Ariel University to Launch New Six-Year Medical Program

The Council for Higher Education has officially approved the establishment of a new six-year M.D. program at Ariel University, set to commence in the current academic year. The program will admit 80 students per cohort, aiming to increase the number of medical professionals in Israel. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to expand medical education, which has seen the number of medical students in Israel rise significantly in recent years.

This expansion includes the recent approval of medical faculties at the Weizmann Institute, Reichman University, and the University of Haifa. Consequently, the total number of medical students for the upcoming academic year (2025-2026) is projected to reach 1,446, a substantial increase from approximately 800 five years ago. The new program at Ariel University is intended to help address the growing demand for doctors in the Israeli healthcare system.

In parallel, the Council for Higher Education also greenlit a new master's degree program for "Physician Associates" at Ariel University, marking the first academic program of its kind in Israel. This program aims to bolster the healthcare workforce by training professionals who can work alongside specialist physicians, performing medical tasks within defined legal parameters established by a 2024 amendment to the Health Professions Act.

Dr. Maya Lugasi-Ben Hamo, Director-General of the Council for Higher Education, emphasized the national importance of these developments, stating that Israel needs to ensure a quality medical workforce for the future and that the academic institutions bear a central responsibility in this mission. She highlighted that these programs connect academia with national needs, potentially alleviating physician workload and improving patient care, especially in peripheral areas.

Professor Ehud Grossman, President of Ariel University, described the approvals as a significant milestone, underscoring the university's commitment to training future medical professionals and its contribution to Israel's healthcare system. Professor Iris Barshak, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ariel University, added that these new programs, alongside the existing four-year medical program, represent a major step in the faculty's development and its role in strengthening Israeli healthcare.