By Guy Lieberman
For seven years — enough time to become a medical doctor — Dorron Kline, CEO of Telfed, has campaigned for the establishment of an English-language medical degree in Israel.
In collaboration with Ariel University, Ben Gurion University, the Student Authority and the Jewish Agency, there is now an option for English-speaking students to get their medical degree in Israel. Dorron and Stacey Hamman, a pre-med student, share their thoughts on the programme.
Dorron explains that “the language barrier has always been a tremendous obstacle for many potential medical students. The English-language medical degree now allows students to study in English for their first five years. They also attend ulpan, which enables them to learn in Hebrew for the final two years of their degree. Some students master Hebrew quickly and join the Hebrew MD track after three years—once they’ve completed their pre-med in English”.
Already there are tens of Jewish South African matriculants, and multiples more from the US and Europe, who hope to get into the programme. The courses have been structured so that pre-med takes place at Ariel University (Ariel U), which is a feeder for the Medical School of International Health MD track at Ben Gurion University, or BGU.
A pre-med student at Ariel U, Stacey explains what motivated her to come and study in Israel.
“I met a graduate from BGU when I spent a year shadowing the doctors at the UVA Medical Department in Virginia, USA. I had previously tried studying cell biology in Hebrew which was too much for me. When I heard that the English-language medical degree was an option in Israel, I jumped at the chance.”
In addition, studying medicine in the US was simply too expensive. “I realised that, in comparison, I could afford to study in Israel.”
As for the student body, Stacey says, “it’s great studying in an Israeli environment. We have a cohort of students from South Africa, America, Russia and Europe. The community is mutually supportive; we do meals and study sessions together. This helps us through the tougher subjects.”
Dorron adds, “there are many good reasons to study in Israel. For one, campus life here—and life in general—is incredible for young people. Being able to study with other English speakers from across the world can set you up with a global network, both professionally and socially. And during the semester breaks, you get to explore the rich and diverse beauty that is Israel.”
For more information about the three-year pre-med degree in English at Ariel University, please email Ora Geler at orag@ariel.ac.il.
Telfed www.telfed.org.il Email: info@telfed.org.il
• Published in the April 2023 Edition – Click here to start reading.
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