doctor who can explain the situation is one of the biggest challenges. It is about really trying to find the words or sentiments or just being there to hug the family and offer a moment of clarity. We cannot do much about the medical situation — that is for the doctors — but we are there for them in these beginning moments.”
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Noa Shuker in her army uniform. The blue and yellow string is the symbol of all casualty officers in the IDF.
(Courtesy of Noa Shuker)
Shuker works at two major hospitals in the south, Soroka and Barzilai. She said her experiences in the reserves have shaped her perspective on medicine in profound ways. Interestingly, she credits not her clinical training, but the values instilled at BGU for helping her most in her current IDF role.
She explained that from the very beginning, her professors at BGU emphasized the importance of seeing the patient, not just the condition.
“A lot of the times treatment can become routine, emotionless or robotic,” Shuker said. “The faculty at BGU put an emphasis on the person and seeing every story for itself.”
She said that this lesson has carried over into her reserve duty, where she strives to view each wounded soldier as “a world,” helping them with whatever they need.
On October 19, Shuker will share her story at the Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) annual New York City Benefit, supporting BGU’s Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School. She will be featured alongside former hostage Sasha Troufanov and award-winning comedian Alex Edelman.
Shuker’s contributions during one of Israel’s most challenging times underscore the deep impact of BGU’s medical school, and proceeds from the event will go toward supporting that institution.
In addition to students like Shuker, BGU medical students volunteered at Soroka University Medical Center — the university’s main teaching hospital — located near the front line of the October 7 attacks. They assisted in triage, emergency surgeries, and other critical care operations. Their response to this mass-casualty event accelerated their training and reinforced their dedication to the medical profession.
This will not be Shuker’s first time in the United States. She recently completed a speaking tour with A4BGU, an experience she described as “amazing.”
“I really did not expect to be welcomed the way I was,” she told ILTV. “I did not expect the amount of love and understanding and really just feeling at home when I was so far away.”
She said the Jewish communities received her warmly and that she was both thankful and moved by their genuine interest in her experiences.
“They really showed a lot of love,” she said.
A4BGU’s New York City Benefit will celebrate 50 years of excellence at the Goldman Medical School, named in honor of Lloyd Goldman’s parents through a generous gift from Katja Goldman Sonnenfeldt, Dorian Goldman Israelow, and Lloyd Goldman. Lloyd Goldman serves on the Board of Directors of A4BGU and as Chairman of BGU’s Board of Governors. This naming not only honors his parents’ enduring legacy but also reflects the Goldman family’s deep and sustained commitment to advancing Jewish causes and healthcare in Israel, A4BGU said.
Shuker said she is proud to be part of that legacy. Together with her fellow officers and commanders, she recently helped launch a project to expand their role beyond casualty response, ensuring that wounded soldiers continue to receive visits and support even after they leave the hospital.
She became involved after helping a wounded soldier who was a new immigrant with a family that felt isolated because they did not speak Hebrew or have a broad Israeli network.
“We want to make sure no one gets left behind,” Shuker concluded.