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TOURO UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT’S

REPORT

Touro College Granted University Status by New York State Board of Regents THE MILESTONE OF FULL UNIVERSITY STATUS IN NEW YORK COMES AS TOURO CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Touro College in New York State has been granted university status by the New York State Board of Regents, Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro President announced today. This comes after the Board voted to amend the charter to change the College’s name to “Touro University” in recognition of the institution’s advanced academic standing. Touro has already achieved university status at its California and Nevada schools.

“This exciting announcement represents our commitment to academic excellence and growth through innovative programs and opportunities in higher education. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished over the last 50 years, on the shoulders of our visionary founder, Dr. Bernard Lander of blessed memory, and know that this achievement bodes well for Touro’s future.”

“Achieving university status is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication on the part of the entire Touro community—our faculty, deans, program directors, staff

The school will undergo university-wide rebranding, which will unify all its programs and schools under one Touro University umbrella. With 35 schools in four states and four countries serving nearly 19,000 students each year, this shift will

and students who have elevated, expanded and advanced our outstanding academic offerings,” said Dr. Kadish.

strengthen the school’s identity and ability to offer consistent, high-quality programs and opportunities to its students.

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This recognition comes as Touro celebrates its 50th anniversary and advances plans to build a new 243,305 square-foot main campus at 3 Times Square. Touro will transform eight floors of the building into classrooms, science and technology labs, offices and event space, creating a state-of-the-art home for several of its world-class

“Achieving university status is recognition of our top quality

schools and programs.

Dr. Alan Kadish Touro University President

academic programs… Touro today is a full-service university offering comprehensive undergraduate programs, multiple graduate and professional schools, doctoral programs in psychology and Jewish studies and five medical schools… we are expanding our research capabilities and exceedingly proud of the scholarship and innovation of our faculty in wide-ranging fields including medicine, mental health, education, law, dentistry and more.”

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

Message from the President

Message from the Chairman of the Board

Graduate School of Business

Message from the Chancellor

Graduate School of Education

In Memoriam – Founder and First President,

Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Dr. Bernard Lander

Graduate School of Social Work

Mission Statement

Graduate School of Technology

Celebrating 50 Years of Touro (By the Numbers)

The School of Health Sciences of Touro College

Touro Celebrates 50 Years

Touro College Illinois

The Touro Universe at 50

Touro is a Healthcare Education Leader:

DIVISION OF GRADUATE STUDIES

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

Expands Offerings with Five New Programs

Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Touro Makes Landmark Move to Times Square

Touro College of Dental Medicine

Research Roundup

New York Medical College

Spotlight on Scholarship, Teaching and Innovation

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

The COVID-19 Pandemic:

Touro College of Pharmacy

Touro Steps Up to Make a Difference

Touro University California

Supporting Diverse Communities,

100 Touro University Nevada

Advancing Equity and Inclusion E-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES UNDERGRADUATE DIVISIONS 34

Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Lander College for Women –

104 Touro University Worldwide AFFILIATE SCHOOLS

The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School

106 Hebrew Theological College

Lander College for Men - Beis Medrash L’Talmud

108 Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim –

New York School of Career and Applied Studies

School for Lifelong Education

Machon L’Parnasa – Institute for Professional Studies

Touro College Los Angeles

Institute for Advanced Talmudic Studies

110 Board of Trustees and Board of Governors 111

INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS 52

Touro College in Israel

Touro Colleges in Europe

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Building Our Future Together

Message from the President As we prepare to celebrate half a century as an institution, I am proud to report that Touro is continuing to invest in

formula for success rests on our ability to constantly assess student and societal needs, as well as emerging career

innovative educational initiatives and research, while training and empowering students with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand professions. Our 50th anniversary is an opportunity for reflection, when we look back on not only a year of growth, but also five full decades of extraordinary accomplishments.

opportunities in every field. As a result, our schools provide diverse, innovative course offerings, preparing students for a multitude of careers, from allied health and pharmacy to law; from business to education; from technology to Jewish studies—all reflecting the historical Jewish commitment to values and respect for applied knowledge and discovery. We innovate rapidly, adapt as needed and are adept at finding the best educational solutions to meet the needs we identify.

Touro’s uniqueness lies in three foundational elements: our dual mission to serve the Jewish community and greater society, the service-oriented values that we imbue in our graduates, and our commitment to career advisement, which points our students towards a wide array of meaningful professions. In the past two years, Touro focused on making significant contributions to the fight against COVID, with substantial research led by the chairman of medicine at New York Medical College, as well as by the researchers at Lovelace, our newest research affiliate in New Mexico. Since the onset of the pandemic, Touro faculty and students worked on drug therapy for COVID, and with a grant from New York State, we worked on sequencing different variants of the virus to determine their prevalence. At the Touro College of Pharmacy, our students also performed important community-based outreach to administer vaccines and encourage vaccinations. Touro’s nearly 19,000 students—enrolled at 35 colleges and schools in 26 locations over four states and four countries— are educated to understand that return on investment refers both to economic prosperity and social justice. Our unique

Nowhere is this more evident than in our medical and health sciences programs. Some of the best job opportunities currently exist in the healthcare field, and Touro students are primed for success. Educating approximately 8,000 students annually in the health sciences, Touro is fast becoming one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the U.S. Over the last decade, we acquired the prestigious New York Medical College and opened a new dental school—the first in New York State in 50 years. We offer Integrated Honors Tracks and Medical Honors Pathway programs that provide opportunities for high-achieving students to combine undergraduate studies with a direct pathway to professional education. We look forward to continuing to educate and develop the next generation of professional, corporate, academic and community leaders to help meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

Dr. Alan Kadish | President TOURO.EDU | 5

Message from the Chairman In a year like no other, Touro University flourished. Our faculty, administrators and students found new ways to teach, research, learn and contribute to society. Our programs are expanding around the globe, and our impact is growing as we collectively work to perfect the world. The Touro community provided essential services to so many during these challenging times—from direct patient care to legal and social services to briefings for healthcare leaders and practitioners. Touro guides students to reach their intellectual and academic potential, while also showing them how to conduct their professional lives in keeping with the institutional values of repairing the world, social justice and responsibility to serve others. Our alumni become leaders, not only in their chosen careers, but in their communities. This commitment to both knowledge and values is a key to ethical leadership, a hallmark of a Touro education. Through my career and in my personal quest for scholarship, I have seen that two traits are essential. The first is confidence to take risks and drive towards a goal, even when facing significant barriers. The second is humility to learn from experience and adapt to changing environments. Touro’s president, Dr. Alan Kadish, and chancellor, Rabbi Doniel Lander, exemplify these traits in steering Touro toward the future as they build a multicampus, multistate, multinational educational institution.

