About Us
Get to know the Department of Emergency Medicine
Paramedic – A Life-Saving Profession in Routine and Emergency Situations
A paramedic's role is to provide primary emergency care to patients experiencing a critical medical condition, where the time required to transport them to the hospital is crucial. Their extensive education enables them to function effectively and bear the significant responsibility placed upon them. According to the Ministry of Health regulations, paramedics in Israel are authorized to perform numerous life-saving medical procedures, which are otherwise reserved only for physicians. These include resuscitation at all stages, cardiac rhythm monitoring, intravenous administration of a wide range of critical and immediate-effect medications, pacemaker implantation, chest tube insertion, and many other advanced procedures. Paramedics in Israel play a vital role in saving lives, both in routine situations and during emergencies.
Our Specialty
- A Unique Center of Excellence: The Department of Emergency Medicine at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is built on a center of excellence within the Faculty of Health Sciences, widely recognized in Israel and internationally, serving as a model for other medical faculties.
Official Training Center of the American Heart Association: The department is an accredited training center, granting official certifications from the American Heart Association while training physicians, nurses, and paramedics from across the region.
One of the World’s Most Advanced Simulation Centers: Students practice in a state-of-the-art simulation center equipped with cutting-edge imaging systems that replicate real-life emergency scenarios. The center also includes digital video feedback for post-performance review.
A Unique Research Institute for Mass Disaster Studies: The department houses a specialized research institute where leading emergency medicine experts from Israel and around the world conduct research on disaster preparedness and response.
Experienced and Skilled Teaching Staff: The department’s faculty also teaches in the university’s medical, nursing, and physiotherapy schools while mentoring students in advanced degrees in emergency medicine.
Comprehensive Student Assessment: The department has extensive experience in evaluating students’ competencies through the specialized OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) system.
The studies at the Department
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev offers a distinctive Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medicine (B.EMS), combining paramedic certification with an academic undergraduate degree. Graduates of the department successfully integrate into Israel’s emergency medical system and are highly regarded in the field. Career advancement is not limited to Magen David Adom (MDA); many graduates pursue a master’s degree in Emergency Medicine, specializing in disaster preparedness and emergency response management. Other graduates continue to advanced degrees in laboratory sciences and various related disciplines.
Faculty of Health Sciences
