Faculty News

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine would like to wish Prof. Erez Onn continued, meaningful activity upon his retirement from the management of Tzafon Medical Center.

At an evening held last night in his honor at Beit Gabriel on the Kinneret, participants included high ranking delegates from the Ministry of Health, hospitals including of course Tzafon Medical Center, and the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine. The Dean Prof. Orly Avni, Prof. Imad Abu Al Naaj, and Prof. Avi Peretz thanked Prof. Onn for his tremendous contribution to the development of health services Health in the North, for the promotion of the clinical and research faculty, and its commitment to medical education. All the congratulators highly praised Prof. Onn's modest but groundbreaking leadership. Prof. Avni also expressed hope for continued management involvement with the Faculty.

"Diabetes is not a destiny, it is possible to reduce the rate of patients," emphasized Minister of Health Uriel Menachem Buso during his inaugural visit to the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE.

March 28, 2024 marked a pivotal moment as Safed Mayor Yossi Kakon, alongside a delegation from the Ministry of Health led by Health Minister Uriel Menachem Buso, visited SPHERE headquarters in Safed. The delegation included Prof. Emad Habous, Advisor to the Minister for the Arab Society, Dr. Maya Butara, Ministry of Health’s North District physician, Shani Barzilai, Head of nutrition Ministry of Health's Northern District and Dr. Nour Abdelhadi, Head of the implementation of government resolution 550 for the Arab Society, Ministry of Health.

This significant gathering also welcomed key figures from the healthcare and emergency services the region, including Prof. Salman Zarka, Director of Ziv Medical Center in Safed, Elhanan Cohen, Commander of the Eshkol Safed MDA station, Oren Avitan, Director of the Jordan region of MDA, Nachi Klein, Chairman of United Hatzalah Galilee branch, and Zvika Labell, Chairperson of Hatzalah in the Galilee.

The visit and discussions with SPHERE Directors, Prof. Naim Shehadeh, Dr. Sivan Spitzer, and Martin Duifhuizen, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between SPHERE and the Ministry of Health, in improving health for 20 municipalities in the Galilee.

Minister Buso expressed his admiration for the SPHERE initiative and urged its expansion nationwide. "I call on all heads of local authorities to establish health units and to adopt the SPHERE model beyond the Galilee," he stated. " Diabetes is not a destiny; it is in our hands, and we can reduce the number of patients who suffer from this disease."

While health systems and government often work in silos, SPHERE stands out as a model of collaboration creating a unique ecosystem that includes partnerships with local authorities, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and HMOs, allowing to comprehensively understand population health.

Prof. Naim Shehadeh: "I describe SPHERE's efforts as that of a conductor leading an orchestra, harmonizing all the individual musicians who previously played disjointedly. SPHERE adds significant resources and synchronizes all activities with the aim of closing gaps and improving clinical indicators in the Galilee. With the support of the Minister of Health we will be able to expand SPHERE to the rest of the country."

Dr. Sivan Spitzer adds that "reducing health disparities requires an innovative conceptual model that SPHERE developed and implements. The commitment of the Minister of Health and Ministry officials to reduce gaps and deepen the unique collaboration with SPHERE will help improve health in the social and geographic periphery. We are also proud of our partnership with the municipality of Safed, the city where SPHERE and the Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University are located. We will continue to work together with Safed municipality to improve the health and well-being of the city's residents.”

The White Coat Ceremony for 29 students in the 13th cohort of the three-year MD track was held at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, on March 20, 2024.

The ceremony marks the transition from pre-clinical studies in the classroom, to clinical studies in the hospitals, by the patient's bedside.

The host of the evening, Sharon Mines, Administrative Deputy to the Associate Dean of Medical Education, greeted the crowd, and invited senior faculty to speak, after a short promotional video was projected:

• Prof. Orly Avni, Dean of the Faculty
• Students Zina Hek and Lihi Levy (gave a Davar Torah)
• Prof. Moshe Dessau, Vice Dean Pre-Clinical Education

After an acoustic musical duet by Yaniv Lifshitz and Naomi Meiri Israeli who performed the song "Will Always Wait for You" (lyrics and music by Leah Shabbat), the White Coat Ceremony began, led by the Dean, Associate Dean Prof. Daniel Glikman, Vice Dean Prof. Moshe Dessau, and course coordinators Dr. Limor Meoded Danon, Dr. Younes Bathish, Dr. Anat Eini, and Bat-El Menachem the student coordinator.

At this point, with everyone back in their seats, Sharon continued: "On this occasion, we would like to honor our students who supported the national war effort in significant reserve service. Some of you while studying and one of you who was injured in combat. We would like to say thank you and good luck in your further studies - we are here with you all the way." Names were read and Liav Yakoti, who was wounded in the war, was given Mishloah Manot in honor of the approaching holiday of Purim, and a book as a token of appreciation from the Bar-Ilan University family.

For another musical performance, Yaniv and Naomi took to the stage and performed the song "A Good Word" (lyrics by Yaakov Gilad and music by Yehudit Ravitz), then Tal Permin and Tomer Wright spoke on behalf of the class.

