245 New Doctors Certified in a Year Marked by War
The graduates completed much of their training under emergency conditions in northern hospitals, with over 10% serving extended periods in reserve duty
This week, 245 new physicians received their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees—a powerful testament to their perseverance and dedication in a time of national crisis. The unusually high number of graduates this year reflects not only the determination of the students themselves but also the resilience and commitment of the faculty at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee.
Training Amid Sirens and Reserve Duty
Since October 7, the Faculty in Safed has operated continuously, even as war raged in Israel’s north and south. Many of this year’s graduates completed large portions of their clinical training under emergency conditions in northern hospitals. This wasn’t a theoretical exercise—these students worked as part of real medical teams, sometimes underground, often under intense pressure, and always under the threat of attack.
More than 10% of the faculty and students were called up for reserve duty, serving on the frontlines in Gaza and Lebanon. And yet, studies continued. The harsh reality exposed them to complex emergency medicine and gave them hands-on experience treating patients in the most challenging environments. This experience has shaped them into more seasoned, capable doctors—ready for the unpredictable demands of the profession.
Women Leading the Way
Once again, women made up the majority of this year’s graduating class—58% of the new doctors are women. This continues the growing trend of female leadership in Israeli medicine, and women were also strongly represented among the program’s top achievers.
A Legacy of Impact
In its 14 years of operation, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee has trained over 1,000 doctors. At the graduation ceremony, Dean Prof. Orly Avni remarked: "Training physicians in the Galilee means immediate engagement with a multicultural community, exposure to diverse medical challenges, and a cutting-edge education rooted in research."
A new campus is currently under construction in Safed. This state-of-the-art medical education center—supported by the Azrieli Foundation, the Rothschild Foundation, and the Government of Israel—will include modern learning spaces, a library, auditoriums, and a clinical simulation center.
These 245 new physicians are proof that even under the most difficult circumstances, Israel’s medical education system continues to grow, thrive, and shape a new generation of skilled and dedicated doctors.