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‫תורה תחילתה גמילות חסדים וסופה גמילות חסדים‬ Sotah 14a This quote from the Talmud encapsulates the nexus of knowledge and values that is the essence of Touro. Simply stated—Torah, which is the source of all Jewish knowledge, begins with an act of kindness and concludes with an act of kindness. Our Touro students and leadership, who so ably combine the pursuit of education and knowledge with the responsibility to serve others, are truly emulating these ideals. I applaud Touro’s accomplishments and look forward to helping lead this eminent organization into the future.

Zvi Ryzman Chairman, Board of Trustees

Message from the Chancellor Touro is the legacy of its founder, my beloved and esteemed father, Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander of blessed memory, who

Kadish and our esteemed chairman of the Board of Trustees, Zvi Ryzman, the administration continues to move

imbued this institution with a dual mandate, to strengthen Jewish continuity and to serve the global community. To that end, he established a network of schools that respond to the unique needs of the Jewish people, as well as an array of undergraduate and professional programs that have enabled all members of our society to enjoy personal and professional success. Touro’s core values

the University forward. Touro’s distinguished graduate schools are producing a new cadre of skilled professionals. Our graduates are in heavy demand in many sectors of the workforce, including the health sciences, education and technology. Our acclaimed Judaic studies programs are molding the next generation of communal leaders who are spreading our mission across the U.S. and around the world.

WE MAINTAIN OUR DISTINCT IDENTITY BY REINFORCING OUR DEDICATION TO THE JEWISH HERITAGE AND OUR MANDATE TO HELP HUMANITY.

of individual development and the greater good, derived from our ancient Jewish heritage, are expressed through myriad opportunities for intellectual inquiry and personal growth that enable our students to succeed in the world of tomorrow. Academic excellence and public service comprise the dual facets of our mission and we proudly continue our steadfast commitment to Jewish continuity and, more broadly, to humankind. Under the outstanding leadership of President Dr. Alan

By partnering our multicampus institution with local communities across the United States and abroad, we have positioned ourselves as a resource both academically and socially for our neighbors. As our campuses continue to grow, especially in the West Coast of the United States, the leadership of Touro University will continue to expand the scope of our social commitments and dual mission. We maintain our distinct identity by reinforcing our dedication to the Jewish heritage and our mandate to help humanity. As chancellor, I have seen the impact of our work, and I believe Touro is privileged to share our rich and inspiring tradition with countless communities across the world. I welcome you to join us in our journey.

Rabbi Doniel Lander Chancellor, Touro University Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim – Institute for Advanced Talmudic Studies

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IN MEMORIAM

FOUNDER AND FIRST PRESIDENT DR. BERNARD LANDER Dr. Bernard Lander was a brilliant, inspirational leader and visionary who revolutionized the field of education. As an educator and preeminent scholar, he devoted his life to Jewish and general higher education. Dr. Lander founded Touro College in 1970 and served as its first president until his passing in February 2010. Under his leadership, Touro grew significantly into an institution with multiple campuses and international reach. Today, Touro educates nearly 19,000 students across the United States and around the world. Dr. Lander’s creative genius and original thinking continue to be reflected in Touro’s innovative approach to higher education. He believed that it was his mission to strengthen Jewish continuity through the myriad of educational institutions that he established and provide opportunities for individuals from all walks of life to achieve academic advancement and career success. During the administration of former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Dr. Lander was named associate director of the Committee on Unity, a precursor to the city’s Commission on Human Rights, and was recognized as an authority on human rights. He served for more than 30 years as vice president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, where he emerged as a spokesman for the American Jewish community and was deeply involved in the creation of its acclaimed youth movement, the National Conference of Synagogue Youth. Touro University is Dr. Bernard Lander’s legacy. Its institutions will continue to provide leadership for the community and academic excellence for many generations to come.

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“Dr. Lander utilized his myriad talents to improve the lives of so many. He dedicated prodigious efforts to making his dreams come true, not for himself, but for the community. He taught us all how to live with joy and optimism while living for others, how to care for the individuals while thinking of the larger whole, how to take action while being a receptive listener and how to reach thousands while remaining true to one’s own inner vision.” Dr. Stanley Boylan Vice President of Undergraduate Education and Dean of Faculties

TOURO UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT Touro University is an independent institution of higher education under Jewish auspices, established to promote and perpetuate the Jewish heritage, as well as to serve the general community in keeping with the historic Jewish commitment to intellectual inquiry, the transmission of knowledge, social justice and service to society. Touro offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs that serve diverse components of the Jewish community and the larger society, especially those who have been historically underserved. These academic offerings span Jewish studies, the liberal arts and sciences and medical and health sciences. Touro is a university where personal growth, scholarship and research are fostered, and where men and women are prepared for productive lives of dignity, value and values. The core values of the University are based on two fundamental components, as reflected in Hillel’s dictum in Ethics of the Fathers, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am concerned only with myself, what am I?” These values mirror Touro’s commitment to quality education as well as integrity, inclusivity, equity and respect for all members of the Touro community.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Celebrating 50 Years of Touro TOURO 1971 - 2021 THEN:

NOW:

35 students

Nearly 19,000 students

4 programs

246 undergraduate and graduate programs

13 faculty members

1 location

$47,000 in scholarships

2,236 faculty members 26 locations in the US, Israel, Berlin, and Moscow $49 million

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Touro Celebrates 50 Years Fifty years ago, 35 students walked into a building in Midtown Manhattan and became the first class at Touro College. With those steps, they fulfilled the dream of Touro’s founder, Dr. Bernard Lander, who sought to create a space where Jewish students’ values, cultural and spiritual needs could go hand in hand with their educational pursuits.

Dr. Lander, who became the founding president of Touro, would be gratified to see how Touro has grown over the past five decades. With nearly 19,000 students and 35 schools in four countries, Touro is America’s largest not-forprofit independent institution of higher and professional education under Jewish auspices. Touro’s 108,000 alumni are leaders in their respective fields, from medicine and health sciences to law; business to education; and technology to Jewish studies.

