Jerusalem, Israel – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing a trauma medicine education and training partnership between the University of Miami (UM), Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The MOU was signed by Dr. Enrique Ginzburg, M.D., Professor of Surgery at UM School of Medicine and Trauma Director of Jackson Memorial Hospital and Professor Ofer Merin, M.D., Director General of Shaare Zedek Medical Center, with the Governor as witness.

“It is an honor to be a part of this historic MOU signing between some of our leading universities and medical centers,” said Governor DeSantis. “Both Florida and Israel continue to benefit from our shared pursuit of the finest and most innovative approaches to medicine, education and research, and today’s signing strengthens that cooperation for the benefit of all Israelis and Floridians.”

“This is the first of its kind affiliation where both academic institutions and their respective safety net teaching hospitals are signing an agreement for collaboration to train, educate and optimize healthcare delivery in their respective communities,” said Dr. Enrique Ginzburg, M.D. “The impact is important since both systems are integral in the exchange of medical innovation both in the civilian and military sectors making the State of Florida and the State of Israel partners in trauma care delivery and expansion into other fields of endeavor.”

Photo Credit: Governor’s Press Office

The Governor joined Professor Ofer Merin, M.D. as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Professor Dina Ben Yehuda, M.D. and Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s Trauma Director, Dr. Alon Schwartz, M.D., for a tour of the facility’s ER trauma rooms before the ceremony.

The University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital are world leaders in the field, and have previously worked with Israeli doctors and Israeli hospitals to provide post-doctoral training in trauma medicine. Today’s signing formalized the affiliation between the universities and their sister teaching hospitals, further building on Florida and Israel’s collaboration in medical education and research.

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