Head of Specialization Program: Dr. Adv. Maya Peled Raz
What is bioethics?
Bioethics is a branch of general ethics that applies ethical teachings and principles to issues concerning human health, public health, and all areas of life sciences and health sciences. Research in this field addresses dilemmas spanning all stages of life, through ethical issues relevant to physician-patient relationships and ending with issues of distributive justice and policy decision-making in public health.
Why bioethics?
Bioethics plays a pivotal role in therapeutic activities as well as policy decision-making within the health system. It also extends to health research and the education of students in health professions. The recognition of the importance of integrating ethical thinking, along with the demand for specialized training in bioethics within the Israeli health system, has notably increased in recent years, particularly underscored during the Corona period. Simultaneously, with the expansion of legal counseling systems in various health institutions, there has been a surge in the demand for training lawyers in the intricacies of the health system and the unique ethical complexities that arise within it.
Program goals
The program aims to advance the integration of ethical thinking in health policy decision-making processes at various levels, ranging from individual care policy to institutional and governmental regulation. Additionally, it seeks to foster an understanding of the ethical and legal repercussions of policymaking on the health system, its workforce, and its beneficiaries – patients and society at large.
The studies in the program offer,
An in-depth understanding of the Israeli health system, encompassing its distinctive characteristics and requirements. This is complemented by a grounding in fundamental philosophical concepts, moral theories, and the principles of bioethics, as well as an exploration of Israeli health laws and regulations. The program places particular emphasis on the intersection of these elements, equipping students with the tools necessary for their seamless integration into practical fieldwork.
The target audience of the program
The program is designed for individuals interested in engaging in ethical discourse and action, both at the clinical level and in public policy. This includes doctors, nurses, paramedical therapists, public health professionals, as well as individuals in the fields of law, philosophy, education, public policy, and more.
Can I work while studying?
Certainly! The program is structured to accommodate working students, taking place on a one-day-per-week format.
Graduate Opportunities
Program graduates will acquire vital tools for effectively fulfilling roles within the health system, including:
- Ethics Trustees and patient rights Trustees in health institutions.
- Legal advisors in health institutions.
- Risk managers in the health sector.
- Members of ethics committees.
- Members of Helsinki Committees (IRBs).
- Management positions in the health system.
- Officials in pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and more.
Program Structure
Graduates of the program will be conferred an MPH degree specializing in bioethics and public health, awarded by the School of Public Health.
Students in the research (thesis) track are required to study courses in the amount of 36 course hours, in the following distribution: 14 course hours of School mandatory courses, 10 course hours of mandatory bioethics-specialization courses, 8 course hours of bioethics-specialization elective courses, and 4 course hours of school-wide elective courses.
Students in the non-research track are required to take courses in the amount of 42 shas, in the following distribution: 10 course hours of School mandatory courses, 10 course hours of mandatory bioethics-specialization courses, 8 course hours of bioethics-specialization elective courses, and 14 course hours of school-wide elective courses.
Admission requirements for the program
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized academic institution in Israel or abroad, in health, life, welfare, or social sciences, with an average grade of at least 82, and not less than 76 in each of the fields of study (in cases of a dual-field track).
A letter of recommendation from the workplace or from previous studies (for those who graduated in the last three years) should be sent directly to the school at the email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Candidates will be invited for admission interviews, according to the requirements of the School of Public Health.