Deans of Israeli med schools warn against expanding gender segregation in higher ed

The deans of Israel’s nine medical schools have issued a joint warning against legislation that would expand gender-segregated study in higher education. They argue that such a move could undermine medical training, international accreditation, and public health. The deans stated that mixed-gender education is crucial for preparing doctors to treat Israel’s diverse population and for fostering collaborative learning. They warned that the proposal could jeopardize international recognition of Israeli medical schools and reduce the number and quality of specialist physicians in Israel. The letter asked, “In the event that a relative of yours needs surgery, would you want the best professional, or a surgeon of the ‘right’ gender?” The bill, which has advanced to the Knesset plenum, would allow universities and colleges to offer gender-segregated master’s and doctoral programs, extending a framework previously limited to undergraduate programs for ultra-Orthodox students.