The “MegaEvent”
Nefesh B’Nefesh has many events throughout the year for people moving to Israel. But most are in the big cities with a large Jewish population like NY or LA. We decided to fly to NY, just Val and I, for their “MegaEvent” because they were having a dedicated session just for physicians. And, they offered the opportunity to meet with the head of the Israeli Medical Association (whom Nefesh had flown in from Israel, just for this event!), and if you had all your documentation with you, he could maybe give you your Israeli medical license right there on the spot!
So we made copies of all our medical diplomas and certificates. I literally stayed late one day at work and just took cell phone pics of my framed diplomas then printed them out at home. We emailed the physician Nefesh contact to set up a private meeting with the medical director. All the appointments were taken, but they said they’d try to squeeze us in. So in true Israeli style, we muscled our way in at the meeting, waited patiently in line despite not having an official appointment, and when there was a break, there we were – face to face with the director of the Israeli Medical Association!
We introduced ourselves, he took off his list, and asked for the first document, our medical school diplomas. We presented the printouts.
He said, “Where is the original?”
I said, “It’s framed hanging on my office wall at work. And my office doesn’t yet know I’m doing this, so I couldn’t take it down. And how was I supposed to fly here from Phoenix with fifteen framed diplomas and certificates anyway?”
“Ok, so you don’t have the medical school diploma,” he said. “Next. What about the residency diploma?”
“Nope. Don’t have that one either. Hanging on my office wall. Sorry.”
“OK, what about the fellowship diploma?”
“Yeah….., also don’t have that one.”
“OK, so you don’t have anything?”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much right, I guess.”
“OK, well I can’t help you then. You can come back next year, or you can get them notarized by an Israeli notary and mail them to our office in Israel.”
OK. So it was a nice trip to NY with Val, nice dinner, met some family we have there. And learned a bit about the medical licensing process in Israel. So not a total fail, I guess….