And finally, thanks to the "Yakir" course coordinators, the "Hila" course coordinator, and the instructors. Thanks also to the organizers of the ceremony, to the student secretariat, to the events coordinator Hadas Oren, to the head of computing Dan Hinenzon and his team, to the head of operations and logistics Yehiel Dahan and his team. Thanks to the student who helped with the organization of the ceremony - Noa Biton.

A few pictures can be seen here.

The first of nine planned multi-disciplinary Research Centers was inaugurated at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine on March 19, 2024 – The Center for Women's Health.

Over 60 doctors, researchers, industry scientists, and students interested in women's health research gathered. The participants represent hospitals, community clinics, the Faculty and industry. The day opened with words from the Dean, Prof. Orly Avni, as well as Associate Deans Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy (academic research), Prof. Ido Birati (clinical research) and Prof. Lior Lowenstein (medical education). Afterwards, the "Research ID" segment commenced wherein doctors, researchers and students came to the podium to present in brief their areas of interest and research. Lunch was held next, an opportunity for productive networking. The keynote speech was then given by Sharon Handelman-Gotlib, one of the leaders in the field of fem-tech in Israel and the CEO of a start-up "Shela" that focuses on women's health. Sharon introduced the new field called femtech and talked about the problems and shortcomings and how some of them can be solved. Wrapping up the day, the participants were presented with a research grant program, donation from the Altman company and the Dover company, who sponsored the event.

Some pictures can be seen here.

A ceremony was held yesterday at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, awarding the Dr. Geza Kellerman (Freemasonry) scholarships to ten medical students. The exciting meeting took place in the presence of the president Nasr George Assi as well as members Shimshon Ben Zvi, Benjamin Joseph, and Doron Keren. It was decided this year to award the scholarships to students who recently served as reservists.

Also pictured above, Prof. Orly Avni, Dean; Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy, Associate Dean Research; and Noam David Reshelbach, Administrative Head of Faculty.
 

Orly Weisberg, a student in Prof. Evan Elliott's neurobiology laboratory, won second place in the BioMix2023 competition on March 17, 2024. Some 30 ideas were presented by students from all Israeli universities.

Orly is a participant in a Teva company program called ForumTeva BioInnovations. The program trains students in academia to prepare for the world of industry. As part of the program, participants are exposed to senior personalities in academia and industry, participate in workshops and training sessions, and learn how to develop an idea that originated in academia and translate it for industry. As part of the program the students were requested to take an academic idea then develop it into a medical startup. All ideas competed in the Teva BioMix2023 competition.

Orly has named her company HostDiffender. It is a groundbreaking idea that is based on her master's thesis and has been processed so that it can reach the clinic - a unique development designed to prevent toxicity in bone marrow transplants.

A bone marrow transplant is the main treatment for leukemia patients, but in many cases (40-60%) the patients develop a new disease called GvHD following the transplant. Everyone recognizes the risk of transplant rejection, but in a bone marrow transplant, cells of the immune system are transplanted and when they recognize the body's cells as foreign they can attack them and produce a disease called GvHD Graft versus Host Disease. About 30% of mortality after bone marrow transplants is due to complications of GvHD.

HostDiffender is an idea that is based on CAR-T technology and enables the selective removal of alloreactive T cells (which cause GvHD) from the transplant before transplantation and to produce a safe transplant.

In her research, Orly combines immunology with neurology and focuses on neurological and immunological aspects of autism.

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Student Union decided that its students deserve a break. On March 11, 2024, three buses departed Safed for the Golan Heights Winery for an evening of "music, sunset, and wine & cheese." We are told that the sunset was stunning, and that there was plenty of wine & cheese, ice cream and other munchies. Tal Zadok, the student union chairperson added, "we played music, and there was a photo booth for everyone to take their pictures. In all, a wonderful success!"

We would like to welcome the first cohort of FLIP: French Hospital Leadership and Innovation Program.

FLIP is a training program for medical innovation and entrepreneurship of the French Hospital in Nazareth, in collaboration with the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine. It was inaugurated by Dr. Ferass Abu Hanna, the program director, with general manager of the French Hospital, Prof. Nael Elias, and Prof. Ido Birati, director of the Kittner- Davidai division of cardiovascular medicine at Tzafon Medical Center and associate dean for clinical research at the Faculty of Medicine.

The first meeting took place in the presence of the Alpha Omega company, a groundbreaking technological company active with the Arab sector, under the direction of Tal Har Lev Idelman of SIT. The meeting was also attended by Noor Nasir, co-founder and CEO of Nurami, a groundbreaking entrepreneur who shared her inspiring story.

This program is held with the support of the Innovation Authority to encourage entrepreneurship in the Arab sector and will train about 80 innovators over 4 cycles.

The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine has not forgotten that 19 women are still being held captive in Gaza. We await their return (and the return of all captives) home.

However, the Student Union commemorated International Women's Day by distributing flowers at the Faculty on March 7, and the Faculty as a whole celebrated the day on March 10, 2024.

