Bringing Anatomy to Life: A New Era of Medical Education at Reichman University

In honor of Prof. Uriel Reichman and his extraordinary vision, which transformed the ambitious dream of founding Reichman University into a thriving institution and inspired the establishment of its groundbreaking Dina Recanati School of Medicine, Gioietta and Alberto Vitale have donated a state-of-the-art Anatomage Table to advance the education of future physicians. Imagine exploring the human body layer by layer, rotating organs in three dimensions, and examining intricate anatomical structures from every possible angle, all with the touch of a finger.

At Reichman University’s new Dina Recanati School of Medicine, this is no longer a vision of the future. It is happening today. The school has introduced the Anatomage Table, a state-of-the-art digital dissection platform that is revolutionizing the way the next generation of Israeli physicians studies and understands human anatomy, bringing an entirely new dimension to medical education.

Beyond the Textbook: Anatomy Comes Alive

For generations, medical students have relied on textbooks, anatomical illustrations, and traditional cadaver dissections to understand the complexities of the human body.

Now, Reichman University’s medical students have an extraordinary new tool at their fingertips. The Anatomage Table features a life-size touchscreen that allows students to explore highly detailed, three-dimensional representations of human anatomy. They can virtually dissect the body, isolate individual structures, and examine the relationships between organs, muscles, bones, and other anatomical systems. The result is a more dynamic, immersive, and interactive approach to learning, one that helps bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world clinical practice.

For Louis Avitan, a member of the medical school’s inaugural class, the impact is already clear. “It transforms our learning by allowing us to explore the human body in three dimensions, making our studies significantly more active, memorable, and intuitive,” he said. Avitan emphasized that while traditional textbooks remain essential, the technology brings that knowledge to life in an unprecedented way.

A Transformational Gift with Lasting Impact

This investment in medical education is helping equip future physicians with the tools they need to succeed. “At the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University, we are committed to remaining at the cutting edge of medical education and technology as we educate the physicians of tomorrow,” said Prof. Arnon Afek, the school’s founding dean.

“The integration of the Anatomage Table into our curriculum reflects this commitment, providing our students with an innovative and interactive way to explore human anatomy and deepen their understanding of the human body.”

Prof. Afek emphasized that philanthropic partnerships are instrumental in creating an innovative learning environment that combines academic excellence, technological advancement, and the preparation of tomorrow’s physicians.

More Than a Medical School: Meeting a National Challenge

The arrival of this groundbreaking technology represents another important milestone for the Dina Recanati School of Medicine, Israel’s first private medical school, established to help confront one of the country’s most pressing healthcare challenges: a critical shortage of physicians.

Israel needs approximately 2,000 new doctors annually, yet its medical schools train only about 40 percent of that number domestically. Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, Reichman University set out to develop a new model for medical education, one that combines academic rigor, technological innovation, and meaningful clinical experience from the earliest stages of training.

Established through the vision and support of the Recanati family, and in partnership with leading Israeli healthcare institutions including Sheba Medical Center, Rabin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, and Maccabi Healthcare Services, the school is preparing physicians to meet the evolving needs of Israeli society.

Students are exposed to clinical environments from their very first week, integrating scientific coursework with simulations, virtual reality, patient interactions, and community-based medicine.

The school also places a strong emphasis on providing educational opportunities to students who have served in the IDF reserves since October 7, recognizing their extraordinary commitment to the State of Israel.

Investing in the Physicians of Tomorrow

The Anatomage Table is more than an impressive piece of technology. It represents the kind of forward-thinking investment that can shape the future of medical education. For students, it means learning anatomy in ways that were unimaginable just a generation ago. For educators, it provides new opportunities to connect scientific knowledge with clinical understanding. And for Israel, it is another step toward building a stronger healthcare system and preparing the highly skilled physicians the country urgently needs.

At Reichman University, innovation isn’t simply something students study. It’s something they experience. For the physicians of tomorrow, this investment opens the door to the tools of the future, today.