Faculty News

During April 2026, a professional tour was held in the new Medical Education Building, currently under construction, adjacent to the existing campus. The tour was conducted for faculty members and for the Rector, who visited the Faculty, and provided a close‑up view of the impressive progress of the project and the meticulous planning of the future learning environment for students and staff.

The building will include five floors above street level, housing three modern auditoriums—a central hall with 400 seats and two additional halls with 200 seats each—which will enable the hosting of lectures, conferences, and academic events of varying scales. In addition, the building will incorporate classrooms designed for both large groups and small‑group learning, alongside administrative offices and the medical students’ administrative offices.

One of the building's flagship components is an advanced medical simulation center that will provide an innovative, hands‑on training environment. Alongside it will operate a comprehensive medical library, as well as well‑designed, comfortable self‑study spaces for both individual and group learning. The building will also include two underground parking levels with approximately 100 parking spaces.

At the time of the tour, construction is at an advanced stage: the structural framework of the building is nearly complete, and interior infrastructure works are currently underway, including wall construction and the installation of electrical, plumbing, and air‑conditioning systems.

The building is scheduled for occupancy and operation in October 2027, ahead of the opening of the 2027/28 academic year.

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee congratulates its Dean, Prof. Orly Avni, on her re‑election to an additional term as head of the Faculty. Her reappointment reflects broad recognition of her leadership, academic vision, and deep commitment to advancing medicine, research, and medical education in the Galilee.

In recent years, under Prof. Avni’s leadership, the Faculty has continued to strengthen its position as a significant academic, medical, and social engine of growth in northern Israel. During her tenure, wide‑ranging initiatives have been advanced in the areas of teaching, research, faculty development, and the strengthening of ties between the Faculty, medical centers, the community, and the region as a whole.

Among the key achievements during her term are the establishment of nine new research centers, the launch of the six‑year MD program, the introduction of a Master’s program in Health Sciences, the development of promotion tracks for teaching physicians, and the expansion of medical education training courses for physicians, department heads, and mentors. In parallel, the Faculty secured major research grants totaling tens of millions of shekels, aimed at expanding research infrastructure, establishing new core facilities, and strengthening the Faculty’s scientific capabilities.

One of the most prominent developments in recent years is the launch of the six‑year MD program, which is based on the vision of the future physician: one who combines clinical excellence, a strong commitment to research, medical innovation, professional ethics, and a deep connection to the Galilee. This approach reflects the Faculty’s vision of training a new generation of physicians who view medicine not only as a clinical profession, but as a social, scientific, and human mission.

At the same time, additional strategic initiatives have been advanced, including the establishment of the new Medical Education Center, the creation of a relocation office to the Galilee aimed at encouraging the growth of the medical community in the north, and the organization of faculty retreats that strengthen cohesion, shared identity, and research-oriented thinking among faculty members and students.

Looking ahead, under Prof. Avni’s leadership, the Faculty will continue to advance a vision of academic excellence, medical innovation, and a deep commitment to the Galilee and its residents. Key objectives for the coming years include the construction of a new research building, the development of student villages, the expansion of the academic “colony” in the Galilee for teaching and research, increasing the number of medical students, improving the quality of clinical teaching in hospitals and community settings, recruiting outstanding faculty and students for research, advancing the establishment of a School of Pharmacy and a School of Public Health, developing multidisciplinary programs with other faculties at the University, and deepening the Faculty’s international collaborations in research and education.

Prof. Avni’s re‑election, which received broad support, reflects deep confidence in her leadership approach—one that combines vision, attentiveness, partnership, commitment, and dedication. Her guiding philosophy—that “the Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee is not merely an academic institution operating within a community, but rather a community that has a Faculty of Medicine”—continues to lead the Faculty forward.

The Faculty congratulates Prof. Avni and wishes her continued fruitful, meaningful, and inspiring work.

The Faculty of Medicine congratulates Dr. Liron Rosenkrantz and Dr. Yair Daon on their success in the 2025/26 (5786) call for proposals for innovation in teaching, in recognition of innovative pedagogical initiatives that promote teaching that is relevant and aligned with the challenges of contemporary academic training.

Dr. Liron Rosenkrantz was awarded for an initiative in the course “Professional Skills – Orientation and Thriving in Academia,” designed for graduate students. The course addresses key competencies that are not always taught explicitly, including formulating research questions, scientific writing, and presenting research in a clear and compelling manner, with an emphasis on practical training and feedback. As part of the initiative, it was proposed to incorporate a guest lecture on scientific storytelling, aimed at equipping students with tools for constructing a scientific narrative and presenting research in a clear and effective manner.

Dr. Yair Daon was awarded for an innovative pedagogical proposal in the course “Statistics for Medical Students,” which includes a group-based final project centered on the analysis of real medical data. The proposal seeks to address the challenges of artificial intelligence use through the development of an interactive assessment and feedback bot, which conducts a dialogue with the student to assess their understanding. The bot is based on the student’s written work, the data source, and the Python code developed by the student, enabling an integrative assessment of knowledge, skills, and application, while encouraging responsible and informed use of artificial intelligence.

The award reflects the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to developing innovative, relevant, and meaningful teaching practices for its students.

The Unit for Medical Education at the Faculty is currently in the process of being established. Its role is to shape the Faculty’s pedagogical direction, make advanced teaching methodologies accessible, and support the alignment of medical training with the challenges of the 21st century and the evolving needs of the clinical environment.

The Unit’s activities are based on four principal domains of action: the planning and implementation of curricula, including the gradual advancement of competency‑based medical education (CBME); faculty development and training; the enhancement of teaching processes and course evaluation; and the support of students in forming their professional identity as physicians—competent, ethical, and humane—who choose to anchor their professional future and growth in the Galilee.

A key milestone in the process was the presentation of the Unit at a Faculty leadership meeting, during which its vision, mission, and main directions of action were outlined. The discussion regarding the Unit’s continued establishment raised two central topics: prioritizing tasks for the first year of operation, with an emphasis on selecting initiatives that will generate the greatest value for the Faculty; defining the Unit’s authority and its interfaces with Faculty leadership, committees, course coordinators, and departments. During the meeting, a general mapping of the main anticipated barriers at the establishment stage was also conducted. The discussion helped to sharpen the need to develop the Unit in a gradual, practical, and collaborative manner, while mapping the needs of faculty and students and strengthening training processes within the Faculty.

At the conclusion of the leadership meeting, an olive tree was planted in the Faculty courtyard as a symbol of growth, rootedness, and long‑term vision. This act echoes the inspiring words of Janusz Korczak: “He who is concerned about the days to come sows wheat; he who is concerned about the years to come plants trees; he who is concerned about generations educates people.”