Today, Touro students hail from all over the world, from all walks of life, in the pursuit of a common goal: To get the best possible education, to find a promising professional career and to do so in an environment that respects and supports their backgrounds and beliefs.

Touro offers an expanding array of degree programs, including undergraduate and graduate programs in Jewish studies liberal arts and sciences and professions, including

THE TOURO UNIVERSE AT 50 1972

School of General Studies is established to serve the city ’s diverse ethnic communities. This school has become part of the New York School of Applied Studies (NYSCAS).

Division of Health Sciences is established, offering upper division studies leading to a B.S. in Health Sciences and qualifying graduates to practice as physician assistants.

1971

Touro College of Liberal Arts and Sciences opens in September with a freshman class of 35 men.

1974

Women’s Division is established as a unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Manhattan. Today this division has evolved into the Lander College for Women-The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School.

1979

1976

Touro College achieves Middle States accreditation.

1975

First Annual Commencement Exercises held.

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1981

1977

Flatbush Men’s Division is established to serve the educational needs and career aspirations of yeshiva students.

1984

The Graduate School of Jewish Studies admits its first class.

A coordinate Flatbush Women’s Division for observant Jewish students opens in Brooklyn.

1980

Touro College School of Law, today The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, admits its charter class.

Division of Health Sciences establishes a graduate program in physical therapy.

1983

The School of Law graduates its first class.

Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim, a full-time Yeshiva affiliate of Touro, opens in Queens.

1985

Division of New Americans, geared to meet the unique needs of immigrants from the Soviet Union, enrolls its first class. The division eventually becomes a part of NYSCAS.

1993

1995

The Graduate School of Education and Psychology is established. Graduate School of Education eventually becomes one of the largest teacher education programs in New York State.

1991

Touro College School of International Business Management and Touro College School of Jewish Studies open in Moscow. Today, those schools are Moscow University Touro and Lander Institute Moscow, respectively.

1997

The new Lander College Flatbush Campus opens at Avenue J and East 16th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.

1994

Touro opens Touro College in Israel in Jerusalem for American students.

Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomes its first class.

1996

The School of Health Sciences establishes the M.S. in Occupational Therapy program in Manhattan.

2000

New Lander College for Men in Queens, New York, admits its charter class.

Touro opens is first online program.

1998

The Graduate School of Business opens its doors on Wall Street.

1999

Touro launches Machon L’Parnasa - Institute for Professional Studies, offering undergraduate career-oriented associate degree programs in traditional classroom settings for chasidic men and women.

2002

New York School of Career and Applied Studies is formed, a merger of different undergraduate programs at Touro.

Touro’s Graduate Program leading to a Master of Science in SpeechLanguage Pathology is inaugurated.

2003

Touro College Berlin branch campus opens with a charter class of 19 students.

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“Dr. Bernard Lander dreamt of creating an outstanding university system. Today it is a magnificent reality with ever-greater opportunities for our students, faculty and staff, and an agility to innovate and embrace cutting-edge methodologies in our delivery of a high-quality education.” —DR. ALAN KADISH, TOURO’S SECOND AND CURRENT PRESIDENT

2010

2007

Touro University California opens the Graduate School of Education.

2004

Touro University Nevada is established as a branch campus of Touro University California with the opening of Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, founded to address the critical healthcare needs within the state of Nevada.

The Touro College School of Osteopathic Medicine opens in Harlem with a charter class of 135 students.

Touro University California opens the College of Pharmacy.

2005

Touro College Los Angeles opens with a charter class of 34 students.

2006

The School of Social Work is established in New York City.

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2008

Touro College of Pharmacy opens in New York with a charter class of 66 students.

Touro College launches the Graduate School of Technology.

Alan Kadish, M.D., is appointed president and chief executive officer of Touro College and University System after Touro’s founder and visionary, Dr. Bernard Lander, passes away.

Touro University Worldwide, an online university, launches.

2014

2012

Touro College of Pharmacy in New York graduates its first class.

2011

New York Medical College joins Touro College and University System.

The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine opens a branch in Middletown, NY.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine launches MedAchieve, a twoyear “mini medical school” that serves local high school students in New York City, in an effort to provide pathways to medicine for underrepresented minorities.

education, law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, social work, business and more. A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALTHCARE EDUCATION Since its founding, Touro has emerged as an innovator in healthcare education. With approximately 8,000 students annually in the health sciences, Touro is fast becoming one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the U.S. Its 13 schools train medical and healthcare professionals in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO SERVICE Touro was established in the service of knowledge, compassion and social justice. Over the past 50 years, Touro has remained steadfast in this commitment, offering myriad programs that serve underserved communities. In 2012, when superstorm Sandy decimated homes and

2016

Graduate School of Jewish Studies offers a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies, becoming the first Touro College program in New York to offer a Ph.D.

Touro College of Dental Medicine, the first new dental school to launch in New York State in nearly 50 years, opens in Valhalla, NY.

Touro University California opens its School of Nursing.

2015

Hebrew Theological College joins Touro College and University System

2019

Touro acquires the Harlem Hospital School of Radiologic Technology and establishes the Medical Imaging program at New York School of Career and Applied Studies.

livelihoods on Long Island, Touro Law students set up a legal hotline within three days and Touro became a national model. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the law school’s Public Advocacy Center applied the same model to create a COVID-19 hotline. Students, volunteer lawyers and Touro employees responded to concerns about issues ranging from employment and food security to mental health and immigration. At the same time, Touro’s New York Medical College launched a series of webinars, which quickly became essential viewing for health professionals across New York State. Students in medical and allied health fields volunteered in busy hospitals and crowded emergency rooms. Touro students gain valuable experience through service opportunities and internships. The speech-language pathology students staff a Speech and Hearing Center in Brooklyn

New York College of Podiatric Medicine joins Touro College and University System.

Touro College of Dental Medicine graduates its first class.

2020

Touro College Illinois opens, offering programs in cybersecurity, data analytics and healthcare.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine launches an M.S. program in pathologists’ assistant, the first in the State.

2021

Touro breaks ground on the forthcoming Touro College Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine in Great Falls.

Lovelace Institute for Biomedical Research in New Mexico becomes an affiliate of Touro College.

2022

Touro announces landmark move to NYC’s Times Square, unveils plans to build a new 243,305 square foot campus, which will become state-of-the-art home for many of Touro’s world-class schools and programs.

The School of Health Sciences launches new Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology, to begin in Fall 2022.

