American-Israel Chamber of Commerce

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Documentor partnered with Odysii to win the Deal of the Year award, while Given Imaging took home the Israeli Company of the Year award at the May 12th Eagle Star Awards Gala.  Georgia-Pacific hosted the event at its corporate headquarters in downtown Atlanta. 

The Eagle Star Gala is AICC’s community flagship event, honoring the people and companies who have contributed most to the Southeast-Israel business relationship.  Additionally, the Chamber recognized past AICC Board Chairman Laurie Olivier of Veritas Venture Partners with the Chamber Founders Award and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast with the Community Partner Award.  Legendary investor and entrepreneur Dr. Yossi Vardi, was the keynote speaker at the event.

Deal of the Year – Odysii / Documentor

Israeli Company of the Year – Given Imaging

“We congratulate these outstanding companies for their role in bringing cutting-edge technologies to the US market and for their contributions to the economic growth and reputation in our region and Israel.  We were also pleased to showcase the contributions of a key individual and organization to the advancement of our cause,” said Charlie Harrison (Critical Strategies), AICC Board Chairman.

Other finalists for Israeli Company of the Year were Jacada and ooVoo.  Other finalists for Deal of the Year were Pluristem / CTA / Duke Medical Center and SeerGate / IBT.

The Chamber thanks Gala Chair Barry Sobel (Deutsche Bank Alex.Brown) and his Co-chair Josh Hirsh (Studley, Inc.) and their committee as well as our sponsors:

Georgia-Pacific, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Deutsche Bank Alex.Brown, Atlanta Jewish Times, Grant Thornton, Smith Gambrell & Russell, Given Imaging, BDO, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, Sutherland, Precision Components International, Fish & Richardson, Government of Israel Economic Mission, Atlanta Business Bank, Dale Schwartz & Associates, Veritas Venture Partners, Miller Richmond Company, Consulate General of Israel, Habif Arogeti & Wynne, Ballard Spahr, Advocate Networks, Carr Riggs & Ingram, Jacada, Jones Day, Georgia Power, Baran Americas, T.I.B.A. Parking, Verint, SRI Travel, Mark Black Promotions, Selecto, Tech CFO, Studley and Crown Diamond.

Health IT is a centerpiece in current US health reform, but to what extent can Health IT support the goals of health reform, and what can the Health IT industry do to maximize its leadership role in achieving these goals?  And can the US Health IT industry benefit from collaboration with innovators and technology leaders out of Israel?

These questions are expected to be answered at the US-Israel Healthcare IT Business Exchange next month in Atlanta.  The June 8-9 event will be held at the corporate campus of IBM, the event’s host sponsor through the organization and coordination of AICC’s Medical Committee.

Up to 15 Israeli companies have been invited to present their technologies to more than 30 US companies and will have the opportunity to explore relationships through one-on-one meetings with each other.  The business exchange will also feature educational sessions including an update from Washington by US Rep. Tom Price (D-Georgia), a physician and Capital Hill leader on this issue who is the event’s honorary chairman; keynote by IBM Research Senior Manager for Information Analysis and Interaction Technologies Dr. Chalapathy Neti; VC panel including Chris McFadden (Health Evolution Partners), Bobby Kandaswamy (Intel Capital), and Zane Tarrance (Founders Investment Banking); and a panel on “Personalized Medicine” organized by the US-Israel Science & Technology Foundation.

A highlight will be the Gala Reception featuring Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent for CNN.  During her 17-year tenure at CNN, she has reported award-winning stories and developed the popular “Empowered Patient” column on CNN.com.  She is the author of a new book on this subject, and has been widely praised for her coverage of the Israeli medical team response to the Haiti earthquake.  The reception is open to the entire membership.

According to the event’s chairman Rick Litzky (Medical Director Solutions), in the past decade, Israel has achieved much higher levels of Health IT adoption than the US including 100% use of ambulatory EHR with about 70% of health information exchange.  In the same decade, health expenditure to GDP ratio in Israel has declined and is about half the level in the US.  By most measures, clinical outcomes in Israel are better than in the US.

“Atlanta is the Healthcare IT capital of the US with over 100 companies and revenues of over $4 billion annually.  It is altogether fitting that this innovative event be centered here as a way to bring together these companies and the thought leaders in the field,” Litzky said.

In addition to IBM, other sponsors of the US-Israel Healthcare IT Business Exchange include GE Health, Baker Donelson, Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Government of Israel Economic Mission to the US South, and the US-Israel Science & Technology Foundation with organizational co-sponsorship of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, ATA, Georgia HIMSS, Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, and BIRD Foundation.

For further information on participation, sponsorship, and to register, visit www.usisraelexchange.com.   

“The significance of this is huge and that is why, as a matter of fact, I decided to treat it as a top priority 10 months ago and enter into a special program to introduce Israel into the organization at a peak time.  It is the most respectable international club a small state like Israel can be accepted into.  From what we know about other states, in the years following the acceptance, there is a rise of billions of dollars in foreign investments in the state accepted,” said Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.

Manufacturers Association President Shraga Brosh issued a pleased response, saying that “Israel’s membership with the organization constitutes a label of quality.”  Treasury chief Haim Shani said, “The joining of Israel to the organization points to the trust companies have in Israel’s economy and solidity.  I believe the new membership will help Israel’s society and economy progress, attract foreign investors, and develop the market.”

Israel was one of the few economies in the world to show growth in 2009 during the world economic crisis, drawing praise from the OECD.  Israel’s gross domestic product grew 0.7% in 2009, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.  The OECD expects Israel’s economy to grow at least 3.5% in 2010.