Faculty News

A moment of pride, yet again: Prof. Omry Koren has been selected to the Clarivate for Academia & Government list "Most Frequently Cited Researchers" in the world - for the seventh year in a row!

Prof. Omry Koren, head of the Microbiome Research Laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, is one of the most cited researchers in the world, an extraordinary achievement that places him at the forefront of global science - for the seventh year in a row.

The selection of the prestigious list includes researchers whose scientific articles are ranked in the top 1% in terms of the number of citations in their field and their year of publication, according to the international database Web of Science™. This figure reflects a huge and wide influence in the international scientific community. Only 1 out of 1,000 researchers worldwide qualify for this list, which makes Prof. Koren's achievement even more impressive. The selection is based not only on citation data, but also on qualitative assessment and broad recognition of the scientific community.

By the year 2040, it is anticipated that in Israel nearly one million people will have diabetes.

In the northern periphery of the country, today, the diabetes of 15% of the patients is not under control. In fact, the Galilee sees the highest rate of diabetes from among all geographic locations in Israel, with the North leading both in diabetes incidence as well as mortality from complications. There are 66 diabetes cases per 1,000 people.

In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month we are excited to share with you some details on major steps currently taking place in the Galilee to combat diabetes, thanks to The Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine - a groundbreaking model aimed at reducing disparities in diabetes care.

Since its establishment three years ago, the SPHERE has driven transformative changes in the Galilee's health landscape - over 60 projects, 30 research grants awarded to local researchers, and collaborations with 23 municipalities representing 660,000 residents — all focused on narrowing health gaps and reducing diabetes and obesity rates.

The SPHERE model integrates scientific expertise and research support, targeting the most complex areas to create lasting health improvements for Galilee residents.

This Diabetes Awareness Month, we at the Faculty of Medicine are proud to be part of the fight against diabetes — for a healthier future for the North and all of Israel.

Photo: Inauguration of the SPHERE mobile testing unit
Photo credit: Nir Shmul

Dr. Alon Barash, a reserve Captain, Head of Anatomy Studies, and Director of the Biological Anthropology Laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine, has been awarded a special distinction by the IDF for his significant contributions to the Missing Persons and Casualty Identification Unit.

Since October 7, 2023, Dr. Barash has been serving in a highly complex and sensitive role that demands exceptional professionalism and national responsibility. In his capacity, he is involved in intricate identification processes during mass casualty events and unique cases, utilizing his extensive knowledge accumulated over 25 years of teaching and research in anatomy and anthropology.

Dr. Barash’s excellence reflects his profound dedication and critical contributions to the nation and the IDF, even under the most challenging circumstances.

In the photo: Dr. Alon Barash (center) with his commanders, receiving the commendation

In honor of World Diabetes Day, we'd like to share with you new discoveries in diabetes research taking place at the Faculty of Medicine.

Recently, a paper was published on current research being carried out at the Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine and Diabetes, led by Dr. Ron Piran. In collaboration with Dr. Gal Reches, this study revealed a method to protect beta cells, which are responsible for insulin production, and even stimulate their regeneration. The research examined the role of the Par2 receptor in the development of Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. It was found that when Par2 is active in the immune system, it accelerates the destruction of beta cells. However, when it is active within the beta cells themselves, it protects them from destruction and promotes their regeneration.

These findings suggest a new therapeutic approach for Type 1 diabetes—suppressing the receptor’s activity in the immune system while activating it in beta cells. The study paves the way for personalized treatments for autoimmune diseases.

The research was funded by the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in Safed. SPHERE aims to reduce diabetes rates in northern Israel in particular and the country in general.

The Faculty of Medicine is strengthening its commitment to professional growth and personal development for graduate students through initiatives that bridge the gap between technical training and professional success. This semester marks the launch of two major initiatives aimed at providing students with essential tools for a successful academic and scientific career.

A new course, "Professional Skills: How to Navigate and Thrive in Academia," led by Dr. Liron Rozenkrantz, focuses on the "soft skills" needed for success in academia—skills that are often not formally taught. Drawing from her experience with similar courses at MIT and the Weizmann Institute of Science, Dr. Rozenkrantz creates a supportive and welcoming environment where graduate students can tackle academia's unspoken expectations while gaining practical tools for effective scientific communication, networking, leadership, and balancing career with personal life. Additionally, the course addresses sensitive issues that are relevant in academia (and any ambitious career), including imposter syndrome, conflict management, burnout, and more.