NOW

Touro celebrates its 50th Jubilee Anniversary and is granted university status.

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that provides affordable services to the community, while health science students teach technology to seniors and mentor underserved high school students interested in medicine and science careers through the award-winning MedAchieve program. Whether they study in New York, Israel, Moscow or Berlin, Touro students are prepared to thrive in the competitive global economy. But the return on investment in a Touro education is far greater than financial rewards. Graduates become accomplished, thoughtful citizens who share and perpetuate our belief in equal access to quality education, the treatment of all human beings with integrity and respect, personal and professional ethics and the building of a responsive and responsible society. DR. ALAN KADISH, LEADING TOURO INTO THE FUTURE A medical doctor, a deeply committed observant Jew and a forward thinker, Dr. Kadish is imbuing every program and division of Touro with professionalism, prioritizing research and faculty development and serving the myriad educational needs of varied constituencies. Dr. Kadish has helped Touro expand its unique offerings for Jewish and underserved communities while becoming a top-tier institution for the study of health sciences and medicine. As one of the largest and continually growing healthcare educational systems in the U.S., Dr. Kadish has positioned Touro to lead a new era in medicine. In providing educational opportunities that are rigorous, accessible, and—perhaps most of all—relevant, Dr. Kadish keeps our vision clear and progressing ever forward. Under his leadership, we continue to prepare a new generation of scholars, entrepreneurs and leaders for the world ahead. And 50 years ago, that is exactly what Dr. Lander wanted to achieve.

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Touro is a Healthcare Education Leader: Expands Offerings with Five New Programs Educating nearly 8,000 students annually in medicine and the health sciences, Touro is fast becoming one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the U.S. This year, we are expanding that footprint across the country with several new programs. Our goal is to continue creating opportunities in a multitude of growth-oriented fields and to

osteopathic medicine campus—will address the state’s physician shortage and help increase access to healthcare. Touro College Montana will train osteopathic physicians, with a particular emphasis on practicing medicine in underserved communities and increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine. Approximately 30

prime our students for successful careers.

percent of the current student body in Touro’s osteopathic medical schools is comprised of underrepresented minorities and 55 percent of graduates practice in underserved communities.

Adding to its existing portfolio of top-tier medical schools, Touro broke ground on a new medical school in Great Falls, Montana. The new school—Touro’s fifth college of

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The PsyD program at The School of Health Sciences of Touro College was created in response to the country’s mental health epidemic. The five-year program combines academic, research and clinical experiences to prepare graduates to become licensed clinical psychologists in the State of New York. Students work directly with culturally and racially diverse populations across the life span, and learn about healthcare disparities and how to bring this understanding into clinical practice. The New York College of Podiatric Medicine joined Touro University System in July, 2021. The first and largest college of podiatric medicine, it remains at the forefront of podiatric medical education. Adding podiatric medicine to our existing network of medical and health science schools and programs will serve to strengthen our academic offerings. By combining outstanding classroom instruction with clinical training in one of the world’s largest foot care clinics, students become dedicated healthcare professionals who set the standard for excellence. The newly launched Pathologists’ Assistant Master of

Science program is designed to build the knowledge and skills to become a licensed and certified pathologists’ assistant. The only one of its kind offered in the State of New York, this new curriculum will provide an immersive biomedical training—along with access to the latest technology and state-of-the-art anatomy, pathology and histology laboratories at Touro’s Harlem campus. Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, a private contract research organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is affiliating with Touro University in a partnership that will expand our capacity to make a difference in the health and lives of Americans. The Lovelace Biomedical team includes experts for every step of the preclinical research process, from chemists who develop precise formulations and assays to quantify drug distribution to veterinarians who determine the best animal models to address scientific hypotheses. With this acquisition, Touro will be able to bring in-depth understanding into potential health risks, optimize the efficacy of pharmaceuticals and select laboratory species most predictive of human response.

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TOURO MAKES LANDMARK MOVE TO TIMES SQUARE New state-of-the-art home for many of Touro’s world class schools and programs As Touro University continues to grow and expand, the school has big plans for the future, announcing a new 243,305 square-foot campus in one of the most iconic places in New York City—Times Square. Touro will transform eight floors of the building into classrooms, science and technology labs, offices and event space, and will have a dedicated entrance and lobby on the southwest corner of 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue. Seven of Touro’s schools will be housed in the location, including the College of Pharmacy (TCOP), New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS), Graduate School of Business (GSB), Graduate School of Education (GSE), Graduate School of Jewish Studies (GSJS), Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) and Graduate School of Technology (GST). “Touro is now celebrating its 50-year anniversary and by improving our campus experience and upgrading our facilities, Touro will be wellpositioned for the next 50 years,” said Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish. “We’re excited about the opportunities for our students in the future.” The presence of faculty from different disciplines will increase the chances for collaboration, and there will also be more of a chance for students to meet each other, in a place that will feel like an urban campus. Renovations have already begun, and we are excited to move in in early 2023.

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Research Roundup

DR. MICHAL LANIADOSCHWARTZMAN, PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY, NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE

Touro University researchers and scientists perform groundbreaking research on everything from basic science to translational research to areas of study that are at the fore of today’s critical issues. Here’s a look at some of our highlights. A NEWLY DISCOVERED GENE MUTATION MAY HELP PREVENT OBESITY Imagine a drug that could dramatically reduce the risk of obesity and, in turn, premature death. Researchers at New York Medical College may have gotten a step closer to finding that holy grail. Partnering with Regeneron, Victor Garcia, Ph.D., assistant professor, and Michal Laniado-

