Boston Sister City Haifa to Open New Medical School

Boston's sister city Haifa is set to open a new medical school following approval from Israel's Council for Higher Education this week. University of Haifa’s Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine, which is set to welcome its inaugural class later this year, comes in response to Israel’s severe shortage of physicians, a crisis that is particularly acute in northern Israel.

As such, one of the school's primary goals is to strengthen healthcare in the country's North—not only through education and clinical training at Carmel Hospital, but also by offering scholarships and implementing initiatives aimed at retaining graduates as practicing doctors in the region.

The Boston-Haifa Connection was set up over 30 years ago, and has been strengthening the partnership between sister cities, resulting in two vibrant, deeply connected communities. Through programs and partnerships, the alience seeks to foster Jewish identity, empower at-risk families in Haifa, and connect youth in Boston and Haifa.

With some 90,000 residents of the northern region still evacuees in their own country following the war with Hezbollah, the new School of Medicine reflects University of Haifa’s resolute commitment to leverage informed analysis and research expertise to not only ease the return of communities, but to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous northern Israel.

The six-year program will admit its inaugural cohort of 64 students in the 2025-26 academic year and will gradually increase capacity in the near future.

Led by Prof. Haim Bitterman, a renowned leader in Israel’s healthcare system, the school will focus on expanding healthcare in underserved areas, enhancing community care, and developing specialties crucial to the region's medical demands. The school will be established in collaboration with Carmel Medical Center and Clalit Health Services.

Currently, 60% of Israel’s medical doctors are trained outside of Israel and nearly half of Israel’s medical doctors are age 55 and older, while the number of medical graduates in Israel is the lowest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations. Availability in Israeli medical programs, meanwhile, is limited. University of Haifa’s new medical school marks a historic milestone, promising to enhance medical education as a whole, strengthen healthcare in the North, and produce the next generation of medical leaders for Israel.

University of Haifa President, Prof. Gur Alroey, said, "This is a historic day for University of Haifa and a moment of celebration for the State of Israel, especially for the residents of the North. The events of October 7, along with the ongoing attacks on Haifa and the region, have reinforced the urgent need to strengthen Israel’s healthcare system.

“Establishing a new medical school in Haifa is not just a strategic necessity but also a moral imperative,” added President Alroey. “We have an opportunity not only to expand and improve medical education in Israel, but also to tailor it to the unique needs of the North."

The Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine will introduce a pioneering curriculum, tailored to the evolving needs of modern medicine. Accordingly, it will place a strong emphasis on cutting-edge medical technologies, telemedicine, remote monitoring and diagnostics, and AI-driven medical databases, ensuring students are prepared for the digital transformation of healthcare.

Additionally, the medical school is committed to community-based medicine where students will be trained to understand and address the unique challenges of providing medical services outside of hospital settings. The school will also provide integrated healthcare services focusing on collaborative healthcare, where physicians work closely with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and other healthcare professionals. In this domain, the medical school will partner with the University’s renowned Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences.

To support these unique educational aspects, the school will establish an advanced simulation center, incorporating AI, virtual reality, and real-world interactions with healthcare providers. This will offer students a realistic and immersive experience, preparing them for the complex challenges of 21st-century medicine.

"As a native of Haifa, I am honored to take part in establishing this medical school at the largest research university in northern Israel,” said Prof. Bitterman, head of the school. “The new medical school will build upon the academic strengths of the University, Carmel Medical Center, and Clalit Health Services. It will become a center of excellence, attracting some of the country’s top minds who will shape the future of medicine in Israel. Our goal is to foster groundbreaking research and provide an environment where medical professionals can push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation."

Dr. Avi Goldberg, added, "As the director of the Carmel Medical Center, part of the Clalit Health Services network, I am proud to be a key partner in the establishment of the new School of Medicine at University of Haifa. This initiative is a major step toward enhancing medical services in the North and reducing healthcare disparities. Together, we will build an outstanding and innovative medical school that is deeply connected to the needs of its surrounding community."