Complementing this hands-on training, Faculty member Dr. Nir Qvit has authored The Ultimate Student's Guide to Scientific Research (Routledge, 2024), an in-depth roadmap for a scientific career. The book, based on extensive academic experience, covers key topics like research design, securing funding, lab management, and career development. This guide focuses on critical decision points in a scientific career and offers practical guidance for both traditional and alternative career paths in science.

Congratulations to Prof. Samer Srouji on his appointment as a full professor!

Prof. Srouji, an expert in oral and maxillofacial surgery, has an impressive record in both the medical and academic fields. He graduated with honors from the Hebrew University in dentistry and specialized in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Rambam Medical Center. He also conducted research at the Technion, and in 2017 was appointed Associate Professor at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine.

Prof. Srouji founded the Department of Oral, Facial, and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel and established advanced laboratories, including a 3D printing lab and a tissue engineering lab - leaders in their field in Israel. He has developed innovative methods for tissue and bone reconstruction.

Prof. Srouji carries out research in tissue engineering and clinical research in reconstructive surgery and facial trauma. He has published groundbreaking studies on tissue regeneration, including the integration of stem cells and nano-material scaffolds for bone healing, gaining international recognition as a leading expert and he is a sought-after speaker at international conferences. In addition, he has led collaborations with international research institutions and founded the Galilee College of Dental Sciences, Israel's third-largest institution for dental specialization. He holds patents in his name and has received competitive research grants totaling over one million dollars.

Prof. Srouji teaches medical students as part of their clinical rounds in the ENT and Oral & Maxillofacial departments. His department was recognized as an Outstanding Teaching Department in 2019. In particular, he teaches a unique medical 3D course - Introduction to Tissue Regeneration and 3D Printing, an innovative course for medical studies in Israel.

Congratulations to Prof. Alexander Lerner upon receipt of the Minister of Aliyah and Integration Prize today at the residence of President Isaac Herzog, awarded to immigrants who have made a significant contribution to Israeli society and the State.

Prof. Lerner is a world-renowned expert in orthopedic trauma of the limbs. He serves as a full clinical professor at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine and is recognized for his contributions as an outstanding lecturer over many years at both the Technion and at Bar-Ilan University. He was the head of the department of orthopedics at Ziv Medical Center, where he continues to work as a senior physician even after his official retirement in 2021.

Prof. Lerner is considered a leading figure in orthopedic surgery in Israel and worldwide, particularly when it comes to treating severe limb trauma. He lectures and shares his expertise at international conferences worldwide and has published more than 80 scientific articles. Through his research, he has developed innovative methods for treating complex fractures and saving injured limbs, and he has edited four medical textbooks. Due to his unique contributions, he serves as an orthopedic consultant to the IDF Medical Corps.

The Dean, Prof. Orly Avni, adds that since the outbreak of the “Iron Swords” war, Prof. Lerner has been volunteering to help IDF soldiers, to save severely injured limbs and prevent amputations, restoring soldiers' ability to stand and walk. He performs surgeries, provides surgical care, and offers consultations at medical centers across the country, including Barzilai, Soroka, Rambam, and Ziv Medical Centers, helping in every way possible to treat severe injuries of IDF soldiers. He also holds seminars and provides phone consultations for doctors seeking his advice in complex cases. Prof. Avni: "We are especially proud of Prof. Lerner, a world-renowned expert and an outstanding lecturer - who has done so much since the beginning of the war to treat IDF soldiers."

Pictured here: Prof. Lerner after receiving the award from President Isaac Herzog and Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer, joined by Prof. Orly Avni, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Prof. Salman S. Zarka, Director of Ziv Medical Center.

Dr. Keren Agay-Shay, from the Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee at Bar-Ilan University, was one of the keynote speakers at the AFIK in Academia - Israeli Women Professors Forum conference, held on October 28, 2024. AFIK in Academia - Israeli Women Professors Forum was established to promote gender equality in the number of female researchers in academic faculties and their representation in key positions at research universities in Israel.

Dr. Agay-Shay, an expert in environmental epidemiology, delivered a lecture on environmental impacts on women's health. She focused on specific exposures unique to women and their potential effects on health, presenting information on the impact of climate change and air pollution on women.

A central theme of her lecture was the gaps in knowledge. "Many studies in medicine in general, and in environmental epidemiology in particular, do not examine differences between men and women. We still lack sufficient understanding of the diverse environmental impacts on women, and there is much more to investigate in this field."