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Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair, department of pharmacology, used whole-exome sequencing technology to identify a genetic mutation that appears to decrease the risk of obesity by half. The study, published in the journal Science, examined 64,000 exomes (the protein coding region of the genome) and found one important gene mutation. People with at least one inactive copy of the GPR75 gene had a lower body mass index, weighed 12 pounds less on average and had a 54 percent lower risk for obesity than people without the single mutation. Though the mutation is rare, the hope is that it can help drug

developers identify a pathway that they can then mimic in a pharmaceutical to prevent obesity. “Presently, pharmacological tools to combat weight gain and obesity, which continue to be a global burden, are lacking,” says Schwartzman. “Our finding sets the stage for the development of novel therapeutics that have the potential to prevent a host of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions associated with obesity.” COVID-19 AND UNDERLYING DISEASES: THE TRUE RISK It’s widely known that people with underlying health conditions have a greater risk of dying from COVID-19. But researchers at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University California, found that the risks are far greater than what has been previously reported. Led by Shin Murakami, Ph.D., professor of basic science, the study found that the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths—93 percent—were associated with an underlying medical condition (the data was collected before December 2020, so deaths occurred prior to vaccinations and the Delta variant). The top four conditions with the greatest risk of mortality were hypertension (35 times greater odds of dying compared to those with no underlying condition), diabetes (20 times greater), cardiovascular disease (19 times) and chronic kidney disease (12 times). When cardiovascular disease and hypertension were combined, the odds of dying were 40 times higher. Interestingly, lung disease added only a modest increase in risk. “These risks are much higher than we thought, so it’s critical that people with these conditions, including the very common high blood pressure, are vaccinated and protect themselves from getting COVID,” says Murkami. ON THE HUNT FOR A NON-INVASIVE THYROID CANCER TEST Researchers at Touro University Nevada have identified a biomarker that can predict which thyroid nodules may develop into cancer. Currently, early diagnosis of nodules is controversial and leads to overuse of invasive thyroid biopsies.

The group tested the accuracy of a marker, a tiny fluid-filled sac in the blood (called a vesicle) that has been shown to promote malignant cells. By looking for these vesicles in blood samples of patients undergoing biopsies for head and neck masses, they were able to distinguish malignant from benign tissue with a 92.3 percent sensitivity. They reported their findings in European Thyroid Journal. “Our data have shown that this new minimally invasive diagnostic procedure has the potential to predict whether a thyroid nodule is malignant,” says Aurelio Lorico, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology. This could dramatically reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies of nodules. CORRECTING THE DATA ON COVID-19 IN YOUNG PEOPLE Since the beginning of the pandemic, it was thought that adults contracted COVID-19 at a much higher rate than children and teenagers. Across the world, early data showed very low rates of COVID-19 in adolescents (defined as ages 10-19) and youth (15-24). But Barbara Rumain, Ph.D., a researcher in the department of pediatrics at NYMC, wanted to reassess the rate of infection in young people. Her study, published in PLOS One, looked at the prevalence of COVID-19 in six states during the summer of 2020. She found that adolescents TOURO.EDU | 23

DR. SALOMON AMAR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AFFAIRS

and youth had much higher rates of COVID-19 infection than previously reported and actually had higher rates than older adults (65+). In both Utah and Florida, the prevalence of COVID-19 in youth was twice what it was in older adults. The authors recommended that efforts should be made to reduce exposure in young people, with masking and social distancing in schools and other social settings. They also recommended public health messaging more targeted at young people. CAN PROBIOTICS PREVENT PERIODONTITIS? About 50 percent of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease which causes inflammation of the gums. In severe cases, it can lead to tooth loss. Current methods of prevention and treatment are inadequate and invasive, and come with certain risks, like antibiotic resistance. Salomon Amar, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor and senior vice president for research affairs, Touro University, and his team in the departments of pharmacology and microbiology and immunology at New York Medical College, investigated using a promising probiotic to naturally reduce the inflammation. They noted that the probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila, is not found in people with obesity or diabetes and is found at high levels in the gut of lean or normoglycemic people. Since periodontal disease is characterized by inflammation, just like and diabetes and obesity, the researchers decided to look at Akkermansia muciniphila levels in human periodontal disease. Indeed, the probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila, was found at increased levels in the mouths of people without periodontitis but is absent in people with severe periodontitis. Therefore, the researchers supplemented the diet of mice suffering from periodontal disease with an oral delivery of the probiotic and found that it was effective in reducing inflammation and bone loss around teeth. The study was published in the journal Infection and Immunity. “Akkermansia should be considered as a promising tool for treating gum disease and could be added to toothpaste or mouth rinses to prevent this disease in the future,” says Amar. 24 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

other factors, they found that the pay gap was attributable to women simply choosing lower paying tasks than men. “We theorized that perhaps women choose lower-paying tasks because they have a lower expectation of financial rewards,” says Litman. But placing the blame on social forces, not on women, he added that these choices “are informed by an expectation of lower earnings and a pessimism about wages borne from experiences in the traditional labor market.” STUDY ADVANCES THE USE OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE FOR PAIN PATIENTS A new study by researchers at Touro College of Pharmacy demonstrated that doctors can personalize pain medications based on a patient’s genetic profile, a process known as pharmacogenomics.

RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY MORE REASONS FOR THE GENDER PAY GAP The gender pay gap has been attributed to a range of factors, from inequitable opportunities to discrimination to family responsibilities. But studies estimate that about 40 percent of the gender pay gap is still unexplained. Leib Litman, Ph.D., department of psychology at Touro, wanted to investigate what else could be driving the gap. He turned to the anonymous “microtask” marketplace Mechanical Turk as a way to control for these known factors. At Mechanical Turk, a person’s gender is not disclosed when accepting a task. Also, the tasks are very similar in nature, reducing factors like gender preferences or gendered skills. Litman, along with Jonathan Robinson, Ph.D., computer science department of Lander College for Men, looked at more than 20,000 workers performing more than 5 million tasks. The study, published in PLOS One, found that on average, tasks completed by women paid 10.5 percent per hour less than tasks completed by men. When adjusting for

Pain medications are not always effective for chronic pain sufferers, and some people are more susceptible to side effects, such as nausea, respiratory depression and addiction. These responses are largely based on genetic differences in the way people metabolize drugs. In the study, published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, 107 chronic pain patients were prescribed pain medication. They then underwent pharmacogenomic testing and doctors personalized their treatment based on the results. Eighty percent of people received a change in their pain medication and the proportion of people with intense pain nearly halved, from 10.5 percent to 5.7 percent. Of the prescriptions, 33 percent were discontinued, and 17 percent were maintained but the dose, frequency or way the drug was delivered was changed. After testing, 70 new prescriptions were added. “Pharmacogenomic testing is poised to contribute significantly to pharmacotherapy for several indications, including cardiovascular, oncology, psychiatry and pain management, as demonstrated in the current study,” says Zvi G. Loewy, Ph.D., associate dean of research and professor in the department of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at Touro College of Pharmacy.

