With physician shortage ‘urgent,’ 2 new medical schools to open in Israel
University of Haifa’s medical school aims to strengthen healthcare in the north; Weizmann Institute’s school is tuition-free, combining scientific research and medicine
Reporter at The Times of Israel
The chairman of the Council for Higher Education, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, on Tuesday approved the opening of two new medical schools, one at the University of Haifa and the other at Weizmann Institute.
The two schools come as part of a national effort to address the critical shortage of medical personnel, said Health Minister Uriel Buso, with the goal of having 2,000 medical students per year by 2030.
The majority of doctors in Israel are currently forced to study abroad due to a critical lack of spots at Israeli medical schools. Nearly half of the country’s medical doctors are age 55 and older.
Moreover, the number of medical graduates in Israel is the lowest among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations.
“This is an important and significant development that will greatly contribute to the future of the healthcare system in Israel,” Buso said.
‘Acute’ doctor shortage in the north
The Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine at the University of Haifa, a six-year program, will admit its inaugural cohort of 64 students in the 2025-26 academic year and will gradually increase capacity.
A university spokesperson said the new medical school is a response to Israel’s shortage of physicians, a crisis that is “particularly acute” in the north. The spokesperson also said it reflects the university’s “resolute commitment” to “ease the return of communities, and to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous northern Israel.”
Some of the 60,000 residents of the northern region who were evacuated during the war have yet to return to their homes.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 hostages, mostly civilians, into Gaza.
The very next day, on October 8, Hezbollah began attacking Israeli communities and military posts along the border almost daily in solidarity with Hamas. The attacks killed 46 civilians, and 80 IDF soldiers and reservists died in cross-border skirmishes.
One of the school’s primary goals is to strengthen healthcare in the north through education and clinical training at Carmel Medical Center. The school will offer scholarships and implement initiatives aimed at retaining graduates as practicing doctors in the region.
Led by Prof. Haim Bitterman, the school will focus on expanding healthcare in underserved areas and enhance community care. It will also establish an advanced simulation center, incorporating AI, virtual reality, and real-world interactions with healthcare providers.
“The events of October 7, along with the ongoing attacks on Haifa and the region, have reinforced the urgent need to strengthen Israel’s healthcare system,” University of Haifa president Prof. Gur Alroey said. “We have an opportunity not only to expand and improve medical education in Israel, but also to tailor it to the unique needs of the north.”
The new school will work in conjunction with the Carmel Medical Center and Clalit Health Services. Its establishment has been funded by a NIS 200 million ($58 million) donation from the Amir family, along with an additional NIS 50 million ($14 million) raised by the university.
All Weizmann medical students to receive scholarships
The Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Medical School at the Weizmann Institute is expected to open its doors in October 2025.
The school will feature small study groups, and will be devoted to “practice and research rather than to theoretical lectures,” an institute spokesperson said.
“The multidisciplinary nature of Weizmann research will allow students to specialize not only in the life sciences but also in physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science, while having access to the most advanced scientific infrastructure in the world,” the spokesperson said.
Students will conduct research and receive clinical training at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Samson Assuta Ashdod Hospital, as well as hospitals run by the Clalit Group.
The program is expected to annually enroll up to 40 Israeli students with undergraduate or graduate degrees who will then be eligible for a dual degree: a medical degree and a doctorate in research (MD-PhD).
Registration is now open. Students do not pay tuition and receive a scholarship, so they can concentrate on research, the spokesperson said.
“There is a growing need for physicians who have an in-depth understanding of basic and applied science, and have the tools and ability to translate scientific discoveries into new, improved medical treatments,” said Prof. Ayelet Erez and Prof. Liran Shlush, both heads of research groups at the Weizmann Institute and practicing physicians, who will lead the program on behalf of the institute.
“The vision is to create a new generation of physician-scientists who are leaders in medicine and biomedical research,” they said. “The students will design and conduct innovative research that will lead to groundbreaking therapies.”
The new medical school is funded by the Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Foundation of the Allied Group, an organization that has contributed over NIS 400 million ($111 million) to improve the level of medicine and medical research in Israel. The group also assists with the entry and integration of Israeli physicians into the health system.
In addition, Reichman University launched the first class of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine on February 5 with 80 students, half of whom are reservists who have been serving since the October 7 Hamas attack. A university spokesperson said that one-fourth of the medical students come from Israel’s geographic and social periphery.
“Increasing the number of medical students will help reduce disparities, strengthen public healthcare, and ensure quality and accessible medical services for every citizen,” Buso said. “This step will ensure the resilience of the system for many years to come.”