The lecture also reviewed the disparities in funding for research on diseases predominantly affecting women compared to male-associated diseases, as well as knowledge gaps in these areas. "I find it quite astonishing that only in 1993 was a guideline issued mandating the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research. This means that some drugs reached the market without having been tested on women. Additionally, I was shocked to learn that only ten years ago did the NIH issue a mandatory guideline that every preclinical study on animals and tissues must include both male and female samples."

Prof. Michael Edelstein is a world-renowned expert in public health and infectious disease epidemiology. He began his academic career studying medicine at the University of Birmingham, UK, graduating in 2006. He later earned a master's degree in public health from LSHTM in London and completed a specialty in infectious disease epidemiology at the ECDC in Stockholm, Sweden.

From 2016 to 2020, he was one of the leading physicians of the UK's national vaccination program, combining operational research to optimize and make vaccines accessible to all populations. Upon his Aliyah to Israel in 2020, he joined the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee.

To date, Prof. Edelstein has published over 100 academic papers and integrates research and policy in his work. He collaborates with health ministries in Israel and worldwide to promote vaccination programs and address public health challenges during an age of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his team were among the first to demonstrate the protective effect of hybrid immunity and the benefits of vaccines against long-term COVID-19 symptoms. His COVID-19 research focuses on the pandemic's impact on the economy, child health and allergies, and crisis management in Israel’s healthcare system.

Prof. Edelstein's research also focuses on promoting vaccinations and reducing vaccination inequality, employing innovative health data, including qualitative methods. As an example, he uses models that integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict the spread of infectious diseases.

Dr. Nomy Dickman and Dr. Yuri Perlitz from our Faculty developed an innovative educational method for developing empathy in future doctors - using virtual reality (VR) technology.

At a workshop, our students are exposed to different situations in which a doctor delivers bitter news - sometimes in an empathetic way, and sometimes in a non-empathetic way. They observe these situations from both the doctor's and the patient's points of view, allowing them to deeply understand how the manner in which the message is delivered affects the patient's experience and the success of treatment.

This pedagogical method is a breakthrough in the training of future doctors, and gives them important tools for developing the skill of empathy - essential for the doctor/patient relationship.

Dr. Nomy Dickman is dean's advisor for innovative teaching and head of the unit for evaluation and teaching promotion at the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Yuri Perlitz is the director of the OBGYN department at the Tzafon Medical Center, and the head of the department of OBGYN studies at the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Doron Cohn-Schwartz, graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, is currently at the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

On September 9-10, the impressive Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM) academic conference was held for the Israeli microbiology community, at the Wohl Conference Center at Bar-Ilan University.

The two-day conference was attended by hundreds of researchers studying bacteria, viruses, bacteria, and parasites, alongside guests from abroad who took part in fascinating panels and sessions. The participants heard about the latest scientific discoveries and publications in the field, and were impressed by the innovative research being carried out by students from the Faculty as well as other academic institutions in Israel.

ISM represents the community of researchers in Israel and those involved in the field, and its goal is to promote research and teaching.

The Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee is a leader in microbiology research, with Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Research and President of the Microbiology Association; Prof. Moshe Dessau, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Pre-Clinical Education and Treasurer of the Association; and Prof. Omry Koren, Dr. Shai Bel, and Dr. Nir Qvit, PIs at the Faculty who lectured at the conference.

The residents from the second cohort of the "Northern Stars" program, specializing in family medicine, recently met at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine with the Dean Prof. Orly Avni, the Associate Dean for Clinical Advancement, Prof. Danny Glikman, and the Vice Dean for Pre-clinical Education Prof. Moshe Dessau. The meeting aimed to strengthen the relationship between the physicians of the program and the faculty, and to examine ways to continue their integration into teaching, research, and professional development within the Faculty.

The residents are already actively participating in a number of courses at the faculty, including the HILA course, the lifestyle medicine course, public health, the ETGAR courseת and more. In addition, they are actively involved in research with Faculty researchers.

Under the leadership of Dr. Lilach Malatsky, the members of the second cohort meet once a quarter, with the goal of deepening the connection to the northern region, the Faculty, and leading professional figures. In the attached photo you can see the group holding a special gift they received from Prof. Chava Tabenkin - a new edition of the recommendations booklet of the Israeli Task Force on the Promotion of Health and Preventive Medicine, led by Prof. Tabenkin. The group met with Prof. Tabenkin about two months before this current meeting, and lesarned from her about professional development in the medical system in Israel. 

