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Technion, FAU Announce New Partnership Collaboration is first Technion American Medical School (TeAMS) Program in Florida BOCA RATON, Fla. and HAIFA, Israel (Sept. 16, 2014) — A leading South Florida medical school and a world-renowned Israeli university today announced a new agreement that will create new opportunities in student education. As part of the agreement, Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology’s Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine will expand scholarly ties, develop student programs and promote international and inter-cultural understanding. A first for Florida, this partnership places FAU’s College of Medicine with a handful of medical schools in the U.S. who have established partnerships with the Technion, Israel’s leading science and technology university. Florida Atlantic University President John Kelly said that for more than a century, the Technion has been a global leader in groundbreaking innovation and a cornerstone of academic excellence. “This is a momentous occasion as we pair our two institutions in medical education to work together toward the common goal,” Kelly said. “This groundbreaking initiative will see our medical schools jointly train the next generation of physicians and biomedical scientists who will positively influence our world.” This new affiliation between FAU and the Technion will help advance medical and scientific initiatives between Florida and Israel, and will provide unique opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions. Visiting students will engage in research, academic and clinical experiences. “We are very pleased to join FAU in this collaboration, as we work together to expand the global frontiers of medicine and medical research,” said Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie. FAU and the Technion also will explore developing dual degree programs for students who want to pursue a M.D. degree from FAU concurrently with a master’s or Ph.D. degree from the Technion on an accelerated basis, integrating curricula from programs at both institutions. The Technion was founded in 1912, making it the oldest university in Israel. Today, it is a major source of the innovation and brainpower that drives the Israeli economy, and a key to Israel’s renown as the world’s “Start-Up Nation.” Its three Nobel Prize winners exemplify academic excellence. Technion people, ideas and inventions make immeasurable contributions to the world including life-saving medicine, sustainable energy, computer science, water conservation and nanotechnology. The Technion’s Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, established in 1969, offers a full range of clinical opportunities within teaching hospitals, state-of-the-art laboratories, medical equipment and facilities, internationally renowned researchers and faculty, and an English-language curriculum. The institution’s programs combine multidisciplinary education and research and include a M.D./Ph.D. program, a M.D./engineering program and a M.D./law program in collaboration with the University of Haifa. FAU students studying at the Technion Faculty of Medicine will do so through the Technion American Medical School (TeAMS) Program, which offers qualified American and Canadian college graduates the opportunity to live in Israel while completing their medical studies. “In FAU, the Technion has found a wonderful affiliate who shares our vision for a world-class medical education,” said Professor Eliezer Shalev, dean of the Technion Faculty of Medicine. “We are also delighted to launch this partnership in South Florida; a region with an outstanding legacy of supporting our university through the American Technion Society.” The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of 141 allopathic (M.D.) medical schools in the U.S. and welcomed its inaugural class in August 2011. Small class sizes provide a personalized setting with emphasis on self-directed and problem-based learning. The innovative curriculum includes clinical experiences with local hospitals, health departments, physicians, and a state-of-the-art medical simulation center. The college has forged strong relationships with more than 1,000 community physicians and preceptors, allowing students to work side-by-side with physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients during clinical trainings. The college also offers a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree with The Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Fla., for exceptionally motivated students who seek to combine the practice of medicine with research to solve complex current and evolving problems in human health. Research emphasis in FAU’s College of Medicine includes aging, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, preventive medicine and public health. “We are proud to have such an extraordinary partner in the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and we are thankful for the tremendous support they receive from the American Technion Society,” said David J. Bjorkman, M.D., M.S.P.H., dean and executive director of medical affairs, FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. “We look forward to putting our plan to work and tapping into our combined resources and expertise to fuel the creation of new and innovative programs for students and faculty. This collaboration will benefit so many individuals across our globe for decades to come.” – FAU –