American Medical Students and Physicians Join JOWMA x Birthright Medical Mission to Israel

(Courtesy of JOWMA) This June, a select group of American Jewish medical students and physicians traveled to Israel as part of a groundbreaking Birthright trip in partnership with the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association (JOWMA). The medical mission uniquely blended clinical work, medical innovation and cultural connection — all during a time when Israel’s healthcare system faces intense demands.

A highlight of the trip was the MinDstart Hackathon: a 72-hour international medical innovation competition where participants tackled real-world problems in medicine. Out of 30 teams, two of JOWMA’s four teams advanced to the finals, with one of them proudly winning third place for designing an AI-driven app to help prevent psychiatric hospital readmissions using facial recognition, voice analysis and behavioral data. One of the project’s creators, a psychiatry resident, called the experience deeply impactful: “The process pushed me to think creatively about issues that are directly relevant to my future career, and it was exciting to see how our idea evolved through brainstorming, research and feedback.”

Beyond the Hackathon, participants volunteered and worked at top Israeli hospitals including Ichilov and Barzilai, collaborated alongside staff from the Israeli Medical Association, and joined Magen David Adom teams for emergency response experience. They gained valuable insight into Israel’s healthcare system while also contributing meaningfully on the ground.

Pediatrician Dr. Jackie Benayoun shared that, “This trip deeply enriched my professional development; it expanded my understanding of global healthcare delivery, exposed me to new technologies and treatment approaches, and reminded me of the vital role compassion plays in medicine, even in high-pressure environments. Connecting with Israeli physicians and observing their resourcefulness and teamwork gave me new perspective and inspiration to bring back to my own clinical practice.”

The group also visited meaningful sites, including Jerusalem’s Old City, the Nova Festival massacre site, and volunteered at Leket Israel, packing food for families in need. These moments enhanced the personal and national connection the participants felt to Israel. As one participant reflected: “It was the perfect way to reconnect with Israel, deepen my sense of purpose, and prepare for the next chapter of my career.”

At the end of the trip, an unexpected wartime experience extended the group’s stay. Despite the challenges, JOWMA worked with partners to ensure that everyone was offered a safe and secure route home.

JOWMA CEO Dr. Miriam “Mimi” Knoll, M.D., DABR, shared, “JOWMA is dedicated to empowering Jewish women physicians and trainees — from premed through practice — by fostering mentorship, leadership and academic growth. We also mobilize this powerful network to give back, whether through filling critical medical gaps in Israel, providing culturally sensitive health education, co-hosting academic collaborations, and launching initiatives like the MindSet x Birthright x JOWMA medical mission.”

“We were incredibly honored to partner with Birthright Israel for the first-ever MindStart Medical Innovation Hackathon” said Tamar Marmorstein, M.D., director of partnerships at JOWMA. “It was truly inspiring to witness Jewish medical professionals from around the world unite to tackle real-world healthcare challenges — and we were proud to be part of this historic initiative. We are deeply thankful that our participants were able to safely leave Israel by boat to Cyprus, and subsequently travel through Europe before returning to the United States.”

Dr. Sheindel Goldfeiz, JOWMA COO-CFO, emphasized the organization’s broader vision: “Our mission is not only to support Jewish women in medicine, but to activate their leadership for the good of the Jewish people and the world. Sending a North American delegation of physicians and medical students to participate in this groundbreaking 72-hour competition reflected JOWMA’s deep commitment to advancing healthcare through creativity, collaboration and global connection.”

This historic medical mission stands as a testament to the power of Jewish unity, compassion and professional dedication. JOWMA is proud to have led this first-of-its-kind initiative and remains committed to building bridges between the American and Israeli medical communities.

To learn more about JOWMA, visit www.jowma.org.

‍