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Spotlight on Scholarship, Teaching and Innovation Ronnie Myers, DDS, is the dean of Touro College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Myers, who spent decades at Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, was excited by the challenge of directing a brandnew dental school, the first to be established in New York State in 50 years. Dr. Myers has developed an innovative educational program at Touro Dental that includes the global incorporation of digital technology into the provision of care. Through the latest technology, dental students and faculty at Touro Dental Health, the clinical teaching facility, are able to completely integrate the total care of patients from initial presentation to care completion. Under Dr. Myers’ leadership, Touro Dental offers dental care for pediatric patients as well as those with special needs. The school recently received A Smiles United Grant from the State of New York through the Office of Patients with Developmental Disabilities. This funding will assist in the development of virtual training programs for healthcare personnel responsible for the oral healthcare of those with developmental disabilities. In addition, funding has been secured through the New York State Academic Centers to support a fellowship in training dental students in oral health disparities. “The constant innovation along with the excitement of new initiatives brought by the exceptional faculty will allow us to expand in bringing better healthcare to the special needs population and all the patients we treat,” said Dr. Myers.

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Dr. Jeffrey Gardere is a widely sought-after expert in the field of mental health. A clinical psychologist with a private practice in New York City, he is associate professor and course director of behavioral medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM). He educates both medical and pharmacy students on cultural competency and directs interprofessional collaboration initiatives for a diverse student body. When mental health topics hit the news, Dr. Gardere shares his insight and wisdom as a regular contributor to NBC Today, the FOX Network, MSNBC, CNN and more. From school shootings to pandemic-induced stress and a host of other issues across the medical and mental health spectrum, Dr. Gardere offers expert perspective as well as coping tips and serves as a trusted public health advisor to millions around America. One of his main areas of specialization is issues relating to minority and underserved communities. “I appreciate the focus on diversity at Touro and the emphasis on caring for those who are on the margins of society. TouroCOM has become a national leader in addressing health disparities and teaching cultural competence in medical care and I’m proud to be a part of that,” said Dr. Gardere.

Dr. Howard R. Feldman is an environmental science expert and paleontologist who teaches natural history, geoecology and biodiversity at Touro’s Lander College for Women in New York City. He is also a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. Dr. Feldman has received grants from the National Geographic Society, Explorers Club and Sigma Xi and has varied research interests ranging from oil exploration in Israel and fossil invertebrate biogeography in the Middle East to reconstructing the timing of the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. Dr. Feldman, who presents and publishes widely on these topics, is completing a longterm project identifying the marine invertebrates of Egypt, Israel and Jordan to provide a database for workers who need these data to complete their studies in fields such as community analysis and oil exploration. He authored a book on the geoarchaeology of Israel that may assist the Israel Antiquities Authority in preventing looting of archaeological sites. “There is nothing as exciting as discovering a new species never before seen by human eyes. My courses at Touro have a heavy emphasis on fieldwork and exploration. It always amazes me how my students react to the specimens I show them,” said Dr. Feldman. “They are filled with wonder, excitement and want to delve deeply into the subject matter.” Looking ahead, Dr. Feldman plans to explore the Hudson Valley for new species of body and trace fossils. He will also maximize the access to laboratory facilities and a world-class library afforded to him by his position at the Museum of Natural History so Touro students can continue to join his research projects.

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Dr. Susan Weissman is associate professor and chair of Judaic studies at Touro’s Lander College for Women. She is an expert in Bible and its commentary, and her courses range from Medieval and Modern Biblical Exegesis to the Ten Trials of Abraham and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch’s commentary on the weekly Bible portion. Dr. Weissman is also an expert on intellectual and cultural history of medieval Ashkenaz, France and Germany of the high Middle Ages, with a focus on the Hasidei Ashkenaz (German Pietists). Dr. Weissman recently published her research on the Hasidei Ashkenaz and the Jews of medieval France and Germany in a book entitled Final Judgement and the Dead in Medieval Jewish Thought. “I love teaching at Touro because it is one of the few institutions of higher education in the world in which Judaic studies can be taught at a very high intellectual level without ever compromising the religious and ethical values of our tradition. I love seeing the sparkle in my students’ eyes when they grasp an insight or perceive something they have always known with novel understanding,” said Dr. Weissman. “This is the true reward of teaching. Yet teaching Torah/Bible is also the imparting of a way of life and set of moral norms that guide our students long after they leave our College.”

Dr. Renee Reijo Pera is dean of research at the proposed Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine–Montana (TouroCOM-MT) and president of the affiliated McLaughlin Research Institute. Dr. Reijo Pera’s research focuses on translational genetics and applications to neurodegeneration and development. She seeks to understand how our genes may impact neurodegeneration as we age, especially in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and to develop novel therapies that may prevent or lessen neurodegeneration. Dr. Reijo Pera’s expertise is in genetics and obstetrics and gynecology with a focus on early development, reproductive medicine and long-term health outcomes of neurodegeneration. Her recent research, including a study published in Human Reproduction Update, focused on identifying genes that control cell fate decisions such as whether a cell will form a neuron, heart cell or liver cell or maintain the ability to form all the different cell types of the body. She and her team have identified genes that are called master regulators that are important for understanding how cells form, and in potentially diagnosing or regenerating healthy neurons and other cell types as we age. “It is a great privilege to join Touro,” said Dr. Reijo Pera. “I believe we have the opportunity to integrate our scientific research into our community of Great Falls, Montana, while also being able to avail ourselves of the knowledge in the greater Touro University System. As I look at the fields of genetics and development, I look forward to research and scholarship that ‘turns back the clock’ on neurodegeneration to restore function.”

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Dr. Steven Tzvi Pirutinsky is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical social work at the Touro Graduate School of Social Work. In addition to teaching, Dr. Pirutinsky is a researcher who publishes widely the intersection of religion and mental health as well as prosocial behavior and psychotherapy effectiveness. He was principal investigator on a recent research project studying Religion, Science & COVID-19: Predictors of Adherence to Health Directives and Mental Health among American Jews. He received a grant from the International Network for the Study of Science and Belief in Society, to explore the relevance of religion and spirituality to the Jewish community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with particular attention to mental health implications and adherence to public health measures. Over the last two years, Dr. Pirutinsky has published 11 research papers on issues ranging from religious coping and weight change to anxiety, sexual abuse and the relationship between spirituality, religion and mental health. His research has been published in Mental Health, Journal of Religion and Health, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, Mental Health, Religion & Culture and Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