The day opened with breakfast, followed by a lecture by Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (pictured to the right, next to Prof. Orly Avni), legal scholar, international activist for women's rights, full professor at the BIU Faculty of Law, founding head of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women and former Vice President of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Since October 7, Prof. Halperin-Kaddari has been one of the main Israeli activists in the international arena on the issue of gender violence and sex crimes committed by Hamas. She gave over 75 interviews in the foreign media including CNN, France24, Sky News, BBC, Der Spiegel, Sunday Times. She is also in contact with the various UN bodies, including meeting in Geneva with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Turk, and lead the visit to Israel of Attorney Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary-General's special representative on sexual violence in conflict. Prof. Halperin-Kaddari was even invited by the US delegation to the UN to brief the Security Council on the issue of Hamas' sexual violence and was mentioned by the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas Griffin, as a "critical factor for the delivery of the briefing." For her important and many years of activity for the advancement of women's rights in Israel and around the world and for her work since October 7, Prof. Halperin-Kaddari was chosen to receive this year an honorary degree from Brandeis University, as well as the human rights badge from the Ingrid Solmes Foundation in Germany.

After the lecture, the audience was invited to the performance "Singing Women שרים נשים," a tribute to the best female singers - by the band "Shablul," and then, to a fashion exchange fair, where participants were invited to bring items of clothing in excellent condition to be offered for exchange. The remaining items of clothing were donated to the evacuees.

Also on the subject of Women's Day, Dr. Rola Khamisy was invited for an interview on the occasion of International Women's Day, and asked to talk about sex and gender conscious medicine, on the Arabic Israeli channel MACAN with the senior journalist Galia Natur Kador.

You can listen to the entire interview here.

The Knesset of Israel gathered to mark International Women's Day and make special note of the contribution of women in the Iron Swords War.

Our MD six-year program student, Noam Weisbach (in uniform), took part in the event as a Magen David Adom MADAIS representative in the panel on "Warriors on the Home Front" where she discussed her activities as a paramedic during the war in general and on October 7 in particular, when she evacuated many wounded from the war zone.

Azrieli Faculty of Medicine staff enjoyed a break from routine, a fun morning away from the office, that included a delicious brunch then movie, at "Movieland" in the city of Carmiel.

Special thanks to the Bar-Ilan University Department of Human Resources for this initiative and to Nurit Maor for making all the arrangements.

A group of ninth grade students from Nesher Middle School visited Prof. Itay Onn's laboratory on February 22, 2024. These students are participants in the Ramon Foundation's SpaceLab project, which focuses on science education and space exploration.

The students chose to focus on the topic of building biological walls using fungus. These walls are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. Under the guidance of Prof. Onn, the students prepared an experiment to test how microgravity affects the construction of the biological wall. During the visit, the students toured the laboratory. The director of the laboratory, Dr. Avi Matityahu, and the students demonstrated and explained the methods for growing the fungus and for analyzing the results that the students will use in the experiment. The group will soon compete in the district finals. If they win, they will compete in the national finals. The winning team will get to perform the experiment aboard the International Space Laboratory. We wish them success!

Prof. Amnon Albeck, Rector of Bar-Ilan University, has sent a personal congratulatory letter to Dr. Shai Bel, one of twelve Bar-Ilan University researchers who were chosen this year for this prize, for his achievements in the 2022-23 academic year. A celebratory event will take place in May.

Congratulations, Dr. Bel!

Six third-year, four-year MD track students from the prestigious ROM Galil community medicine program, headed by Dr. Anat Einy, flew down recently for two days to volunteer at a counseling clinic  for citizens who were relocated to Eilat due to the war. Participating in the activity were the Natan non-profit association, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, and professional experts from the North. 

The consulting doctors, who volunteered, remained in the center and the North of the country while the students (who went down south in two rounds), Dr. Dalit Navot, Dr. Sharon Shaul - responsible for the health field at the Natan association, and Dr. Einy went down to Eilat to be with the students.

Consultant physicians included:

• Dr. Amitai Oberman of Tzafon Medical Center (internal medicine and geriatrics), as well as Faculty of Medicine instructor
• Prof. Peter Gilby, Clalit physician (ENT) as well as Faculty of Medicine instructor
• Dr. Ayelet Ollech of the Sheba Medical Center (pediatric dermatology)

Consultations was carried out with the help of telemedicine, via a system that allows accurate remote photography, transmission of images from an otoscope, transmission of heart sounds, transmission of ultrasound and EKG images.

Each patient arrived about an hour before the consultation with the specialist, the student received him or her, performed a medical interview and a relevant physical examination. Afterwards, the student sat with the patient and presented them in front of a screen to the consultant. After a combined conversation with the patient, the consultant and the student, the consulting doctor made his recommendations and the student continued with the patient for an explanation of how to proceed.

There were about ten patients in each round.

Patients and students were very satisfied with the learning, and grateful.

The educators reported that this was an example of medical education at its best.

We hope to continue, with evacuees from the north as well. 

The student union and Faculty management would like to express their thanks to the Faculty of Medicine students who serve in the IDF reserves, and have organized for them a winter gift basket that includes a blanket, thermal cup, and tea infusions.

Thank you.