Having celebrated International Nurses Day last week, the University of Haifa announced a $10 million gift from the Azrieli Foundation to establish the “Azrieli Advanced Nursing Center” (ADVANCE). This donation, one of the largest ever given to an academic institution in Israel for the field of nursing, will facilitate the development of education and research in nursing, alongside the advancement of technological innovation and the integration of expanded professional roles within Israel’s health-care system.
The new center marks a unique and unprecedented academic framework for the development, research and implementation of advanced nursing roles in the Israeli health-care system in clinical practice and management.
In collaboration with the Nursing Administration of the Ministry of Health, the center will help maximize the potential of expert nurses, positioning them as leaders in the health-care system. Building on the University of Haifa’s distinguished reputation in health sciences, the center will become a national hub for nursing excellence and innovation. The focus will be on improving care and preventing deterioration among chronically ill patients, particularly the elderly, enhancing mental health services throughout Israel and increasing accessibility and quality of health care in peripheral regions.
“The Azrieli Advanced Nursing Center is leading the nursing profession into a new era, where multidisciplinary innovation shapes the future of health care,” said Gur Alroey, a professor and president of the University of Haifa. “In collaboration with our new Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Medicine, we are laying the foundation for joint training that brings together nurses, physicians and professionals from the health and welfare sectors—fostering holistic, humane and advanced health care. Thanks to the support of the Azrieli Foundation, we are cultivating a new generation of nursing leaders who will place health care at the forefront and impact the lives of many.”
Danna Azrieli, chair of the Azrieli Foundation Israel and chair of the Azrieli Group, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment: “The establishment of the Azrieli Advanced Nursing Center at the University of Haifa represents another significant step by the Azrieli Foundation toward promoting the health-care system in Israel. We believe that investment in advanced nursing roles will be key to shaping healthcare services in the country for all population groups. This is crucial during this challenging time, given the impact of the war and the shortage of available medical professionals.”
She continued, “Our support for the center complements many other initiatives that the foundation is undertaking to strengthen the Israeli health-care system and our investment in the health of all Israeli citizens.”
“The Azrieli Foundation is thrilled to collaborate on this exciting and innovative program in advanced nursing at the University of Haifa”, said Dr. Naomi Azrieli, chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation Canada. “The program’s goal, to strengthen the nursing profession in Israel, is critically important at a time when optimizing health-care capacity is a priority for countries around the world. Through the establishment of a living-lab simulation unit, a health-care technology unit and a research unit, the program has the potential to change the face of training and practice for advanced practice nursing roles in Israel.”
The center will be housed in a newly created, state-of-the-art facility comprising three key units:
- Training unit and advanced simulation center for the instruction and integration of clinical and managerial skills.
- Health technologies development unit to promote health innovation in collaboration with industry and academic institutions.
- Research unit to establish scientific knowledge and assess the impact of advanced nursing roles on the health-care system.
Through these areas, the center will serve as a driving force for change, improving the quality of care and management within Israel’s health-care system.
Professor Mouna Maroun, rector of the University of Haifa, highlighted how the center fits into the university’s broader health-care education strategy: “Alongside the establishment of the university’s new School of Medicine, the Azrieli Foundation’s significant contribution will strengthen University of Haifa’s position as a leading institution in training nurses in particular and the workforce for the Israeli health-care system in general. The emphasis on multidisciplinary training, combined with strategic collaborations, such as the one with Carmel Hospital, will allow us to provide the future generation of caregivers with the skills needed for the changing health-care system. University of Haifa is fully mobilized for this important goal.”
Professor Israel (Issi) Doron, dean of the faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, highlighted the academic and multidisciplinary significance of the center: “Our faculty is unique in Israel and one of the few worldwide that brings together both health professions—such as nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy—and social welfare disciplines, including social work and gerontology. The establishment of ADVANCE, dedicated to advancing the nursing profession through high-end training, technology development and research, is a natural progression of our faculty’s leadership in fostering interdisciplinary education and research. These collaborations are already well-established with health-care organizations throughout Haifa and the northern region. By expanding this network, our faculty continues to be a driving force in strengthening Israel’s health-care system, with a particular focus on the north.”
Professor Efrat Shadmi, a nurse, researcher and the founding director of the center from the University of Haifa’s School of Nursing, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the nursing profession in Israel: “The nursing profession in Israel suffers from a severe shortage and remains far from realizing its full potential. Despite the extensive and advanced training nurses undergo, including baccalaureate and master’s academic degrees, specialized training and certifications, their professional potential is not fully utilized. The center strives to change this reality by developing new methodologies for integrating advanced nursing roles, providing a research-based resource to support national policy decisions and enhancing nurses’ involvement in technology development and implementation.”
Dr. Shoshi Goldberg, national chief nurse and head of the nursing administration at the Israeli Ministry of Health, described the center’s establishment as a significant step forward in strengthening the nursing profession in Israel: “The creation of this center marks a milestone in the development of the nursing profession and the health-care system in Israel. It is one of the most ambitious nursing initiatives ever launched in the country, and the donation for its establishment represents an extraordinary commitment to advancing the profession. I extend my deepest gratitude to the foundation and the University of Haifa. The center’s innovative approach aligns with the Ministry of Health’s vision and will help establish leading roles for nurses within the healthcare system. Its activities in research, development and integration of health-care technologies—alongside training through an advanced simulation center—will open new avenues for the advancement of nursing roles, a key priority of the nursing administration over the past decade.”