Faculty News

Dr. Ron Piran, Senior Lecturer at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, has been awarded tenure. His research focuses on diabetes and regenerative medicine, particularly the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and the links between inflammation, tissue damage, and tissue repair. His work combines experimental biology with mathematical modeling to better understand these processes and explore new approaches to diabetes treatment.

Recent studies from his laboratory identified biomarkers that may predict response to treatment in a mouse model of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), a finding that could support the future development of personalized therapies. In another study, his team developed a method for isolating pancreatic endocrine cells and mapping their proteins, enabling the identification of biological pathways unique to different cell types.

Dr. Piran earned his degree from the Technion and completed his postdoctoral training at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in San Diego. Alongside his research, he coordinates and teaches the Bioenergetics course, teaches graduate-level courses, and supervises M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. He has received the Faculty’s Outstanding Lecturer Award three times.

Congratulations to Ron on receiving tenure, and best wishes for continued success in his research and teaching.

On October 19, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine for the Galilee hosted the first Galilee Student Conference, an initiative led by medical students in the Medical Education Program. The conference brought together policymakers, healthcare leaders, and students to discuss the future of healthcare in Northern Israel and explore ways to strengthen the region’s healthcare infrastructure and workforce.

Congratulations to Dr. Shlomo Merchavy on His Promotion to Senior Clinical Lecturer

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine congratulates Dr. Shlomo Merchavy, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Ziv Medical Center, on his promotion to Senior Clinical Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University.

Since becoming head of the department in 2018, Dr. Merchavy has led its growth, expanded clinical services, recruited and trained physicians, and helped strengthen care in head and neck surgery, hearing rehabilitation, cochlear implants, rhinology, and voice and swallowing disorders. His work has improved access to advanced medical care for Galilee residents.

Dr. Merchavy has taught at the Faculty since 2014, mentoring medical students and residents and contributing to medical ethics education. He has received an Outstanding Lecturer Award, and his department was once again recognized for excellence in teaching in 2025.

His research focuses on thyroid diseases and head and neck cancer, including innovative work on the use of artificial intelligence in medical imaging, supported by the Israel Innovation Authority.

His promotion reflects his commitment to clinical excellence, research, medical education, and the advancement of healthcare in the Galilee. We warmly congratulate him and wish him continued success.

Congratulations to Dr. Ismaell Massalha on His Appointment as Clinical Lecturer

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine congratulates Dr. Ismaell Massalha, a senior physician in the Radiation Therapy Unit at the Oncology Division of Ziv Medical Center, on his appointment as a Clinical Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University.

Dr. Massalha specializes in oncology and radiation oncology. Since joining Ziv Medical Center in 2025, he has led the Head and Neck Cancer Service while also developing AI-based tools to support medical decision-making and improve quality assurance in cancer care.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Massalha is pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focuses on developing predictive models for the early detection of sepsis and bone metastases in cancer patients and has received several awards and competitive grants.

At the Faculty, Dr. Massalha teaches in the Neoplasia and Bioinformatics courses, participates in clinical oncology training, and supervises student and resident research projects.

We warmly congratulate Dr. Massalha and wish him continued success.

27 medical students moved into the new student village at Kibbutz Amiad, the first project in a plan to establish a network of student villages across the Galilee. The initiative aims to strengthen students’ connections to local communities and encourage the next generation of physicians to build their futures in northern Israel. 

Ahead of the start of the academic year, the Relocation Office held two "Welcome to the Galilee" programs for new medical students, with one goal in mind: helping them feel at home from day one.

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.