Doctor with cerebral palsy to be honored at Independence Day ceremony

Dr. Hodaya Oliel, a 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who earlier this year made headlines by graduating from the Technion’s medical school and becoming a doctor, will light one of the torches in this year’s traditional ceremony on Independence Day next month, Culture Minister Miri Regev announces.

Oliel was born three months premature and weighed a mere 930 grams (2.0 pounds) at birth, after which she dropped to only 760 grams (1.7 pounds).

After undergoing five operations before entering high school, Oliel graduated with top grades and went on to graduate med school in January despite numerous challenges. She is now starting her residency at Kaplan hospital.

In notes explaining the choice, Regev writes that Oliel “is a symbol for rising above every obstacle and represents the strive to integrate people with disability into society.”