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The Team

Dr. Yona Vaisbuch

Founder, Program Director and Chief Clinical Officer

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Dr. Yona Vaisbuch

Founder, Program Director and Chief Clinical Officer

A graduate of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Vaisbuch specialized in otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat medicine) at the Rabin Medical Center and underwent advanced training for ear and skull base surgery at Stanford University in California. He currently serves as a guest professor at Stanford and a specialist physician at Rambam Medical Center. He is the founder and former chairman of Mirsham, the Medical Interns’ Organization and a member of the Taub Center’s Health Committee. In addition, Dr. Vaisbuch serves as a medical advisor for medical startups and is a founding partner in a few medical ventures.
Dr. Vaisbuch is a Stanford Biodesign Innovation graduate and serves as a mentor in the Stanford Biodesign Mobile Health program and the Stanford Spark program for drug development.
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Sharon Gal

Chief Executive Officer

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Sharon Gal

Chief Executive Officer

Sharon Gal currently serves as a venture partner in an Israeli VC fund and as a co-founder and business development consultant to various startups.
He previously held a leading position at Rosetta Genomics, a molecular diagnostics company (Nasdaq: ROSG). Before that he was a senior manager at EY Corporate Finance, where he consulted startups on fundraising from non-dilutive sources, and led the firm’s China Business Advisory.
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Dr. Dan Marom

Chief Strategy Officer

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Dr. Dan Marom

Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Dan Marom is an expert in strategy and innovation. He is a faculty member at the Hebrew University’s business school and strategic consultant to various organizations, as well as a serial investor. A thought leader in FinTech, Dr. Marom has authored pioneering books on crowd-funding and is a leading figure in the field of impact investing.
In the course of his career he has consulted various branches of the Israeli government, the World Bank, the European Commission and a large number of leading companies around the world. Dr. Marom holds a PhD in Finance, an MBA (Cum Laude) and a BSc in Electrical Engineering.
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Doron Bar-Shalom

Chief Technology Officer

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Doron Bar-Shalom

Chief Technology Officer

Doron Bar-Shalom recently launched an endeavor in the field of data science and private equity investments. He has worked his way up the professional ladder over the last 20 years, from being a software engineer in the private sector at Intel and other companies to project leader and manager of R&D teams and departments. Doron has led multi-disciplinary projects in various deep-tech fields, from initiation stages to end product. He holds a B.Sc. in Electronic and Communication Engineering and an MBA in International Business Administration.
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Si Buchbut

Chief Operations Officer

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Si Buchbut

Chief Operations Officer

Si Buchbut is a project manager with a wealth of experience in setting up ventures that connect between the public sector and the technological ecosystem. In her previous role Si established and directed an entrepreneurship and technology training program for youths on behalf of the 8200 Alumni Association. Si also has technological experience, having worked in a software company for five years. She holds a BA in political science and sociology-anthropology, and a MA in public policy, both cum laude, from Tel Aviv University.
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Nicole Perlmotov

Administrative Assistant

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Nicole Perlmotov

Administrative Assistant

Nicole Perlmotov has served as a medical secretary at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat at the Rambam Medical Center since 2016. She completed a medical secretarial course while performing her national service at the Psychiatry and Mental Health Division at Rambam. After completing her national service Nicole worked for a year in operating rooms at the Bnai Zion Medical Center.
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Dr. Tahel Altman

Chief Instructor

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Dr. Tahel Altman

Chief Instructor

A Biodesign Innovation Fellowship graduate, Dr. Altman earned her BSc in Life Science, cum laude, at the age of 18 and her MD degree, cum laude, both from Tel Aviv University. Dr. Altman is experienced in founding and leading healthcare startups in the fields of medical devices and pharmaceuticals; these include ART Healthcare Ltd., TopgeniX Inc., SynVaccine Ltd., Cala Medical Inc., Perso Medical Ltd., Demoveo Ltd., NovoSonic Ltd. and Family Secret Ltd. She holds several patents for inventions in the fields of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and synthetic biology.
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Dr. Lior Lev Tov

