Charity Begins at Home
The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine inaugurated a new complex for its Teaching and Medical Education Division, established through the generous contribution of Professor Emeritus John Finberg — one of the faculty’s veterans and a co-developer of the first-ever drug shown to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease
Recently, the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine inaugurated an innovative new education complex, made possible by the generous donation of Professor Emeritus John Finberg — an entrepreneur and researcher who has been part of the Faculty since its early days, contributing over the years to research, teaching, and the development of advanced infrastructure.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Finberg, his wife Efrat, and their family; Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan; Chairman of the Technion Friends Association in Israel Prof. Peretz Lavie; Faculty Dean Prof. Ami Aronheim; and members of the Faculty. Dr. Yael Finberg, Prof. Finberg’s daughter, spoke on behalf of the family, saying, “My father — a man of research, teaching, and giving — believes in personal connection with students and in mutual enrichment. This complex, which will serve students, researchers, and physicians, is the result of his dedication and his deep love for the Faculty and for the Technion.”
Prof. Finberg was born and raised in London and first visited Israel in 1960 as part of an international Scouts gathering. After completing his Ph.D. at Imperial College London, he immigrated to Israel in 1970 with Efrat, his future wife. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the U.S. (at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology), he joined the Department of Pharmacology in 1978 as a senior lecturer in the Technion Faculty of Medicine.
Over the years, he has held key positions in the Faculty, including Student Advisor, Head of Clinical Appointments, and Associate Dean for Research. He has been deeply involved in the ethics of animal experimentation and chaired the Inter-University Forum for the Advancement of Biomedical Research for many years. Among his most significant research achievements is the development of Azilect — the first drug in history proven to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
The Finberg Education Complex was inaugurated in a festive ceremony that highlighted Prof. Finberg’s academic and social contributions to the Faculty, as well as his extraordinary act of generosity.
Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan remarked at the ceremony: “Throughout the Technion’s 100 years, a long chain of individuals have each left their unique mark — and Prof. Finberg stands out among them. As a co-developer of Azilect, as a teacher, and now also as a benefactor, his profound impact will accompany the Technion for generations to come.”
Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Ami Aronheim noted that the Faculty leadership had long worked to develop a new teaching facility to replace the outdated one built about five decades ago. “When I learned that the donor was Prof. John Finberg, it became clear how fitting it was to name the new complex after him — a man who devoted many years to educating generations of physicians. Beyond being an outstanding researcher and teacher, John is also a person of great kindness and generosity. His gracious manner and endless patience allowed us to complete this project in the best possible way. To the women of the Teaching Division and the members of the Department of Medical Education, I hope you enjoy the new facility. I am confident that this step will strengthen team spirit and enhance collaboration between teaching and medical education.”
Credit: Rami Shlush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office