Dr. Grace Marie Jones is an assistant professor in the basic science department at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Touro University California (TUC). Dr. Jones’ areas of expertise are nutrition, metabolism and biochemistry. She is currently on several grants as a co-investigator; most recently she received a seed grant from Touro to study the effects of dietary fructose on triglyceride levels. This research is critical as high levels of triglycerides in the blood is a marker for metabolic syndrome and increases risk for cardiovascular disease. A major challenge to studying how lipids are processed after eating is the inability to separate the carriers of triglycerides originating from the small intestine and liver. Dr. Jones’ recent research, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, details a major innovation—a new separation method that purifies chylomicrons, triglyceride carriers coming from the small intestine. This research allows for a better understanding of the contribution of the small intestine and the liver to plasma lipid levels. “I enjoy working at Touro because of the people and the environment. My professional development is being nurtured and spaces are developed for innovative teaching,’ said Dr. Jones. “I am passionate about the field of metabolic research because it touches all aspects of life and is a critical component for educating effective healthcare providers.” Dr. Jones’ future plans include expanding access to research opportunities for TUC students and securing additional grants to fund her research, including from the National Institutes of Health. TOURO.EDU | 29

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Touro Steps Up to Make a Difference During the COVID-19 pandemic, students, faculty and staff throughout the Touro University System volunteered their skills, knowledge and hearts to help those in need. Some stepped forward out of a sense of obligation. Others just wanted to give back and saw an opportunity to gain experience in their chosen fields while lending a helping hand. Some responded to the call of duty. Whatever the impetus, Touro rose to the occasion and made a difference. “I was just glad to play a role in this incredible and never-before-seen scenario,” said Tracy Earl, PA, United States Navy veteran, Army Reserve captain and alum of The School of Health Sciences in New York. Earl cared for COVID patients at the Javits Convention Center in New York City and at a temporary ICU set up at a Texas hospital. “None of this would [have been] possible without what I learned at Touro.” From COVID testing to patient evaluations to vaccine clinics, Touro was an active presence in communities around the country. Thanks to the efforts of Touro University Nevada (TUN), more than 11,000 people received their vaccinations and more than 80,000 medical-grade and surgical masks were donated. In New York, our future doctors distributed masks and educational materials in five languages to at-risk populations and ensured our medical professionals were looked after, raising funds to deliver PPE and meals to hospital workers. Once vaccinations were authorized, New York Medical College (NYMC) with Touro College of Dental Medicine got to work immunizing, and Touro College of Pharmacy organized vaccine clinics with volunteers from The School of Health Sciences, New York School of Career and Applied Studies and Touro College of Osteopathic

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Medicine (TouroCOM). More than 200 students from TouroCOM and NYMC chose to graduate early, determined to join the front lines. The pandemic left many people worried about everything from evictions to unemployment to food security to immigration issues. Touro Law Center staffed a hotline to help answer questions while seniors calling the Senior Citizens Law Center were given important information about rights to a safe workplace. Touro Law volunteers helped get food to the homebound and suggested safe ways to see loved ones if they were not able to leave home. In the end, Touro’s eagerness to step up no doubt eased a lot of worries and helped flatten the curve. Allison Boynton, DO, Class of ’21 at TUN College of Osteopathic Medicine, found volunteering worthwhile, as she and her fellow students were able to help some of the Las Vegas Valley’s most desperate populations. “It was very rewarding to be on the front lines,” said Boynton, “I learned more about the disease itself, how medical care functions during a crisis and how I personally handle crisis.”

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Supporting Diverse Communities, Advancing Equity and Inclusion Since its inception, Touro has served and supported diverse communities, making world-class educational opportunities accessible to all members of society, across all races, nations and creeds. At many of our schools, this means helping the underserved and underrepresented and encouraging our students to work in underserved areas geographically and in specific areas of practice. We address this through our curriculum, events, programs and scholarships. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) strives to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine by helping them get there. Through its vibrant, award-winning MedAchieve program, high school students who might not have a physician role model are allowed to see themselves in the field and get a taste of doctoring. They come to campus weekly for lectures, labs and mentoring by DO students, who teach the foundations of medicine and how the body responds to stress, injury and disease. At TouroCOM, 57 percent of the DO students are minorities, and the med students are true role models to the high school students they mentor.

“MedAchieve is what really opened my eyes.” —Jordan McDonald, B.S. in Biology, candidate for M.S. in Cancer Sciences

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At Touro Law Center, education extends well beyond the classroom. Innovative programs are offered to enhance learning and skills and prepare students for successful legal careers. The Legal Education Access Program (LEAP) welcomes first-year students to a four-week academic support and mentorship program the summer before they begin their law studies. Mentoring continues during the school year to help develop study and test-taking skills. Among LEAP’s goals are building community and fostering a positive environment that will help ensure success in law school and beyond. LEAP is open to all students.

CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ

“The success in my legal career is directly connected to my participation in the LEAP program. It solidified my desire to master the law so that I could positively impact the community. I proudly represent the successful outcome of the Law School’s vision to provide underrepresented students with the support necessary to achieve success in law school. Two decades later, as a sitting NY Supreme Court Justice, I carry with me many lessons that I learned through LEAP.” —Hon. Valerie M. Cartright, New York State Supreme Court Justice

Touro’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) educates graduates for practice in urban, multicultural and diverse environments, and is committed to providing accessible and affordable quality education to traditionally educationally underserved groups. Students with financial need—including minorities and those drawn to working in underserved areas— can receive scholarships for half of their education through a $3.2 million federal grant. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) helps Touro MSW students who are economically, educationally or environmentally disadvantaged. Last year, 52 percent of the HRSA scholarship recipients at Touro’s Graduate School of Social Work were underrepresented minorities.

“The HRSA grant appeared at just the right time and provided me with the hope I needed to keep moving forward.” —Christian Rodriguez, LMSW, Class of 2018, psychiatric social worker at Visiting Nurse Service of New York TOURO.EDU | 33

Lander College of Arts and Sciences

For more than four decades, the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS) has been a vibrant and important component of the Orthodox community in New York, educating generations for career and professional advancement. A ﬂagship of Touro University, LAS offers separate classes for men and women, providing yeshiva and seminary graduates with a foundation of academic excellence for career growth, in an environment that is supportive of their values and attentive to their personal goals. EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND GROWTH LAS offers more than 22 majors and preprofessional options, accelerated degree options, an honors program, as well as three joint undergraduate-graduate degree programs with The School of Health Sciences of Touro College via the Integrated Honors Tracks. As part of their degree program, students are required to complete a carefully designed core curriculum that emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning, computer literacy and quantitative analysis— competencies that are essential for success in most professional ﬁelds. Annually, more than 90 percent of LAS students who apply to professional schools are accepted to prestigious schools of dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, psychology and social work. LAS graduates have excelled on the Uniform CPA examination and on the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) test. Equally important, an LAS education is accessible to all who are motivated to achieve and reach higher for an education of enduring value.

