Faculty News

We are pleased to congratulate Prof. Maayan Gruber on his promotion to the rank of Associate Clinical Professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

Prof. Gruber is a specialist in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT). Since 2016, he has served as Director of the Pediatric ENT Unit at the Galilee Medical Center, a unit that he established and developed.

Prof. Gruber is among the leading figures advancing the field of pediatric otolaryngology in Israel. He serves as a member of the founding board and Scientific Secretary of the Israeli Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, chairs the Tonsil Committee of both the Israeli Otolaryngology Association and the Israeli Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, and led the development of national guidelines on tonsil surgery and the care of children with tracheostomies.

His research combines clinical, basic, and translational approaches in the fields of airway disorders, foreign body aspiration, tonsil surgery, and patient safety in children. Among his notable achievements is the development of a controlled drug-delivery endotracheal tube designed to reduce the inflammatory damage associated with prolonged intubation. This interdisciplinary innovation led to a patent, scientific publications, and research awards.

Alongside his clinical and research activities, Prof. Gruber is a dedicated teacher and mentor. He has been teaching at the Faculty since 2016, has supervised students and residents whose projects have resulted in scientific publications, and has twice received recognition as an Outstanding Lecturer. The simulation course he developed for managing foreign body aspiration events enables residents from affiliated hospitals to practice complex emergency scenarios in a safe and supervised environment.

His promotion reflects outstanding achievements in clinical leadership, research, and the education of future physicians, as well as a meaningful contribution to the advancement of pediatric medicine in Northern Israel. We are proud of his accomplishments and wish him every success in his new academic rank.

We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Carmel Kasher on his appointment as a Clinical Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Kasher has a broad and unique professional background as both a veterinarian and a physician specializing in Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He combines his work as a family physician in the communities of Kfar Yehoshua and Ramat Yishai with his role as a senior physician in the Infectious Diseases Unit at Emek Medical Center.

The combination of Dr. Kasher's medical and veterinary training provides him with an interdisciplinary perspective on the relationship between human, animal, and environmental health, in the spirit of the One Health approach. His clinical and research interests include zoonotic diseases, HIV, infections during pregnancy, and family medicine. Alongside his clinical work, he has initiated and led several important healthcare services in Northern Israel, including an HIV clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic for the treatment of infections during pregnancy, and a dedicated healthcare service for the LGBT community.

Dr. Kasher is a dedicated teacher and educator. He teaches medical students in family medicine and during infectious diseases rotations, has guided student groups in the Faculty's mentoring program, and has engaged students in discussions of clinical and ethical issues. He consistently receives outstanding teaching evaluations and has been recognized as an Outstanding Lecturer for five consecutive years. During the coming academic year, he is expected to expand his educational activities and participate in teaching Infectious Diseases and Inflammation across several academic programs at the Faculty.

His appointment brings to our Faculty a physician who combines excellent teaching, broad scientific vision, and the ability to identify healthcare needs within the community and turn them into practical services. We congratulate Dr. Kasher and wish him every success in his academic career.

We are pleased to congratulate Prof. Avi Benov on his promotion to the rank of Associate Clinical Professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

A specialist in General Surgery, Prof. Benov is among Israel's leading experts in trauma care and operational medicine. Following a distinguished career in the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, during which he held a number of senior positions, including Head of Operational Medicine, Head of Research, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, he was recently appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Israel Defense Forces.

Prof. Benov's work closely integrates extensive field experience with research, innovation, and the advancement of medical policy. He has played a key role in developing and implementing trauma care protocols, including the use of whole blood and blood products before hospital arrival, as well as promoting new approaches to patient monitoring, evacuation, pain management, and the treatment of stress-related conditions. This work has received broad professional and national recognition and has also influenced civilian emergency medicine.

Alongside his extensive operational work, Prof. Benov maintains an active academic career. He has published dozens of studies in the fields of trauma and military medicine, teaches in the Faculty's surgical clerkships, and mentors medical students and residents in research projects. His promotion reflects the values we seek to cultivate within the Faculty: the integration of professional excellence, meaningful research, outstanding teaching, and a commitment to public service.

We are proud of Prof. Benov and wish him continued success in his new academic rank and in his important leadership role.

We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Nadir Ghanem on his appointment as a Clinical Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ghanem is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has served since 2023 as Director of the Maternity Department and Delivery Room at the Galilee Medical Center. His primary areas of expertise include maternal-fetal medicine, obstetric ultrasound, and the management of complex clinical situations in the delivery room.

Dr. Ghanem combines extensive clinical experience with active research in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine. He has contributed to 22 scientific publications, including studies on preterm birth, labor induction, high-risk pregnancies, and surgical techniques in cesarean deliveries.

Teaching is a central component of Dr. Ghanem's professional work. He coordinates the clinical training of medical students in the delivery room as part of the Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation, mentors medical students and residents, and serves as an examiner in the Israeli Board Certification (Stage II) examinations. He consistently receives outstanding teaching evaluations, with students describing him as a highly professional, approachable, and supportive physician who views teaching as an integral part of clinical practice.

His appointment adds to our Faculty a dedicated clinician and educator who combines professionalism, experience, and a strong commitment to training the next generation of physicians. We warmly congratulate Dr. Ghanem and wish him every success in his academic career.

Dr. Najib Dally, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Hematology and Director of the Hematology Institute and Blood Bank at Ziv Medical Center, has spent many years combining clinical practice, research, and medical education. Since beginning his teaching career, he has received numerous awards and recognitions for excellence in teaching. In recent years, he has led the Faculty’s Foundations of Clinical Medicine course, one of the most highly regarded courses in the curriculum.

Dr. Dally is a strong advocate of active learning that promotes clinical reasoning, teamwork, and decision-making skills. In his teaching, he incorporates innovative educational methods alongside discussions of real-world clinical cases. In addition to his educational activities, he conducts research, mentors students and residents, and contributes to advancing healthcare in Northern Israel. For many students, he embodies the ideal combination of outstanding physician, researcher, and educator, inspiring curiosity, excellence, and professional commitment.

The Faculty’s Indian Student Representative participated in a meeting with the Embassy of India in Israel, focused on student welfare, safety, and strengthening ties between the Embassy, universities, and student representatives.

Ahead of the new academic year, a dedicated information website for newly admitted students has been launched, a special panel discussion on the future of medicine and healthcare in the Galilee is being planned, and the Faculty’s traditional Welcome Day celebration is set to take place. At the same time, the Student Union continues to expand its network of benefits and partnerships with local businesses to support students throughout their studies.

Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Director of the Pediatric Nephrology Unit, and Head of Medical Education at Galilee Medical Center.

The Faculty's research centers continue to expand their activities through webinars, research grants, international conferences, and new initiatives.