Dr. Rick Hodes is the JDC's Medical Director in Ethiopia. Initially arriving in 1984 to help famine victimes, he returned in 1985 to teach and has fored for JDC since 1990. Dr. Hodes was in charge of the healtcare of all Ethiopian immigrants to Israel from 1990-2016, about 1% of the Israeli population. He also participated in Operation Solomon, the historic airlift of over 14000 Ethiopians to Israel in 36 hours. Dr. Hoes was recognized by CNN as one of their global heroes.