Alina Margolis-Edelman

Alina Margolis-Edelman (April 18, 1922 – March 23, 2008) was a Polish physician, pediatrician, and humanitarian. She was a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto and later became a prominent figure in the field of medicine and human rights.

Early Life

Alina Margolis was born in Łódź, Poland, to a Jewish family. Her father, Aleksander Margolis, was a well-known physician, and her mother, Anna Margolis, was a dentist. Alina had a younger brother, Roman Margolis.

World War II

During World War II, Alina and her family were forced into the Warsaw Ghetto. She worked as a nurse in the ghetto's hospital. After the ghetto's liquidation, she managed to escape and joined the Polish resistance movement. She participated in the Warsaw Uprising as a nurse.

Post-War Career

After the war, Alina Margolis completed her medical studies and specialized in pediatrics. She worked at the Mother and Child Institute in Warsaw and later at the Children's Memorial Health Institute. In 1968, following the anti-Semitic campaign in Poland, she emigrated to France with her husband, Marek Edelman, a fellow resistance fighter and cardiologist.

Humanitarian Work

In France, Alina Margolis-Edelman continued her medical career and became involved in humanitarian work. She co-founded the organization Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) and participated in numerous missions to war-torn and disaster-stricken areas, including El Salvador, Afghanistan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Personal Life

Alina Margolis married Marek Edelman, a prominent figure in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. They had two children, Aleksander Edelman and Anna Edelman. Alina Margolis-Edelman passed away on March 23, 2008, in Paris, France.

Legacy

Alina Margolis-Edelman is remembered for her contributions to medicine and her tireless efforts in humanitarian work. Her life and work continue to inspire many in the fields of healthcare and human rights.

See Also

• Warsaw Ghetto
• Warsaw Uprising
• Médecins du Monde
• Marek Edelman