The Program Is the First of Its Kind to Launch First in the Nation.
(Miami Beach, FL — February 27, 2025) — In a groundbreaking move to address the growing concern of antisemitism in health care, the City of Miami Beach has unanimously agreed to partner with and help fund a new antidiscrimination program developed by the Center for Combating Antisemitism (CCA). Mount Sinai Medical Center will pilot this initiative, which is the first of its kind in the United States. The program aims to support health care professionals at the medical center in diagnosing and addressing the re-emerging virus of antisemitism in medicine.
This innovative program is expected to serve as a model for other medical institutions across the country, as health care organizations recognize the need for comprehensive education on antisemitism, which has been historically neglected in medical training. The program will focus on equipping staff, from medical practitioners to hospital administrators, with the tools to recognize antisemitism, confront it effectively, and maintain the high standard of care and ethics expected in the medical field.
The announcement follows a Miami Beach City Commission meeting where Commissioner David Suarez presented disturbing video clips of nurses, both in the U.S. and abroad, expressing violent antisemitic sentiments, including claims of harming Jewish patients. While these cases are extreme, they highlight a dangerous and troubling trend where health care professionals, medical associations, and medical schools are encountering disturbing incidents of antisemitism, both online and in the workplace.
“As we continue to reflect on our own powerful history during our 75th anniversary, we keep in mind our founders’ vision for Mount Sinai, who sought to establish a haven where Jewish and African-American physicians and patients could practice medicine and receive care freely. Their ambition lives on through us today,” says Gino R. Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center. “This newly formed partnership further solidifies our commitment to combating antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hate that unfortunately persist in our society and is vital to the progress of our community and nation.”
“Prejudice against any group — whether racial, religious, or national — runs directly contrary to the accepted ethical standards of medicine,” says Commissioner Suarez. “The rise of antisemitism within medical environments poses a direct threat to patient trust, the morale of practitioners, and the field of medicine as a whole.”
Since the horrific Hamas massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, the problem of antisemitism in medicine has rapidly transformed into a public health crisis. This rise in hatred demands immediate action to ensure that health care settings remain free from bias and prejudice, particularly against Jewish patients and professionals.
“This pilot program at Mount Sinai will set a new precedent for how medical institutions can address this critical issue. Training on cultural sensitivity, bias, and discrimination is vital to good medical practice,” says Dr. Sheri Ross, Director of Medical Outreach for the Center for Combating Antisemitism. “A recent study by the StandWithUs Department of Data & Analytics found that 40% of health care professionals experience antisemitism in their professional setting. While the vast majority of health care institutions mandate antidiscrimination training, less than 2% of their diversity training programs cover antisemitism. This pilot program at Mount Sinai Medical Center will set a new precedent for how medical institutions can address this critical issue.”
This effort marks a significant step in ensuring that all patients — regardless of their background — receive the unbiased, high-quality care they deserve, free from any form of discrimination. CCA and Mount Sinai Medical Center are grateful to Joseph Sabag and NJAC for assistance.
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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
City of Miami Beach Communications
Phone: 305-555-1234 Email: media@miamibeach.gov
Center for Combating Antisemitism
Phone: 224-392-3264 Email: info@ccc-training.org
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Phone: 305-674-2589 Email: jackie.kaplan@msmc.com
About the City of Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a vibrant, diverse city located in the heart of South Florida, known for its dynamic culture, beautiful beaches, and commitment to inclusion and equality.
About Mount Sinai Medical Center
Founded in 1949, Mount Sinai Medical Center is the largest independent, private, not-for-profit teaching hospital in South Florida. Mount Sinai’s mission is to provide quality health care to a diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care, and financial responsibility. Mount Sinai’s Centers of Excellence combine technology, research, and academics to provide innovative and comprehensive care in cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, urology, and orthopedics. One of the original statutory teaching hospitals in the state of Florida, Mount Sinai is the hospital of choice for those who seek the level of expertise and care that only a teaching hospital can offer. Mount Sinai currently offers nine convenient locations in Miami-Dade County, including three emergency centers, and three specialty care offices in Monroe County.
About the Center for Combating Antisemitism
The Center for Combating Antisemitism is a DBA/affiliate of Israel Emergency Alliance, a 23-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the rise of antisemitism globally through education, advocacy, and awareness. They work to combat hatred and discrimination against Jewish communities, with a focus on systemic issues in various sectors, including health care.
