I am a member and former Chair of the Department of Health Promotion, in the School of Public Health, in the Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, former director, and founder of the Integrative Medicine Center & Research Laboratory at the Tel- Aviv Medical Center. I am currently a visiting scholar, at Prof. Michael Snyder’s Lab, a global leader in precision health at Stanford University. My expertise spans health promotion, integrative medicine, and precision medicine approaches.
Research Focus: My vision is to empower health and optimize well-being in all people. My research focus on three key areas:
- Developing a tailored, individual-based, proactive self-care approach to provide tools and interventions that will empower people to take control of and improve their health and well-being.
- Advancing evidence-based, comprehensive integrative healthcare to improve the lives of people affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cancer.
- Investigating the psychobiology of life-changing interventions and experiences. In this area, I am co-leading a groundbreaking study to evaluate the long-term effects of one of the largest virtual psychosocial interventions worldwide. We are using multi-omics sampling, continuous wearable physiological monitoring, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), and psychosocial assessments to understand the mechanism and impact of the intervention on burnout, stress, and well-being.
Notable Achievements and Contributions: I’ve been honored to receive the Outstanding Israeli Researcher Award for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. I’ve published over 75 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and book chapters in high-impact journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, and JAMA Network Open. I was appointed by the Israeli Cancer Association (ICA) to edit the guidelines for integrative medicine in cancer care. I serve as a Section Editor for the Journal of Clinical Medicine and am a member of the Global Working Group on Mental Health Promotion. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring over 50 graduate and postgraduate students and received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Personal Background: My passion for bridging conventional medicine with holistic practices stems from my upbringing in Rehovot, Israel. I was born into a family where science and the humanities were deeply valued. My father, a physicist at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, and my mother, a Bible teacher and descendant of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi), significantly shaped my early interests. Beyond my professional pursuits, I have a deep interest in meditation and altered states of consciousness. I’ve explored various practices including Zen, mindfulness, and Byron Katie’s work, and have trained in integrative medicine approaches like Chinese medicine, Shiatsu, Tuina, and Qigong. These experiences continue to inform my holistic approach to health and well-being research.
about
I am a member and former Chair of the Department of Health Promotion, in the School of Public Health, in the Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, former director, and founder of the Integrative Medicine Center & Research Laboratory at the Tel- Aviv Medical Center. I am currently a visiting scholar, at Prof. Michael Snyder’s Lab, a global leader in precision health at Stanford University. My expertise spans health promotion, integrative medicine, and precision medicine approaches.
Research Focus: My vision is to empower health and optimize well-being in all people. My research focus on three key areas:
- Developing a tailored, individual-based, proactive self-care approach to provide tools and interventions that will empower people to take control of and improve their health and well-being.
- Advancing evidence-based, comprehensive integrative healthcare to improve the lives of people affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cancer.
- Investigating the psychobiology of life-changing interventions and experiences. In this area, I am co-leading a groundbreaking study to evaluate the long-term effects of one of the largest virtual psychosocial interventions worldwide. We are using multi-omics sampling, continuous wearable physiological monitoring, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), and psychosocial assessments to understand the mechanism and impact of the intervention on burnout, stress, and well-being.
Notable Achievements and Contributions: I’ve been honored to receive the Outstanding Israeli Researcher Award for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. I’ve published over 75 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and book chapters in high-impact journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, and JAMA Network Open. I was appointed by the Israeli Cancer Association (ICA) to edit the guidelines for integrative medicine in cancer care. I serve as a Section Editor for the Journal of Clinical Medicine and am a member of the Global Working Group on Mental Health Promotion. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring over 50 graduate and postgraduate students and received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Personal Background: My passion for bridging conventional medicine with holistic practices stems from my upbringing in Rehovot, Israel. I was born into a family where science and the humanities were deeply valued. My father, a physicist at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, and my mother, a Bible teacher and descendant of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi), significantly shaped my early interests. Beyond my professional pursuits, I have a deep interest in meditation and altered states of consciousness. I’ve explored various practices including Zen, mindfulness, and Byron Katie’s work, and have trained in integrative medicine approaches like Chinese medicine, Shiatsu, Tuina, and Qigong. These experiences continue to inform my holistic approach to health and well-being research.
Faculty member, Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University
Former Chair, Department of Health promotion, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University
Head, health promotion unit, integrated cancer prevention center, Tel-Aviv Medical Center
Former Director and Founder, Integrative medicine center & Laboratory of medicinal herbs and cancer research, Institute of oncology, Tel-Aviv Medical center
Section editor of public health, Journal of Clinical Medicine
Our research is concerned with strengthening protective factors for prevention and health promotion and enabling access to skills, resources and supportive environments that will keep individuals and populations healthy.
In recent years we have developed and assessed mechanism and effectivness of Inquiry Based Stress reduction (IBSR) intervention on well-being: from promotion through to prevention, treatment and recovery. We have published 15 studies assesseing the effect of IBSR on physical and mental health among healthy individuals, teachers, adults who stutter, cancer patients and survivors, and women carrying a mutation in the BRCA gene.
Dr Lev-Ari was trained in cellular biology, and expertise in biology and health promotion. Dr. Lev-Ari so far mentored more than 50 graduate and postgraduate students and have held key positions in the field of health promotion as academic board member of Israeli Healthy Cities initiative, treasurer of the Israeli Organization for Health Promotion and Education and participates in the National Council for Health Promotion, and is a member of the Global Working Group (GWG) of mental health promotion.
Dr. Lev-Ari was nominated as a member of the Advisory Committee for Integrative Medicine at the Israeli Cancer Society, was invited to edit the handbook of the Israel Cancer Society for Integrative Medicine, and serves as an editorial board member of the European Journal of Integrative Medicine.
Dr Lev-Ari lives the art of meditation and contemplation for over two decades. He is a student, practitioner and teacher of mindfulness practices (awareness intensive) and inquiry (the work of byron katie) in Israel and around the world for many years.