During this age of big data and artificial intelligence, Prof. Dina Ben-Yehuda, head of the Hadassah Medical Organization’s Department of Hematology and now also the first female dean of the Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Medicine, believes that the “role of physician as healer is more necessary for patients than ever.”

As she explains, “Technology is important in diagnosis, but it’s no substitute for talking to your patients, looking into their eyes. Nothing replaces touching them to see where they feel pain.”

In her first year as dean, Dr. Ben-Yehuda introduced a curriculum in computational medicine and bioinformatics—an emerging discipline that uses data and computer models to understand diseases. By the same token, she initiated the first required academic course in complementary and alternative medicine in a Western-type medical school.

Dr. Ben-Yehuda’s department is one of the specialties that will have an expanded home in the reimagined Round Building at Hadassah Hospital once the renovation is complete.

In the picture: Prof. Dina Ben-Yehuda

Read the full article about Prof. Ben-Yehuda in Hadassah Magazine.