Over Half of Ultra-Orthodox Medical Prep Graduates Gain Admission
Fifty-four percent of graduates from the MediCamp preparatory program have successfully gained admission to medical faculties across Israel, marking a major milestone for ultra-Orthodox integration in higher education.
A groundbreaking initiative aimed at integrating ultra-Orthodox students into medical faculties in Israel is yielding significant results. According to data released by the KEMH Foundation, 54% of graduates from the MediCamp preparatory program have successfully gained admission to medical schools across Israel, including Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Rigorous Standards and Preparatory Support
Organizers emphasize that all candidates met the standard admission requirements and passed rigorous screening processes without any concessions or alterations to academic thresholds. The impressive statistics were presented during an academic opening conference in Herzliya, attended by ultra-Orthodox medical students, their families, and community physicians who have completed their degrees.
Among the successful students is Moishi Paskus, who began his studies at Tel Aviv University after completing the preparatory program. "It is a dream of years," Paskus shared. Following voluntary service with Magen David Adom and a bachelor's degree in biology, he initially struggled to enter the four-year medical track independently before the preparatory program provided the necessary professional guidance and framework.
Addressing the National Physician Shortage
The "Haredim LaRefua" initiative is a joint venture involving the KEMH Foundation, the Joint Distribution Committee, the Ministry of Health, and other governmental and philanthropic partners. The program seeks to bridge academic gaps and provide personal support while maintaining identical academic and professional requirements for all participants.
Professor Yossi Mekori, head of the program, stressed that the high admission rate demonstrates the vast potential within the ultra-Orthodox community. "The State of Israel needs more physicians, and the ultra-Orthodox public can be a significant part of the solution to this shortage," he noted. The conference also featured discussions on the intersection of medicine and Jewish law, led by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Bat Yam Chief Rabbi Yaakov Rozen.
