Nancy Lee Caroline,, was an American physician and writer who worked in emergency medical services (EMS). She was a Medical Director of Freedom House, an emergency ambulance service that assisted underserved populations in Pittsburgh in the 1960s and 1970s. She was also the first medical director of Magen David Adom, Israel's Red Cross Society, and was later called by colleagues, "Israel's Mother Teresa".
Nancy Caroline
Nancy Caroline in front of Freedom House ambulance ca. 1975
Nancy Caroline with a motorcycle
The Magen David Adom is Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service. The literal meaning of name is "Red Shield of David," but the symbol is more frequently called the "Red Star of David" in many languages. Since June 2006, Magen David Adom has been officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the national aid society of the State of Israel under the Geneva Conventions, and a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. MDA has a dedicated medical emergency phone number in Israel, 101.
MDA can become an auxiliary arm of theĀ Israel Defense ForcesĀ during times of war. In 2022, MDA became academically affiliated with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Following the October 7th attacks against Israel, the American Red Cross presented Magen David Adom with the International Humanitarian Service Award stating that the organization "exemplifies and inspires the humanitarian values of human dignity, respect, [and] compassion."
The Red Magen David headquarters in Jerusalem
Armored mobile intensive care unit, Jerusalem District 2006
Helicopter of Magen David Adom
An MDA motorcycle used by a community first responder in Jerusalem's Old City