Arnon Afek

Prof. Arnon Afek is Associate Director General; Acting Director of Sheba General Hospital; and Chairman of the Department of Medical Administration at Sheba Medical Center. He assumed these positions after completing his tenure as Director General (DG) and Associate Medical DG of the Israeli Ministry of Health (2014-17). At the MoH, Prof Afek led the reforms in Mental Care, the regulation of Cannabis for medical use and public transparency in publishing the outcomes of hospitals “Quality Indicators”.

For his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Israeli Healthcare system, he received the “Ot Yakir Hamedina” in 2019, the highest award given to just two senior civil servants annually.

In 2020 he was chosen as a member of the National Corona Advisory Board, taking an active role in consulting the National Corona Supervisor on national health policy.

In 2022, he was appointed founding Dean of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine, taking upon himself the mission of building an innovative new Medical School, submitted for the approval of the Council of Higher Education. This is a core strategic mission facing Israel’s healthcare system.

He is a full Professor of Public Health and incumbent of the Tassia and Dr. Joseph Meychan Chair of the History and Philosophy of Medicine at the School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. From 2011-2022, Prof. Afek served as Director of the NY State/American MD Program. Many of its 2,000 alumni hold important positions within the American Healthcare System.

He is a Visiting Professor at the Nicosia University Medical School, Cyprus.

Prof. Afek is Founding Chairman of the National Council on Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Health, advising the Government of Israel of the Professional issues in these fields.

In 2015, he was personally appointed as a member of the Bureau of Governors of the OECD Health Divisoin, taking a role in designing health policy in the OECD.

From 2018-2023 Prof Afek was nominated Chairman of the Israeli Medical Association World Federation (IMA WF) and in 2019 and 2022, he was elected Co-Chairman of the Association of Hospitals Directors in Israel.

Prof. Afek is a Colonel (Res) and a member of the IDF-MC Helsinki (IRB) Committee. He has previously served as Head of Occupational Medicine and Medical Classification Branches as well as Chairman of the Department of Medical Administration at the IDF Medical Corps (2004-7).

Previously, Prof. Afek was Director of Medicine, Acting Head of the Emergency Services of the Israeli Ministry of Health (2012-2014) and Deputy Director of Sheba General Hospital (2007-2012).

He received his medical training at the Hebrew University and Hadassah School of Medicine (1981-1987), completing a residency in Anatomical Pathology at Sheba Medical Center and a fellowship in Medical Administration (Board Certified Cum Laude) at Sheba Medical Center and the Ministry of Health.
He has an M.A in Health Administration Cum Laude from Ben-Gurion University (2000-2002).

Prof. Afek is a graduate of the Wexner Senior Leadership Executive Program (WSLP 16), Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He has published over 200 peer reviewed papers in medical journals including the NEJM, JAMA, Lancet, Journal of Heart and lung Transplantation and Circulation in the fields of COVID -19 Vaccination, Public Health, Health Management, Cardiovascular and Diabetes and has received numerous awards, including the Tel Aviv University Rector’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Kellerman Award and the Goldberg Award, both for research in Cardiology; the Israel National Quality Award (twice) and the Award of Excellence in Military Medicine.

He chaired the Professional Committee that recommended to the council of Higher Education on the founding of the Sheldon & Miriam Adelson Medical School in Ariel University and chairs the committee that leads the reform in the care of disabled veterans, Ministry of Defense, and the Future of Intensive Care Units in Israel, Ministry of Health.

In 2016, he received the Israeli Civil Service Commission Award for reducing bureaucracy in physician licensing and Quality Improvement Award for advancing quality of care in Neonatal Units throughout Israel.

In 2017, Prof Afek was awarded the Society for Patients’ Rights in Israel Certificate of Recognition for his contribution to reform of patient Mental Healthcare in Israel. This reform was referred to by the Israeli Supreme Court in 2018 which vouched that the reform in mental healthcare was carried out most professionally.

He lecturers at numerous medical conferences and delivered The John M. Eisenberg, M.D. International Lecture at The Commonwealth Fund’s 18th Annual International Symposium on Health Care Policy.

He is married to a Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Limor Afek and father to Dr. Shahar Delman, a dentist and Oren Afek, a computer engineer.

*Submitted for the Approval of the Council of Higher Education