In 1996, in affiliation with Columbia University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Sciences instituted a four-year M.D. degree program to graduate doctors with special skills in primary care and community, preventive, and population-based medicine.
The program has been expanded to become the Medical School for International Health (MSIH), and the MSIH is fully accredited as the second medical school of BGU to operate under the auspices of the Israeli Council for Higher Education.
The curriculum concentrates on these areas of medicine as they impact on problems of international health and is designed to address emerging issues in healthcare worldwide. Graduates of the MSIH will have the skills to treat individuals and promote health and prevent diseases in populations.
Mission & Vision
The Medical School for International Health concentrates on these areas of medicine as they impact on problems of international health and is designed to address emerging issues in health care worldwide. Graduates of the
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev-Faculty of Health Sciences Medical School for International Health in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center will have the skills to treat individuals, promote health and prevent diseases in populations.
The Medical School for International Health (MSIH) seeks to attain a balance between medical education, medical science, and medical care by emphasizing the human perspective of community medicine and international health. It aims to promote excellence in students who wish to be at the forefront of a new kind of medical education that addresses the need for physicians who are sensitive to personal and population needs, community issues and global concerns. It emphasizes critical knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable practitioners to deliver and manage health care for diverse populations in a culturally sensitive, cost-effective manner.
In addition to cultivating the personal qualities and academic credentials that characterize outstanding physicians, graduates are expected to help shape policies and lead research in international health, primary care, cross-cultural and community medicine. They will be equipped to improve health care systems for diverse populations in their own countries and internationally. To this end, we have identified the following core areas and specific competencies that are integral to the practice of International Health and Medicine in which graduates can expect to gain proficiency.
Admission
The Medical School for International Health is a competitive school that seeks candidates who are capable of becoming outstanding physicians and leaders in the fields of international and cross-cultural medicine, community medicine, and preventive medicine.
All applicants must complete a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Students from countries where the MCAT is offered must submit MCAT scores obtained within the preceding four years. Applicants with graduate degrees and residents of countries where the MCAT is not offered may submit equivalent alternatives as approved by the school. Selection is based on the applicant’s overall potential for successful completion of the degree as indicated by undergraduate GPA, MCAT scores, extra-curricular experience, recommendations, and interview assessments. Individuals with degrees from universities where the language of instruction is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within one year of the application date. The school does not offer advanced standing. Applicants who wish to transfer from other medical schools will be reviewed individually and may be required to take additional course work before being admitted to the school. Transfer students are usually considered for the second-year. Under exceptional circumstances students may be accepted into the third-year.
Students who have completed a Masters degree in public health (M.P.H.) are encouraged to apply. Applications are also accepted from students who have completed a bachelor's degree in a non-science major if they have completed the necessary pre-requisites for the study of medicine. These include:
One year of physics
One year of biology
Two years of chemistry (one of which must have been organic chemistry with lectures and laboratory)
Other optional recommendations include genetics and developmental biology. Students who lack the required pre-medical courses may consider applying to Columbia University's Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program.
The Medical School for International Health seeks outstanding students with the academic preparation, maturity, and commitment to master a rigorous medical school curriculum and to benefit from the demands and opportunities associated with graduate study within the diverse cultural environment of Israel.
Admission is open to exceptional individuals of all nationalities who wish to prepare themselves for careers in international health and population-based medicine. Israeli nationals may apply to the Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School at BGU and follow the regulations of the Israeli Council for Higher Education.
International students seeking to study in Israel require a valid student visa for the duration of study. Students who are accepted to the Medical School for International Health must submit passport information and personal data in oder to receive appropriate documentation to apply for a student visa, which is granted by the Israeli Ministry of the Interior.
While students from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel may apply and be admitted to the MSIH, the decision to grant the student visa is made by the Ministry of Interior.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure they possess a valid visa for the duration of the four years of study in Israel. The school does not grant deferments to students who are unable to obtain the necessary documents to enter or study in Israel nor can it reverse decisions taken by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