Instructor | Director of Engineering

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Dr. Lior Lev Tov

Instructor | Director of Engineering

Dr. Lev Tov, M.D., B.Sc, is an attending neurosurgeon at Rambam Medical Center, a biomedical engineer and serves as a neurosurgeon advisor for Tamar Robotics Ltd., developing robots for minimally invasive brain surgeries. A graduate of the Technion’s Excellence Program for Medicine and Biomedical Engineering since 2013, Dr. Lev Tov completed his residency in neurosurgery in November of 2019 and recently completed the Global Faculty training at Stanford Biodesign Center. As a physician, Dr. Lev Tov is highly experienced in brain and spine surgery, mainly in oncology, trauma, endoscopic procedures, deep brain stimulation and brain ablation using focused ultrasound. As an engineer, he has been involved with start-up companies, researching and developing a wide variety of projects dealing with signal and image processing, neuronal networks and modeling. Dr. Lev Tov is currently at Stanford University completing a functional neurosurgery fellowship to establish a functional neurosurgery unit in Rambam, which will deal with movement disorders, psychiatric, epilepsy and pain surgeries alongside conducting innovative and groundbreaking research.
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Dr. Nitai Klein

Instructor | Projects Director

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Dr. Nitai Klein

Instructor | Projects Director

Dr. Klein attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Medical School, graduating with a BSc in Health Science and an MD degree, both Magna Cum Laude. He is currently completing his Orthopedic Surgeon residency at the Rambam Medical Center. Dr. Klein has always been drawn to the integration of technology as a practical tool for solving problems that emerge “in-the-field”. This was one of the reasons prompting him to specialize in orthopedic surgery, taking a specific interest in oncology and spine surgery. The research he has been involved in includes the creation of 3D printed titanium scaffolding for optimized bone growth and patient tailored 3D printed cutting gigs for surgery and odontoid fracture treatment. Dr. Klein completed the Global Faculty-in-Training (GFIT) and International Innovation Fellowship at Stanford University Biodesign Center in 2020.
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Dr. Leor Perl

Mentor | Director at Rabin Medical Center Innovation Laboratory

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Dr. Leor Perl

Mentor | Director at Rabin Medical Center Innovation Laboratory

Dr. Perel is a devoted clinician focused on advancing patient well-being through patient care, research and medical device innovation. He currently holds a faculty position at Tel Aviv University, working as a full-time interventional cardiologist at Beilinson Hospital, incorporating research, the training of medical students and innovation, alongside his clinical work.
Dr. Perel demonstrated leadership skills when he established the Israeli Medical Residents’ Union, Mirsham, during his medical internship. He later became the first Israeli to train at the Stanford Interventional Cardiology Fellowship program and the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship program. He has held central positions in Israeli medical device start-up companies and acts as medical director for the successful Vectorious Medical Technologies company, which created the world’s first in-heart microcomputer for heart failure treatment. He recently founded a new innovation laboratory at the Rabin Medical Center and now leads the program, creating a new model for need-driven innovation in an Israeli medical center.
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Dr. Talma Cohen

Director of Team Dynamics

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Dr. Talma Cohen

Director of Team Dynamics

Director of the Mental Health Center for Trauma Survivors at Rambam Medical Center. Clinical social worker, Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and family therapist. Founder and director of the " One of Us" association. Working with a population with cognitive disabilities, psychotherapy for adolescents, and children with special needs and their families.
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Prof. Ezri Tarazi

Mentor | Chair of the Industrial Design Program at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Ezri Tarazi

Mentor | Chair of the Industrial Design Program at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Shulamit Levenberg

Mentor | Dean of the Biomedical Engineering Faculty - Technion Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Shulamit Levenberg

Mentor | Dean of the Biomedical Engineering Faculty - Technion Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Miriam Erez

Mentor | Vice Dean MBA program, Chair Innovation Center at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Miriam Erez

Mentor | Vice Dean MBA program, Chair Innovation Center at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Avigdor Gal

Mentor | Faculty of Industrial Engineering & Management at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Avigdor Gal

Mentor | Faculty of Industrial Engineering & Management at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Eitan Yaakobi

Mentor | Counselor for Excellence Program Computer Science Department at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Eitan Yaakobi

Mentor | Counselor for Excellence Program Computer Science Department at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Joachim A. Behar

Mentor | Head of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Lab at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Joachim A. Behar

Mentor | Head of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Lab at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

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Prof. Shay S. Tzafrir

Mentor | Head of the Business Administration Department at the University of Haifa

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Prof. Shay S. Tzafrir

Mentor | Head of the Business Administration Department at the University of Haifa

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Dr. Maayan Agmon

Mentor | Member at the Scientific Committee of Haifa Innovation labs, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa‏

Dr. Maayan Agmon

Mentor | Member at the Scientific Committee of Haifa Innovation labs, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa‏

