Important news for the Israeli medical community:
Reichman University opens the Dina Recanati School of Medicine
In 2025, the university will welcome two cohorts of medical students, with the aim of addressing the critical shortage of doctors in Israel
Major development for Israel’s medical community — Today (Tuesday), November 12, 2024, the Israeli Council for Higher Education approved the opening of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University, following a comprehensive review by the “Halevi Committee” and successful compliance with all its standards. The first cohort, set to commence this coming February, will include approximately 80 exceptional students who, upon completing the four-year program, will make significant contributions to Israel’s medical system. A second cohort is scheduled to begin in November 2025.
The Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University was founded through a generous donation from the Dina and Raphael Recanati Family Foundation, and its establishment is the result of a first-of-its-kind partnership among Israel’s top healthcare institutions: Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Rabin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, and Maccabi Healthcare Services. This joint initiative was born out of a shared recognition of the growing shortage of doctors and the urgent need to collaborate to ensure that Israel’s residents receive quality medical care in the years to come.
The new medical school offers an innovative program that introduces clinical training in community medicine starting from the first week of the curriculum. The future physicians will gain comprehensive experience by working in hospitals and clinics, and providing patient care at home. With healthcare increasingly moving towards home-based and remote medicine, students will receive the appropriate training to meet these evolving needs.
The students will receive training at a medical simulation center equipped with cutting-edge technology — such as bedside ultrasound, imaging systems, a VR lab, and other research labs — allowing them to develop advanced skills. Special emphasis will be placed on personalized learning and mentorship from doctors at the top of their respective fields. Reichman University’s interdisciplinary approach will also provide students with opportunities to incorporate entrepreneurship, modern communication, and sustainability into their medical education.
Minister of Education and Chairman of the Council for Higher Education Mr. Yoav Kisch: “I see the approval of medical study programs in Israel as a national goal, and therefore any academic institution that meets the necessary pedagogical requirements can train the next generation of doctors. The opening of the Faculty of Medicine in Reichman University is a significant academic achievement and a crucial step toward securing the future of healthcare in Israel. At a time when we are facing both security challenges and a health crisis brought on by the war, the healthcare system is grappling with a dual challenge: a severe shortage of doctors coupled with population growth and the retirement of experienced physicians. The establishment of this faculty provides a high-quality, innovative, and long-term solution that guarantees a strong healthcare system prepared for the challenges of the coming decades. This is an initiative that will contribute to the strengthening of national resilience and is marvelous news for the citizens of Israel.”
Prof. Uriel Reichman, founding president and chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University, expressed his gratitude to Minister of Education and Chairman of the Council for Higher Education, Yoav Kisch for approving the establishment of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine and for his initiative to create a professional accreditation system that introduces a new and effective process for opening additional medical schools. He added: “Reichman University mobilized to expand the possibilities for medical studies in Israel, just as in the past it led the effort to open the doors of higher education to many. The Dina Recanati School of Medicine will be a pioneering institution in medical education, entrepreneurship, and research. Training the next generation of doctors is a vital mission for Israeli society, and we are grateful for the opportunity to take part in this essential endeavor.”
Prof. Arnon Afek, founding dean of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University, thanked the Halevi Committee on behalf of himself and Prof. Reichman for the trust they placed in the university. He stated: “The mission of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine is to educate the doctors of the future. The State of Israel needs around 2000 doctors every year, but trains only half that number. The medical system can and wants to train all doctors in Israel. Reichman University and its partners from Israel’s leading medical institutions are spearheading the Zionist response to this challenge. The addition of approximately 160 new students in 2025 (the February and October cohorts), and about 80 annually thereafter, will transform the future of Israeli medicine. It is only fitting that our finest young people, including those who serve as officers or combat soldiers on the various fronts, should have the opportunity to study at the best medical school in Israel rather than going abroad to pursue their studies unnecessarily.”
