Attracting medical professionals to Israel
In the midst of turmoil, MedEx fair helps ease the aliyah process
Israel is grappling with a shortage of physicians and other healthcare workers, especially in what’s called the “periphery” regions in the north and south.
With a growing population, Russian doctors from the aliyah wave in the 1980s and 1990s retiring, and many other physicians serving on reserve duty, the problem is now acute. Last July, the government started offering generous grants to immigrant specialists in family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, or psychiatry who are willing work in the Gaza border region.
Against this backdrop, more than 500 Jewish doctors and healthcare professionals gathered on March 9 at the 10th annual MedEx fair at the Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck, hosted by Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and Nefesh B’Nefesh, all in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel.
MedEx is a flagship initiative of the International Medical Aliyah Program; IMAP, as it’s called, is an effort to bring 2,000 Jewish physicians and thousands of other healthcare professionals to Israel over the next five years by facilitating recruitment, licensing, and professional integration into Israel’s medical system.
Attracted by the promise of streamlining the notoriously cumbersome aliyah process for medical professionals, some 260 physicians from 19 states and two Canadian provinces came to MedEx.
An additional 240 others at the Glenpointe for the fair included nurses, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, optometrists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, audiologists, dietitians, nutritionists, dental hygienists, and, for the first time, physician assistants, a profession only recently recognized officially in Israel.
“The goal of this program is to bring doctors and healthcare professionals to Israel while strengthening the medical system in the Galilee and the Negev,” Ofir Sofer, Israel’s minister of aliyah and integration, said. “Over the past year, together with our partners in the Ministries of Health and Negev and Galilee Development, as well as the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh, we have facilitated the integration of 519 doctors who made aliyah.
“This year’s conference is larger than last year’s, marking a significant milestone for the people of Israel. This success has been made possible through dedicated efforts to encourage aliyah and the numerous programs designed to integrate new olim effectively, alongside the strong desire of many Jews around the world to support Israel and be part of the Zionist story.”
Despite the presence of anti-Israel protesters outside the hotel, a record number of attendees flocked to meet representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Health, all four national health maintenance organizations, 12 hospitals, and other entities such as the IDF Medical Corps and the Terem network of urgent care centers.
They learned about licensing requirements, job opportunities, relocation grants, and placement options. About 100 of the attendees submitted their documents for licensing to the Ministry of Health on the spot.
Yohanan Mali, the director general of the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, said his department is offering incentives of up to 400,000 shekels — more than $110,000 — to doctors who choose to work in Israel’s northern and southern regions, “especially in the wake of the current war, as the displaced residents begin returning home, and new populations are encouraged to move and settle there.”
MedEx has also held recent job fairs in Paris, Buenos Aires, London, and Los Angeles, with the support of partners including the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Foundation, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the Azrieli Foundation.
Since its inception in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh — an organization facilitating aliyah, national service, national development, and Zionist education — has helped with the aliyah of more than 1,000 physicians and 3,500 other healthcare professionals, easing the way for them to work in Israel’s hospitals, HMOs, and private practices.
On the day after MedEx, about 600 other prospective immigrants attended a general aliyah fair at the Glenpointe hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The fair provided a one-stop resource hub, featuring representatives from Israeli government agencies, HMOs, and schools, along with real estate experts and financial planners. Participants gained access to fingerprinting and notarization services, attended workshops on employment and Israeli communities, and received consultations tailored to their needs.
The “Aliyah-In-One,” a streamlined mini-fair, complemented the larger aliyah fair. That gave would-be immigrants who already are in the process of making aliyah the opportunity to submit necessary documents, receive background checks, and complete key paperwork with expedited services, ensuring a smoother and faster transition to life in Israel.
“This week has been extremely impactful and inspiring, as we witnessed the North American Jewish community’s unwavering commitment to Israel, and the growing interest in aliyah,” Nefesh B’Nefesh’s cofounder and executive director, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, said. “We are proud to offer a comprehensive platform that provides each individual with the resources and guidance needed to turn their dream of building a life in Israel into reality.”
“During this difficult time for Israel, the strong bond of the Jewish people is clear, and our deep partnership with Jewish communities around the world continues to make a tremendous impact on our country,” Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency, said.
“Aliyah is a major driver of growth, and integrating new immigrants into healthcare and other fields is a key part of building and rebuilding Israel. We are committed to supporting these doctors and new immigrants on their journey and ensuring their successful integration into life in Israel.”
Mr. Sofer, the minister of aliyah and integration, added, “Since October 7th, tens of thousands of new immigrants have chosen to come to Israel, even in the midst of the war. They did so out of a deep belief in the return to Zion and the future of our country. Aliyah is the central value of Zionism; it is the essence of the return to Zion. This is our message to the world, to our children, and to future generations.”
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