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Rina Assulin

Mentor | Head of Innovation in Nursing at Rambam Medical Center

Rina Assulin

Mentor | Head of Innovation in Nursing at Rambam Medical Center

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Prof. Rafael Beyar

Advisory Committee Chairman | President of Rambam Medical Center’s International Associations

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Prof. Rafael Beyar

Advisory Committee Chairman | President of Rambam Medical Center’s International Associations

Prof. Rafi Beyar is a graduate of the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. He also holds a D.Sc. degree from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and an M.P.H. degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. He serves as a professor at the Technion and as the Dean of the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion, and was the Director of the Rambam Healthcare Campus during the years 2006-2019.
Prof. Beyar also established Rambam MedTech in 2014, Rambam's technology transfer office for bringing medical innovations to market, and the MindUp Incubator for promoting Digital Health, in collaboration with Medtronic, IBM, Pitango and Impact First. He has previously served as chair of the Israeli Committee for the Expansion of the Health Basket (2010–2014) and currently serves as chair of the National Center for Transplants, as well as being a member of many other committees.
Prof. Beyar has founded two companies: InStent, which was sold to Medtronic, and NaviCath (later Corindus), a Technion incubator company and the world’s first robotic catheter company, which was recently acquired by Siemens Healthineers. Since his appointment as Hospital Director he has promoted entrepreneurial development within subsidiaries of the Health Corporation. He serves as a board member of Biorp and Rambam Medtech, and has founded the International Conference for Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions (ICI) together with Prof. Chaim Lotan, which they have been co-chairing for 24 years consecutively.
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Dr. Adi Aron-Gilat

Advisory Committee Member | Head of Strategy at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory

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Dr. Adi Aron-Gilat

Advisory Committee Member | Head of Strategy at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory

Strategy and business development expert, with years of experience working on innovative technologies in various industries from cleantech to pharma. Head of Strategy at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory, leading a team working on projects and investigations across X's portfolio. Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business; and Board member and Advisor to early-stage companies and more veteran players on their strategy, helping them build partnerships, raise money, and drive their policy analysis. LL.B and BA in Geophysics and Earth Sciences from Tel-Aviv University; JSM (Master of the Science of Law) and JSD (Ph.D. in Law) both from Stanford Law School, on the subject of environmental law and policy.
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Oded Tamir

Advisory Committee Member | Executive Chairman & Board member

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Oded Tamir

Advisory Committee Member | Executive Chairman & Board member

Entrepreneur, C-level Executive, Executive Chairman and Board Member with over two decades of hands-on top management experience spanning seed, growth and late stage public and private companies. He has an extensive track record of building and funding new ventures, establishing global business operations, growing revenues and bottom lines, as well as turning around distressed companies and realizing shareholder value through M&A deals.
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Dr. Benny Zeevi

Advisory Committee Member | Managing General Partner Tel Aviv Venture Partners and Run Young Capital

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Dr. Benny Zeevi

Advisory Committee Member | Managing General Partner Tel Aviv Venture Partners and Run Young Capital

Dr. Benny Zeevi is a Managing General Partner at Tel Aviv Venture Partners/ DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures and Run Young Capital and leads the funds Life Science investments.

Dr. Zeevi is a physician specialized in interventional pediatric cardiology. Prior to joining DFJ TFV in 2003, Dr. Zeevi was the Vice President Business Development & Medical Director of Card Guard AG since 1998.
In 2012-15 Dr Zeevi was the Co-Chairman of the IATI - Israel's largest non-profit umbrella organization for the High-Tech and Life Science sectors (http://www.iati.co.il ) and wrote the first comprehensive report about the Israel life sciences industry. Co-Chairman of the IATI Biomed Conference 2012-2017, Co-Chairman for the DigitalHealth.IL conference in 2015-2020 and Co – Chairman of the WHII - 1st World Congress on Women’s Health Innovations and Inventions: Addressing Unmet Needs.
Dr. Zeevi is deeply involved in the Israeli life sciences and digital health industries.

Dr. Zeevi is the Founder and Co Director of an Executive Program for Biotechnology and Medical Device Entrepreneurs and Managers, based on International faculty, at the Faculty of Management of Tel-Aviv University (http://biomedmanagement.tau.ac.il) and serves on the advisory board of the MBA in Management of Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University.

Dr. Zeevi serves as the chairman of the board, a board member and advisory board member of 9 life sciences companies in different subsectors of the life sciences.
Dr. Zeevi is a member of the National Council of Digital Health and Innovation in Healthcare Services at the Ministry of Health, Board Member, Israel National Tissue Bank.

