When Ohad’s classmates celebrated the completion of their medical degrees at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, he was nowhere near the graduation hall.
Instead, he was deep inside the Gaza Strip, serving with the Israel Defense Forces.
But his absence didn’t mean missing out entirely.
In a show of solidarity, Bar-Ilan University brought the graduation ceremony to Ohad—right on the frontlines.
Wearing a cap and gown draped over his IDF uniform, Ohad was presented with his M.D. diploma next to the tank he now calls home.
The ceremony was held at his battalion’s outpost, where, surrounded by fellow soldiers, he recited the Hippocratic Oath.
Over the past two years, Ohad has juggled nearly 400 days of reserve duty with the demanding course load of medical school and the start of his residency.
His achievement was made possible through close cooperation between the IDF, the Bar-Ilan University administration and the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, which enabled reservist students to complete their degrees while serving.
Ohad is one of 245 newly minted physicians who graduated this year from the university’s Safed-based medical faculty.
But for Ohad and others who balanced military duty and medical training, the moment represented more than academic success.
“These new doctors didn’t just study medicine, they lived it,” said professor Orly Avni, dean of the Azrieli Faculty, at the graduation ceremony held in Safed.
“They trained in real emergency conditions, worked alongside medical teams in underground facilities, and responded to complex trauma cases under wartime pressures. Their education is rooted in reality, and their experience is unmatched anywhere in the world,” Avni said.
