PORTER, BASIL

Born in South Africa and emigrated to Israel in on completion of his medical training. Basil completed his pediatrics residency at the University of Chicago. From there he returned with his family to Beersheva where he was one of the founding faculty of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Ben Gurion University. He pioneered the medical school’s involvement in the community through establishing community based teaching clinics in pediatrics, and directed a program for graduates of the medical school to have a post-internship experience in community settings in the Negev. He described many of the problems facing medical education in community settings in a book, “The Politics of Reform in Medical Education and Health Services”. After directing the Zusman Child Development Center for some years, he moved to Maccabi Health services where he served in various management positions, including medical director for the Negev region and National Director for Pediatric Care.He has consulted in South Africa regarding training of primary care workers, and was part of a World Bank committee to recommend reform of the health system in the republic of Georgia.