Dr. Zeevi is a certified Pediatric Cardiologist. From 1990-1998 he was Director of Pediatric Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center in Israel. Dr. Zeevi was a fellow and a visiting Professor and part-time clinical staff at the Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston. His credentials include over 70 peer-reviewed scientific and industry articles, in addition to various chapters in textbooks and invited reviews and editorials in pediatric cardiology journals. His contributions have been acknowledged in 1993, when he received the Liberman prize for significant contributions to the evaluation and treatment of children with congenital heart disease.
Dr. Zeevi holds a M.D. degree (Magna Cum Laude) from the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
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Yoav Medan

Advisory Committee Member | Co-Founder and CTO at AmplioSpeech

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Yoav Medan

Advisory Committee Member | Co-Founder and CTO at AmplioSpeech

Inventor. Mentor. Social and Technology Entrepreneur.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How is the COVID-19 situation affecting the Biodesign program?

As for the 2020-21 course, the application deadline, interview dates and timeline for announcing decisions will remain the same. If necessary, we will host interviews and classes using a virtual format. Please follow our website for more information as it becomes available.

What career paths do Biodesign graduates pursue after the program?

Program alumni pursue a wide variety of careers that include launching health technology start-ups, driving innovation inside major health technology companies and teaching innovation inside universities. To date, many interesting technologies have been invented and fifty health technology companies have been launched by the program’s graduates.

What are the criteria for selection?
We encourage everyone who is interested in the program to apply. We are interested in applicants from diverse backgrounds, including engineering, science, computer science, product design, business, medicine, social welfare and health science. Advanced degrees are preferred. Many candidates also have relevant work experience in the health technology industry or in related research positions. We are looking for individuals with strong leadership, problem solving, creativity, teamwork and communication skills, who aspire to become leaders in health technology innovation.
What if I don’t have this type of specific background?
We accept applications from any individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and/or innovation in their professional or academic careers. These candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
When does the program start?

The Biodesign Innovation program begins on October 26th, 2020.

I already have an idea for a medical innovation I've been working on. Can I continue developing it during the program?
The goal of the program is for you to learn the Stanford Biodesign Innovation process from start to finish. Accordingly, we ask that you work on needs and technologies that you and your team identify and invent together as part of the Biodesign process.
Can I choose which medical subspecialty I focus on during the program?

The clinical subspecialties chosen as the focus for the program in 2020-2021 are medical devices and digital health. We believe that by working on an area outside your specific field of expertise, you are more likely to question existing paradigms and recognize interesting opportunities. To jump-start the process, you will begin your training with several weeks of clinical immersion in the chosen subspecialty to observe first-hand how care is delivered in that space.

How are the mastermind teams formed?
Once selected, participants will be assigned to teams by the program directors. Their goal will be to ensure each team comprises a strong mix of medical, engineering, and business acumen, as well as an effective mix of perspectives, personalities, and other aspects of diversity. Team assignments will be announced during the first weeks of the program.
Am I expected to start a company out of the Biodesign Innovation program?
Although some participants do start companies out of the course, this is just one of many different health technology career paths that our trainees take. Other alternatives include catalyzing innovation inside major health technology corporations, teaching and/or leading translational research projects for world-class universities, driving innovation initiatives within academic or private medical centers, or becoming specialists in design, investing, or other aspects of the health technology innovation ecosystem.
Can I apply to the program if I am not a student?
Yes. Non-students are also encouraged to apply and benefit from the program.
How can I find out whether my academic institution or faculty is taking part in the program?

Here is a list of all our academic collaborations. If your specific faculty or institution does not appear on the list, please contact us.

Is the program recognized for credits towards my degree? And if so, how many credits does it constitute?
The program involves academic collaboration with a range of various institutions and faculties. Our list of academic collaborations specifies the credits recognized for each course of study.
When and where does the program take place?
The program will take place on Mondays and Thursdays between 4 - 6 p.m. at the Rambam Health Care Campus. Please note: some sessions will be led by lecturers from Stanford and held online at other times, based on the time difference between Israel and the US. These sessions will be scheduled and announced in advance.
What does the program require of me?
You are required to commit to taking both semesters of the program and attending all the program meetings and sessions. This will demand about 8-10 weekly hours on your part, attending sessions and workshops and doing work at home.
What are the criteria for admission and the enrollment process?

Enrollment in Biodesign Israel is by application only. Final applicants will be invited to participate in an interview (online or in person).

Your application must include the following information:

  • Basic background and your education, work and/or research experience.
  • Why you are interested in medical technology innovation (in 250 words or less).
  • Your bio, which will be distributed to students and class mentors if you are accepted (150 words or less).

