É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ University’s first graduating class of 48 medical students receives MD degrees from the School of Medicine in the Galilee. The 25 women and 23 men, including five Arab students, began their medical studies in universities abroad and returned home to Israel to complete the clinical component of their training.
Attending the historic event were Israel’s foremost leaders. “The school has national importance for advancing medicine in the Galilee,” stressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that the school is helping us to “realize our vision that northern Israel becomes a center of knowledge and know-how in the life sciences, encouraging the establishment of medical and biotechnological institutions.” Recounting the government’s investment in the school, the Prime Minister announced the allocation of an additional NIS 150 million to establish a permanent home for the school.
Also present at the event were Safed Mayor Ilan Shochet, the Chairman of the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Israel Council for Higher Education Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats, Galilee regional authorities, and directors of northern hospitals affiliated with the school.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Dr. Yotam Eshel, expressed the students’ gratitude to the university and the medical school faculty for giving them the opportunity to return home, to study in their native language and on a high professional level in a nurturing atmosphere.
Established in 2011, É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ’s School of Medicine in the Galilee currently has 627 students studying medicine and advanced degrees. The first 48 grads have already started their specializations.