The Nashville Health Care Council releases its report detailing the 13th International Health Care Mission to Israel. The mission, which occurred in April 2019, provided an opportunity for health care industry leaders to see firsthand why Israel is quickly becoming a global leader in health care innovation.
During the mission to Israel, delegates witnessed how a culture of innovation pervades every part of the Israeli health care system, from the development of cutting-edge medical technology, to efficient delivery of care by health care providers and forward-thinking hospital infrastructure and operations. Delegates on the mission met with Israeli VC funds, government leaders and health care executives to forge new connections and strengthen relationships between Israel’s vital health care start-up community and the more than 500 health care companies that have operations in Nashville.
“From the very beginning, the Nashville Health Care Council International Study Missions have uncovered new ideas and partnerships for Nashville’s vibrant health care industry,” said Senator William Frist, M.D., former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and partner at Cressey & Company. “This trip was eye-opening for health care leaders from both countries, and we’re already seeing the impact in the form of follow-up visits and partnerships between Nashville and Israel.”
Perhaps one of the most surprising findings from the mission was the lack of knowledge from the Israeli health care start-up community about the Nashville’s influence on health care in the U.S. Locations like Boston, New York, and Silicon Valley were the most commonly cited U.S. markets targeted by Israeli start-ups, and many entrepreneurs had not considered Nashville as a potential target for their products or services.
“With a rich tradition of entrepreneurship and executive talent, Nashville has helped shape the United States health care landscape over the past five decades,” said Hayley Hovious, President of the Nashville Health Care Council. “Nashville is the hub of health care operations in the U.S., and an important part of the mission was to introduce Nashville and our health care expertise to the entrepreneurs and health care leaders in Israel. Discovering new innovations from health facilities around the world inspires fresh ideas in all areas of Nashville’s health care ecosystem.”
Every two years, the Council brings together key health care policy leaders and business executives for trans-Atlantic learning, high-level networking and global dialogue. The Israel mission is the 13th international health care study mission hosted by the Council. To date, more than 275 health care leaders representing nearly 100 companies have participated in the executive-level mission trips to gain first-hand knowledge of health systems and develop business opportunities abroad. Previous trip locations have included Argentina, Austria, Chile, Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK, among others.