Judy Siegel-Itzkovich

Judy Siegel-Itzkovich is the health and science reporter at The Jerusalem Post . She has been writing for the paper since February 1973. She has published over 31,000 news stories, features and columns as a Post journalist – more than any other journalist in the world. A Master's degree graduate of Columbia University in New York who made aliyah immediately after completing her studies and within weeks joined the paper, she has a strong background in biology but received her BA and MA in political science because she could not bear to kill animals for lab experiments. She ravenously reads professional medical and science journals. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Ben-Gurion University – the first Israeli newspaper reporter to do so – in November 2015 and has received numerous awards such as the Hadassah Women’s Organization Women of Distinction Award in the Knesset, Yeshiva University in Israel’s community service award and Tishkofet’s public service award. She is also a fluent English and Hebrew translator and editor in her specialized fields.

(R-L): Dr. Dror Kraus, Senior Physician, Neurology Unit and Epilepsy Specialist, Clalit-Schneider Children’s Medical Center; Dr. Naama Ornstein, Head of the Genetics Unit, Clalit-Schneider Children’s Medical Center; Prof Rami I. Aqeilan.

Israeli hospital performs world's first experimental gene therapy for rare genetic epilepsy

Mayor Moshe Lion and other partners excitedly cutting ribbon at ceremony. At the new space, coffee conversations can lead to groundbreaking results.

Moving FourWard: Inside Jerusalem's ambitious bid to reinvent medical innovation

An illustrative image of a mouth swab for DNA testing

Oral inflammation may impair female fertility, new Israeli research shows


Air pollution and extreme heat linked to more migraine attacks, Israeli study finds

Israeli scientists find air pollution exposure tied to a higher risk of migraine attacks.

Migraine (illustrative)

Milu-EM to the rescue: Volunteer network aides Israel's overburdened emergency rooms

Together with four fellow physicians, Dr. Ari Greenwald co-founded Milu-EM – a global volunteer network of over 250 emergency physicians committed to supporting Israel’s emergency medical system.

DR. ARI GREENWALD.

AI tools can help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, Israeli study finds

Study finds conversational AI provides strong mental health support and lowers anxiety symptoms.

Mourners hug each other at a funeral in Jerusalem in March during the latest Iranian conflict.

Can fungus farming make tomatoes taste better? Israeli researchers say yes

Israeli researchers show a fungal extract can boost crop yields, improve taste, and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.

NEGEV DESERT - APRIL 06 2011:Israeli farmers desert farming planting vines in a desert farm in the Negev, Israel. Israel is a world-leader in agricultural technologies despite its dry climate

Chronological age, personal physicians should not decide when someone can't drive, study reveals

Drivers under age 25 are involved in about 20% of all fatal traffic accidents, even if they make up a smaller fraction of the driving population.

Traffic on Highway 2 near Netanya. Although the Transportation Ministry  has announced that the elderly are more likely to be injured or killed in road accidents, it doesn’t state whether they are pedestrians or drivers.

WhatsApp founder Jan Koum makes largest-ever donation to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek hospital

With an unprecedented $200 million donation from the Koum Family Foundation, SZMC will build a huge 800-bed hospitalization tower over the next six years and fill the entire space within a decade.

Shaare Zedek’s Director-General Prof. Ofer Merin (L) and President Prof. Jonathan Halevy, previous director-general for 31 years, who solicited Koum’s donation.

Gut feeling: Hebrew University shows how your body’s stem cells fight Salmonella - study

“Our findings show that intestinal stem cells are not only responsible for tissue regeneration, but also the early defense against bacterial infection,” explained study supervisor Dr. Matan Hofree.

Stem cells are viewed on a computer screen at the University of Connecticut`s (UConn) Stem Cell Institute at the UConn Health Center on August 27, 2010 in Farmington, Connecticut.

Belly fat may accelerate brain aging, major Israeli MRI study finds

New research suggests visceral fat reduction may protect the brain and slow cognitive decline in midlife.

A simple blood test may detect dementia – up to 25 years in advance

Mothers can protect babies from gum disease before birth, Hebrew University study finds

New research shows maternal antibodies may shape a baby’s oral immune system before and after birth, offering long-term protection against gum disease.

An illustration of a mother feeding a baby a bottle of formula.

Artificial nighttime lighting may be more dangerous than previously thought, study warns

Study warns artificial night lighting could harm ecosystems by weakening biological clocks.

A WOMAN lies in bed, looking at her phone.