Luci Bahat, 51, is a mother of four, holds a master’s degree and works as a nurse in the pediatric emergency department — but none of that stopped her from pursuing her dream: becoming a doctor. She began studying medicine in the four-year track at Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva about two years ago.
"I always wanted to study medicine," she shares. "I thought I didn’t stand a chance of getting accepted here in Israel, so I didn’t even try. I gave up and went into high-tech instead." She spent years working as a product manager.
"That wasn’t really me," she says. "The passion for medicine never left me. I still really wanted to study medicine, but at the time, my children were young and it seemed too complicated. In the end, I decided to go into nursing; a shorter and less complex path."
Bahat completed an emergency medicine course and began working as a nurse at Kaplan Medical Center, but even then, her passion for medicine persisted. "I wanted to do more, to know more, to study more in depth," she says. "Nursing studies are very practical, focused heavily on the ‘how.’ I was also interested in the scientific background—how things work biologically. That fascinates me, and I missed it."
'Going great'
Luci Bahat: "The program is very intense, with exams every two weeks, but it’s going great. I’m approaching it more calmly. Age and life experience give you a certain advantage — you gain a different perspective on life," she says. “I’m less stressed about exams. Having kids, a job, and other life commitments helps me manage my time well and study efficiently."
Eventually, Bahat mustered the courage and began the process. She studied core subjects for a year and then took a knowledge test and an analytical test. "I didn’t score high enough in the first year," she recalls. It took nearly three years, but she eventually passed all the stages and was impressively accepted to every medical faculty in the country.
"I was really torn about where to study. I live on Kibbutz Revadim, right between Tel Aviv and Beer-Sheva. The Tel Aviv program is established and well-known, but I was very drawn to the Ben-Gurion program — the personal approach, the small group. I did my undergraduate studies there years ago and had good memories. I love the south."
Despite the demanding studies, Bahat continues working as a nurse at Kaplan Hospital. "I have an amazing boss, and that’s no small thing. When I told her this was my dream, she simply said, ‘Go for it, we’ll manage.’"
Her family also fully supported her decision. "My kids took it amazingly. Sure, there are sacrifices — we might have to skip a family trip because I need to study for an exam, or cook faster meals than I used to, but they completely accept it with love."
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Bahat studies with 32 other students. "There’s a respectable group of students in their 30s who are also parents, and that creates a connection. The next oldest person is 35, so there is a bit of an age gap," she says.
"At first, I was afraid to attend events like Student Day or parties — I thought I’d feel out of place, since some are the same age as my kids — but they really encouraged me to come. There was a big annual party, and it was just amazing and fun. They never made me feel like I didn’t belong."
"In my view, it’s also a great example — that to get where you want, you have to work hard and not give up on your dreams," she adds. "After I wasn’t accepted in the first year, I told myself, ‘Well, I’ve already come this far — I might as well try again,’ and it paid off. Most people don’t get accepted on their first try, and the fact that I didn’t give up is a good example for my kids."
Together with her daughter at university
Bahat shares the student experience with her eldest daughter Neta, 25, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in social work at Ben-Gurion.
"We meet up from time to time," she laughs. "She was surprised the first time she saw me on campus. She said, ‘Mom, your classmates are my age!’" Bahat has three other children: Nir, 23, Adi, 19, and Mai, 16. "We sit and study together. She studies math, I study medicine."
In less than two years, she’ll complete her degree and begin the long journey through internship and residency. Her goal: family medicine. "I work with children as a nurse and also serve as a community clinic nurse for the kibbutz, supporting our elderly members. I love people and long-term relationships. Family doctors play a super important role, in my eyes—they’re the first contact with the patient, and the ones who view them holistically."
"When it comes to very specific surgical fields that require dexterity or involve long training processes, age might be a disadvantage," Bahat adds. "But becoming a family doctor after raising children, caring for your parents, and gaining life experience—that’s only an advantage."
Four-year program to double
The four-year medical track (for degree holders) at Ben-Gurion University was launched a year and a half ago and was recently renamed the Sagol Medical School for International Health, thanks to a generous donation from the Sagol family. Currently, around 40 students are enrolled, and the goal is to increase that number to 80 in the coming years, subject to approval by the Council for Higher Education.
The Sagol Medical School for International Health offers a four-year MD program open to all Israeli citizens, new immigrants, and lone soldiers. "Sami Sagol is a visionary who understands the critical need for high-quality doctors in Israel," said Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President of Ben-Gurion University.
Prof. Alan Jotkowitz, head of the International Medical School, "This crucial support will allow us to enrich our curriculum with preventive medicine and global health, and develop new programs focused on small group learning and integrating AI into our school."
Sami Sagol concluded "The Medical School for International Health at Ben-Gurion University is another building block in the ‘Sagol Network’ across universities and medical centers, whose vision is to make Israel a leading scientific hub in brain and health research.
"I hope the Sagol Medical School for International Health will help fulfill David Ben-Gurion’s dream of turning the Negev into Israel’s Oxford and contribute to the development and prosperity of the region."