Prof. Uriel Reichman, chairman of Reichman University’s Board of Directors: “There is a pressing national need, there are partnerships, and there is capability. We remain resolute in our dedication to launch the school as scheduled.”
This week, an event was held to light the sixth candle of Chanukah, bringing together over 50 distinguished doctors, each a leader in their respective fields. This gathering represents the unprecedented alliance of the major health organizations in Israel, which serves as the foundation for the establishment of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University.
The gathering was organized by Dr. Miri Mizrahi-Reuveni, the school’s director and former deputy director-general of Maccabi Health Services and head of the HMO’s health division. Taking place amid opposition from voices in the Israeli academy seeking to prevent the establishment of the medical school at Reichman University, the event underscored the shared consensus among senior members of the healthcare system, who were partners in planning the school’s curriculum, regarding the necessity and urgency of this initiative.
The doctors, among them directors of Israel’s most prominent healthcare centers, spoke about the need to infuse medical education with innovation, revamp the existing programs, and integrate disciplines in order to create a curriculum that addresses the evolving challenges that patients face in times of routine, and certainly in times of emergency such as these. The directors of the Rabin, Schneider and Sheba Medical Centers spoke poignantly about their experiences receiving the hostages and, unfortunately, the wounded, who are admitted on a regular basis. They highlighted the importance of enveloping them with support and addressing both their emotional and physical needs. Additionally, they underscored the health system’s enhanced responsiveness, which is ensuring optimal care for both regular patients and those who were admitted as a result of the war.
Among the doctors who attended the candle lighting event were Dr. Eitan Wertheim, director of the Rabin Medical Center, Prof. Arnon Afek, founding dean of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, director of the Schneider Children’s Medical Center, as well as Dr. Shlomit Yaron, her deputy and representative of the Clalit Health Services Community Health Division, Dr. Daniel Landsberger, chief physician of Maccabi Health Services, and Dr. Moshe Ashkenazi, deputy director of the Safra Children’s Hospital at Sheba Medical Center.
Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University, Prof. Uriel Reichman: “We find ourselves in an extraordinary time, a watershed moment reminiscent of 1948. From the murder, horror, and grief, something wonderful has emerged, a rekindling of values we have forgotten. We are rediscovering the kibbutzim and the camaraderie that defines them, returning to the symbols of resilience, to the dedication and heroism of our soldiers, and, above all, experiencing the all-embracing Israeli solidarity. Within this we see the tireless efforts of our doctors who are working around the clock to treat the wounded and the hostages.
“The establishment of the medical school will be rooted in the ethos of our Zionist university. The need that has arisen is immediate, and the Rabin, Schneider, and Sheba Medical Centers and the Clalit and Maccabi HMOs have joined in this vital mission. There is a pressing national need, there are partnerships, and there is capability. We remain resolute in our dedication to launch the school as scheduled and begin studies next October. The spirit of unity we are witnessing today will surmount the self-interested opposition of the university cartel.”
Dr. Eitan Wertheim, director of Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson and Sharon Hospitals): “What captivated me about the establishment of a medical school at Reichman University is the opportunity to create something out of nothing, and it is a remarkable mission. The war has shown us something amazing — that every day we are able to do something that we have never done before, and of the highest quality. At Beilinson, hundreds of doctors were called up to serve, and despite this, not only did the hospital’s activity not decrease, but it remained steady and in fact increased — we opened a Beilinson branch in Eilat to offer accessible medical care to evacuees from the Gaza border communities.”
Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, director of the Schneider Children’s Medical Center: “When we received the hostages at the hospital, we did everything possible to wrap them in support. It was amazing to discover just how much strength these children have and how much hope there is. We just need to let this flourish. Amid discussions about the battle over the establishment of the medical school, we should keep things in perspective. These little children, who are truly strong, remind us to put things into proportion and recall what really matters. They are the small light in the great darkness. They offer us strength. This school will elevate and bolster medicine in Israel, and there is no place for a war over it.”
Dr. Daniel Landsberger, chief physician of Maccabi Health Services: “The opening of the new school at Reichman University is imperative in light of the acute shortage of medical professionals. The quality of the planned curriculum is very high, and the residents of Israel merit the good doctors who will emerge from this innovative program. Any delay in its inauguration is a perpetuation of the disregard for the plight of our doctors, and further extends the wait times for appointments, potentially jeopardizing patients’ well-being.”
Prof. Arnon Afek, deputy director-general of Sheba Medical Center and designated dean of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University: “Israel has failed to train all of the 2,000 doctors we need and continues to send half of them to universities abroad, where they are exposed to anti-Semitism. This concept needs to stop. Israel can and should train all medical students at the highest level, as stated by the State Comptroller back in 2018. As a response, the Clalit and Maccabi health funds have teamed up with the Rabin, Schneider, and Sheba Medical Centers and Reichman University to launch a new and innovative medical school that meets the most advanced standards in the world.
“The opposition we are witnessing to the School of Medicine at Reichman University stems from an outdated worldview, and a lack of understanding of the national imperative to train doctors in Israel at this time.”
