Israel's Growing Brain Drain - Hundreds Of Israel Physicians And Researchers Living In The U.S. To Gather In The Miami Area

Hundreds of Israeli physicians, researchers, medical students, residents, fellows, and healthcare professionals who have left Israel and now live across the United States will gather on Friday, January 16th, 2026 in Miami for the ScienceAbroad Conference, addressing the growing outflow of Israeli researchers and scientists.

According to recent Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data, approximately 55,000 Israelis with Academic Degrees - from Bachelor’s to PhD - currently live abroad; about 16% of PhD holders reside outside Israel and in 2024 Israel shifted to a negative migration balance of academics.

ScienceAbroad - the global network uniting thousands of Israeli scientists worldwide and working to bring Israeli scientists and physicians back to Israel’s research and healthcare systems - will hold its first-ever conference in Miami as part of the IAC National Summit 2026. Hundreds of Israeli physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals living across the U.S. are expected to attend.

The conference is led by ScienceAbroad in partnership with the Sheba Research Authority (Tel HaShomer), the Israeli Medical Association, and Nefesh B’Nefesh.

Speakers at the conference include:

• Brigadier General Dr. Zivan Aviad-Beer, IDF Chief Medical Officer

• Professor Joel Mokyr, Nobel Prize - winning economist, Northwestern University

• Professor Itai M. Pessach, MD, PhD, MHA, Associate Director General, Sheba Medical Center; CEO, Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital

• Professor Shlomi Codish, CEO, Soroka Medical Center

• Dr. Zeev Feldman, Chairman, State Physicians Organization; Vice Chair, Israeli Medical Association (IMA)

More information can be found at: https://medicaltrack.scienceabroad.org.il/iac-summit/

“This conference brings together Israel’s medical and scientific leaders living in North America to confront one of the most urgent challenges facing Israel today - how to sustain its research, healthcare, and innovation future by reconnecting with its global talent,” said Nadav Douani, Executive Director, ScienceAbroad.

What: ScienceAbroad Conference addressing Israel’s growing brain drain and the outflow of Israeli physicians, researchers, and scientists

When: Friday, January 16, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. (EST)

Where: The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton 3555 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, Florida 33019, USA

About ScienceAbroad:

Established in 2006, ScienceAbroad connects more than 11,000 Israeli scientists and physicians working at leading academic institutions and industry firms in over 30 countries. The organization fosters collaboration between Israeli scientists and medical professionals abroad and their counterparts in Israel, strengthening Israel’s global scientific ties and ensuring Israeli innovation continues to have global impact.