As northern Israel continues to recover from the devastating impact of war and displacement, the need for strong, accessible healthcare infrastructure has never been more urgent.

In response to Israel’s growing physician shortage — particularly in the North — the University of Haifa recently launched the Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine, a groundbreaking new initiative designed to train the next generation of doctors while strengthening healthcare access and resilience across the region.

Join American Friends of University of Haifa for a timely conversation featuring Prof. Haim Bitterman, Head of the School of Medicine, alongside several inaugural medical students whose studies have unfolded against the backdrop of war, reserve duty, and frontline healthcare realities.

As war reshaped daily life across northern Israel, these students found themselves balancing lectures with reserve duty and clinical training with the realities of wartime medicine — experiences few medical students anywhere in the world will ever face.

The discussion will explore:
— Why Israel urgently needs more physicians — especially in the North
— How the University of Haifa’s new medical school is addressing healthcare disparities
— The impact of war on medical education and hospital systems
— The personal journeys of student reservists balancing military service with medical training
— How innovation, community medicine, and resilience are shaping the future of healthcare in Israel

Through firsthand stories and expert insight, this webinar will offer a powerful look at how medicine, resilience, and community are shaping the future of healthcare in northern Israel.