Dennis Coppel: Medic, Father, President

 
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Meet Dennis Coppel…

Dennis Coppel is an 85-year-old former anaesthetist and the current President of the Belfast Jewish Community.

Some of his early memories include growing up in North Belfast, exploring Cave Hill and seeing the Antrim Road on fire after the WW2 bombings.

After juggling Hebrew School in the evenings with his ‘full-time’ education as a boy, Dennis later went on to become a medic.

This career led him all around the world, including a stint in Israel and later Texas where he was trained in the hospital JFK was taken after his assassination.

These experiences proved critical during The Troubles when Dennis and his team were responsible for responding to the many explosive, gunshot and burn wounds that came through their ICU doors during those dark days.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The things Dennis has learned in his 85-years

  • What it was like growing up in a tight-knit Jewish community

  • The importance of loving your work

  • And the greatest challenges/successes he’s faced along the way

Check it out.

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Thanks again to Dennis Coppel for taking the time to share his story with us.

See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew Thompson