 



Who teaches the program?
Get to know our team of instructors and mentors here.

The Program

The Biodesign Israel program is designed to provide up to 36 carefully selected students and professionals from the fields of medical science, engineering and business administration advanced training and mentoring in health technology innovation. In 2020-2021, the program will focus on innovation in the fields of medical devices and digital health, taking participants step by step through Stanford’s world-renowned Biodesign Innovation Process, to provide them with the tools to successfully implement their solutions in the global markets.

Participants will be divided into mastermind teams in which they will identify needs and develop solutions through ongoing cross-pollination for the duration of the program. Each team will be thoughtfully assembled to comprise two entrepreneurs from the field of medicine, two from the field of engineering and two from the field of business administration.

The program will be led by a highly trained and experienced faculty of four doctors, who are all graduates of the Stanford University Biodesign program. They will be joined by teaching assistants from relevant academic faculties and departments as well as experts from diverse disciplines, various hospital wards, HMOs and leading authorities from the Israeli tech industry, Silicon Valley and other leading global markets.

Admission Criteria And Enrollment

We are looking for smart, motivated, creative, and entrepreneurial participants with a commitment to improving healthcare, an interest in technology and a dedication to making a real-world impact.
The program is offered free of charge to up to 36 select undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral-level students and professionals from the fields of medicine, engineering and business administration who work together in six multidisciplinary teams of six participants each. The program is recognized as academic accreditation for BA Engineering, BSc, MBA, M.Sc. Engineering students and medical interns. This is a fast-paced, demanding course and attendance is mandatory for the duration of the course (two semesters). Enrollment is by application only.

Program Schedule

Biodesign Israel’s first course begins October 2020 and will take place over two semesters (one academic year), with sessions held on Mondays and Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Some sessions will be led by Stanford Global Faculty members and other professionals from the US and global Biodesign partners. These sessions will be held at various times that will be scheduled and announced in advance.

July 1, 2020

Registration opens

Register Now

During July

Q&A session with course faculty (online) – link will be sent to registered candidates

August 12-30, 2020

Enrollment decisions announced

October 26, 2020

Course begins

Curriculum

The Biodesign Methodology, With A Focus On Medical Devices Anda Digital Health

Based on the profound understanding that innovation must be designed to meet the users’ actual needs and challenges, a principle that is especially important in the medical field, the Biodesign Innovation Process involves the systematic identification and screening of needs from the ground up. This process, which Stanford has developed and refined over two decades, has been taught to thousands of participants at all levels in numerous countries around the world. Its application across a variety of fields within the medical landscape has led to exceptional results, enhancing the lives of millions around the globe.

This Biodesign Innovation Process includes three phases:

1. Identify.

This phase is first and foremost about finding important unmet health needs. By directly observing the full course of care, from diagnosis and treatment to recovery, as well as all the relevant players in the medical world, participants discover problems and opportunities. During this first-hand observation period, hundreds of needs are collected, initially with no judgment or prioritization. Then it’s time to filter the list with rigorous objectivity, taking into account everything from the different stakeholders affected by each need, to how much potential it has to improve care and/or save the system money, technological feasibility and business potential. This is an intense and iterative process, with progressively deeper dives into the needs that have the most potential. Ultimately, the trainees arrive at the two or three needs with the most promise for major impact on health and wellness.

2. Invent.

This phase begins by brainstorming hundreds of potential solutions for each of the top needs. Then, the ideas are organized and objectively compared against key criteria for satisfying the needs. During this phase, participantas create rough prototypes in a rapid “think-build-rethink” sequence, so failures emerge early and iteration can lead to better solutions. They then filter the surviving solutions by researching everything from intellectual property issues and business models to reimbursement and regulatory pathways. In the end, the process produces several lead concepts perfectly suited to meet real needs, which are feasible from a business perspective and have a good chance of actually reaching and improving patient care.

3. Implement.

This phase focuses on prototyping and testing the proposed technology in a quick and flexible way, while developing an approach to patenting, regulatory approval, reimbursement, charting market potential for the innovation and exploring sources of funding.
As mentioned, Stanford has been developing and refining this process for over two decades. An extremely broad number of participants from many countries around the world have undergone this training, at all levels of management and across a variety of medical fields. The results speak for themselves - this is an incredibly effective, systematic and proven process that is now being offered to entrepreneurs participating in the Biodesign Israel.

Any Questions?

PLEASE VISIT OUR FAQS SECTION