Alice Rothchild is a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, author, filmmaker, and human rights activist. She served as an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and has decades of clinical experience. As a Jewish American, she views her identity as a catalyst for global justice. Her career represents a transition from “healing individuals” to “healing social injustice,” with a specific focus on the deep links between health disparities and political oppression.
Rothchild has achieved significant acclaim in both academic and documentary fields. Her books, “Broken Promises, Broken Dreams” and “Condition Critical,” are widely regarded as authoritative works examining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a public health lens. She also produced the documentary “Voices Across the Divide,” which explores the enduring impact of the 1948 Nakba on Palestinians. A recipient of multiple human rights awards, she is recognized as a pioneer in using a medical perspective to expose humanitarian crises.
Rothchild’s support is deeply rooted in the concept of “medical justice.” As a member of the Health Advisory Council of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), she has led numerous medical delegations to the West Bank and Gaza to document how the occupation dismantles local healthcare systems, maternal health, and child psychology. She is a firm supporter of the BDS movement and characterizes Israeli military control as a “public health emergency.” She emphasizes that as a descendant of Holocaust survivors, she has an obligation to oppose all forms of institutional discrimination, arguing that true regional security can only be achieved by ending the occupation and ensuring full equality for Palestinians.