APF provides fellowships for Israeli physicians training in North America and coordinates American and Canadian medical emergency volunteers with the government of Israel.

[1] APF was founded in 1950 by a group of American Jewish physicians in New England led by Morton Robbins of Manchester, New Hampshire in order to support their professional colleagues in the newly founded State of Israel.

[2][3] In announcing the creation of the organization, Robbins said, "Through this Fellowship Committee, members of the medical profession of this country will have the opportunity to provide assistance and cooperation to the physicians in Israel, to provide post-graduate scholarships for physicians from Israel and to help teach them American medical techniques and know-hows in this country.

"[4] In 1952, APF sponsored its first fellow in the U.S., Haim Cohen, a refugee from Greece and a survivor of the 1948 Hadassah medical convoy massacre.

During the Gulf War, IDF Surgeon General Yehuda Danon said that for this service Israel considers the APF "a vital link in the system of providing medical services here under all circumstances, and we very much appreciate your efforts on this behalf.