Lewis Institute: 50 Years of Work for the Benefit of People with Limb Disabilities in Israel
The Lewis Institute was founded in 1974 as a public benefit company (PBC), with the aim of assisting people with limb disabilities in Israel. Until 1983, the Institute directly funded prostheses and assistive devices for the country’s citizens.
Over its 50 years of activity, the Institute has specialized and accumulated unique expertise in service provision, process management, consulting, supervision, and professional oversight of services for people with limb disabilities. In addition, over the years the Institute has trained professionals working in the field, including physicians, physiotherapists, and technicians specializing in prosthetics, orthotics, and medical footwear.
The Institute’s team has a broad, comprehensive view of the field of limb disabilities in Israel—its trends, developments, and needs—since the Institute is responsible for providing services to beneficiaries of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defense, and the National Insurance Institute (including work-related injury victims insured by Clalit and Maccabi health funds), victims of terror attacks, and foreign workers.
Lewis Institute Key Figures
- Scope of care: The Lewis Institute treats approximately 12,000 people with limb disabilities each year.
- Amputees: About 1,200 of them are amputees who require a prosthesis.
- New cases: Each year, approximately 470 new amputees join the rehabilitation process.
Lewis Institute Institute Objectives
- Improving and streamlining the services provided in the rehabilitation of amputees and people with limb disabilities in Israel.
- Education and training for professionals engaged in rehabilitation and in the production of orthopedic devices.
- Encouraging and supporting theoretical and practical research in the fields of prosthetics and orthotics.
Lewis Institute Professional Team
The Institute’s professional team includes Prof. Dan Atar, Medical Director, and Shi-El (Theo) Kriel, Institute Auditor.
- Prof. Dan Atar: A senior orthopedic surgeon and a licensed physician of the Institute for 44 years. He previously managed the orthopedic division at Soroka Medical Center for 24 years and served as President of the Israeli Orthopedic Association for four years. He has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of amputees and is responsible for managing and training the pool of licensed physicians and physiotherapists, as well as overseeing the workshops.
- Shi-El (Theo) Kriel: Has 18 years of experience in fitting prostheses and orthoses in Israel and abroad (South Africa, England, and Saudi Arabia). He is one of the few technicians in Israel holding the international CPO (Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist) qualification. Theo has unique training and experience in prosthetic fitting, combining academic and international experience with personal experience as an amputee since the age of six. During his six years at the Institute, he developed effective control systems to help patients realize their full rehabilitation potential.
Lewis Institute Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of senior physicians specializing in rehabilitation:
- Chairman: Dr. Tzaki (Yitzhak) Ziv-Ner – former Head of the Rehabilitation Division at the Ministry of Health and former Director of the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Department at Tel HaShomer. Currently the Medical Director of the “Adi Negev – Nahalat Eran” Rehabilitation Hospital.
- Board Members: Dr. Oren Barzel, Director of the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Department at Tel HaShomer, and Dr. Sharon Ailon, Head of the Orthopedic Service at ALYN Hospital.
Lewis Institute Service Philosophy and Methodology
The Lewis Institute operates according to values of professionalism, patient-centered care, efficiency, and transparency:
- Professionalism and Innovation: The field of prosthetics and orthotics is highly dynamic. The Institute’s team stays continuously updated on new technologies and assists the Ministry of Health in shaping policies and guidelines for advanced device fitting. The Institute participates in international conferences and leads professional education initiatives, including support for a new master’s degree program at Ben-Gurion University (launching October 2025), which will train the first generation of certified prosthetics and orthotics technicians according to international WHO and ISPO criteria.
- Patient-Centered Approach: The Institute meets patients at a challenging point in their lives and works sensitively to reduce bureaucratic barriers. The goal is to provide each patient with the most suitable device to maximize functional ability, while listening to their needs and explaining their rights.
- Efficiency and Transparency: The Institute is currently investing 3 million NIS in developing an advanced computerized system that will accelerate processes and enable transparency for patients, funding bodies, and workshops. One example is the transition to device authorization (“second signature”) via video calls and recordings, aimed at saving time and reducing unnecessary travel for citizens.
The Lewis Institute is committed to providing fast, professional responses, shortening waiting times, and adhering to Ministry of Health regulations, in order to ensure that every patient receives the device best suited to their needs.