The Dean expressed how impressed she is with the physicians participating in the program, as did Prof. Glikman. After the participants introduced themselves to the dean, Prof. Lilach Malatsky, program manager and senior clinical lecturer at the faculty, emphasized again that they are a living example of the great importance of bringing excellent doctors to the northern region and the Faculty, and of their great contribution to both the quality of teaching and to medicine in the north.

The "Northern Stars" program is supported by Mifal Hapayis, and is the product of the vision of Prof. Offer Amir. Since then, the Ministry of Health has also joined in supporting the cycles of the program, recognizing its importance and contribution to the development of family medicine in the North.

Israeli Minister of Health, Uriel Menachem Buso, visited the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine on September 17, 2024. Also in attendance were Prof. Arie Zaban, BIU president, and Zohar Yinon, BIU CEO, as well as the mayor of Safed, Yossi Kakon.

Prof. Orly Avni, Dean of the Faculty, presented to the Minister the extensive work of the Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee and the community, its research activities and achievements, and initiatives such as the establishment of research centers that will connect academia with medical practice. She also presented the Faculty’s goals for the coming years, emphasizing the importance, especially considering the current events.

The university’s CEO, Zohar Yinon, presented the Faculty’s future infrastructural plans.

Also joining the visit were Prof. Naim Shaehadeh, the director of the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE, and Dr. Sivan Spitzer, deputy director of the SPHERE. Dr. Spitzer presented the SPHERE’s model in local municipalities, and emphasized the success of the activities, which led to the implementation of the model nationwide by the Ministry of Health.

Minister Buso shared that he grew up in the periphery and as such understands the importance of investing in it. He promised to promote the allocation of resources to the Faculty, as part of the Ministry of Health’s activities.

Prof. Orly Avni, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine: “Today, the Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee demonstrated to Minister of Health Uriel Buso the role of academia in reducing health disparities in the periphery. We have a clear vision for strengthening the medical system in the north, working in collaboration with researchers at the Faculty and clinical staff in the Galilee. All of this is to improve medical services for the residents of the Galilee.”

Dr. Sivan Spitzer: “The Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE of the Faculty of Medicine serves as an operational arm for the Ministry of Health in working with local authorities to improve the health of northern residents.”

The Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee is continuing to establish a Galilee research network, integrating nine research centers that focus on specific subjects. This venture aims to strengthen the connection between the Faculty of Medicine and the hospitals, as well as foster research development and collaborations between doctors and researchers. Each of the research centers will serve as a platform for physician-researchers from hospitals and researchers at the Faculty to engage in joint research, professional conferences, submission of joint grant proposals, and continuous interaction that will contribute to the development of the dedicated fields.

The first center was inaugurated last March, dedicated to women's health research.

On Thursday, September 5, 2024, a special launch conference took place at the Faculty, to inaugurate the second center, the Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases.

Around 60 people participated in the conference – Faculty researchers and senior physicians from the northern region, all working in relevant fields.

The day began with greetings from Dean Prof. Orly Avni, Associate Dean for Academic Research Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy, and Prof. Avi Peretz, Head of the Department of Academia, Innovation, and Research at the Galilee Medical Center in Poria.

Following the greetings, a session called "Researcher Identity Cards" was opened. Physicians, researchers, and graduate students at the Faculty presented their areas of interest and research to expose the participants to their specialties, and facilitate research connections and ideas for collaboration. After this session, lunch was served. Thanks to the conference, interesting collaborations for potential research were formed.

The center's activities will be led by Prof. Meital Gal-Tanamy, head of the Molecular Virology Laboratory at the Faculty and President of the Israeli Society for Microbiology, and Prof. Avi Peretz from the Galilee Medical Center in Poria.

A few photos from the launch can be seen here.

Before the official opening of the new school year, the Faculty was privileged to host 80 children from the Merom HaGalil Regional Council.

Instead of seeing our medical and research students on campus, our halls were filled with 80 fourth to eighth graders who came to participate in a science exposure workshop prepared especially for them. Dr. Shulamit Fluss Ben Uliel and Dr. Michal Werbner Poran, graduates of the Faculty who are now lab managers here, welcomed the children and led them through experiential science workshops.

The workshops were carefully planned to spark the children's curiosity and provide them with practical experiences in science, with the goal of exposing them to the world of research and making science accessible and exciting for them.

This activity is one of many projects initiated by the Faculty of Medicine aimed at encouraging active partnerships with the community, with social involvement, and to positively impact the field of science.