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Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, the longtime executive dean of LAS who also serves as vice president for planning and assessment, has seen generations of alumni benefit from the school’s academic rigor as they innovate and contribute as partners and directors in top firms and researchers and physicians at the top of their specialties. PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS Students have the opportunity to advance directly from a Touro undergraduate school to a graduate or professional program, and accelerated pathways are available in a number of our most sought-after programs in medicine and health sciences. In collaboration with Touro College of Pharmacy, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and The School of Health Sciences of Touro College, the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush offers the Integrated Honors Tracks for students who are pursuing careers as doctors of osteopathic medicine, pharmacists, physician assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists or speechlanguage pathologists. In conjunction with New York Medical College (NYMC), the three Lander Colleges launched the Medical Honors Pathway, which offers the opportunity for qualiﬁed applicants to continue their studies at NYMC after completing their undergraduate work, provided they sustain the academic requirements. HONORS PROGRAMS The Honors Program at Lander College of Arts and Sciences, also known as the Flatbush Society of Fellows, is attracting academically gifted students to its serviceoriented leadership mission. The Fellows engage

Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Efrat Bruck, M.D.

Anesthesiology Resident, Mount Sinai Hospital When her five-year-old daughter informed everyone in her path, “My mommy is a doctor!” a fierce pride enveloped people and I love science,” says Bruck, who in 2021 graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Bruck’s medical journey began at Touro in Flatbush. “Touro provided me with an excellent education that was tailored to my needs,” says Bruck, who graduated with an honors degree in biology. “Touro educates and gives you the tools to succeed, while being culturally sensitive. Those are crucial components, especially to a religious student seeking a good education.” Today Bruck is an anesthesiology resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. Becoming a doctor was a childhood dream: Her family moved from Israel to New York because her brother suffered end-stage kidney disease, requiring specialized care. She juggles motherhood, community service and the vampire hours of a resident. “Sleep is right up there after oxygen for me,” she says, laughing. It’s a mystery when she fits that into her schedule: Bruck

in vigorous debate at monthly colloquia dedicated to identifying, understanding and addressing key issues affecting the community, the nation and the world.

has created 30 MCAT prep videos for the online Khan

LAS also offers an accelerated accounting honors track that enables high-achieving students to earn the required credits for CPA certification in less than two years. Touro University accounting students recently scored second highest of all universities in New York State on the Uniform CPA exam. Our accounting graduates are hired by Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, KPMG, PwC and many other major firms.

a second daughter during med school.

Academy, to help those who can’t afford tutoring. She helped create a pre-med chapter for the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association and also gave birth to

Bruck was a high school teacher for several years. She believes the two careers are a perfect match. “Teaching is an important skill in medicine,” she says. “Teaching patients is a way to help them through sadness and confusion.”

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LAS

Efrat Bruck. “She understands already that I love helping

Lander College of Arts and Sciences

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Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Daniel Peikes, DDS Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Dan is a pediatric dentist who, at age 40, effortlessly channels his inner kid, transforming the trauma of “open stand-up comedy routine. From toddlers to teens, they all love Dr. Daniel Peikes. “That’s because I myself grew up in the dental chair,” says Peikes, whose private practice is in Montvale, New Jersey, near the Clifton home he shares with his wife and five personal dental clients (aka children). “I knew from my experiences that I wanted to help kids just like I was helped by my dentist, who became my mentor.” His chief mentor, though, was his father, Meyer Peikes, currently business department chair at Touro and a professor at the university for 40 years, who recommended the school. Nothing readied the young Peikes for the rigors of dental school and additional years of pediatric specialty studies more than Touro in Flatbush, where he received an interdisciplinary sciences degree. “Its flexibility, its rigorous education, I was able to do well academically and religiously,” says Peikes, who attended yeshiva by day while pursuing college studies at night. “The Lander education got me into my first choice dental school and eventually my first choice of specialty.” A Dean’s List regular, Peikes graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). He completed his pediatric dentistry practice while serving as chief resident. “The ability to turn a frightened, anxious child into a trusting patient is my ultimate goal,” he explains. “My career is truly rewarding.”

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LAS

wide” into a truth-telling session that sometimes ends in a

Lander College for Women The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School

A center of academic excellence, Lander College for Women—The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (LCW) is a magnet for young women from across the country and around the world who seek a rigorous academic program in a vibrant Torah-imbued environment. Just steps from Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the location offers ample opportunity for students to take full advantage of New York City’s cultural offerings. FOUNDATIONS OF ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS LCW’s student-focused faculty and career-oriented curriculum produce graduates who are prepared for success in the contemporary workplace and global economy. Exciting opportunities such as the annual Hackathon for computer science majors and the bioethics

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trip to Thailand for biology majors who are pre-med or pursuing the health sciences to expand students’ knowledge, skills and perspective. The innovative Career Service team helps match students with meaningful internships at top employers in the fields of finance, accounting, law, medicine, research and other academic disciplines. Graduates are accepted to the most competitive graduate and professional schools and hold corporate and communal leadership positions nationwide. HONORS PROGRAM AND PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES LCW’s Honors Program attracts students with superior academic abilities. At LCW, they pursue a rigorous curriculum and develop complex written, oral and

The three Lander Colleges also partner with New York Medical College (NYMC), a member of the Touro University System, to create the Medical Honors Pathway which offers the opportunity for qualified applicants to continue their studies at NYMC after completing their undergraduate education.

ADVOCATING FOR ISRAEL The Vera Greenblatt Israel Advocacy Scholars Program at the Lander College for Women is a new opportunity for LCW students who want to acquire the knowledge and direct skill set to be advocates for Israel. Established by Jason and Naomi Greenblatt and family, the program will enable a select cohort of students to gain real-world experience in advocacy, government and policy through meetings with key stakeholders, thought leadership, campus event planning and summer internships. INTRODUCING LCW FLEX In response to changing needs of students in an ever-evolving world, LCW has launched a new program that enables students to complete their bachelor’s degrees in psychology, business management or computer science completely online. Classes are given on Zoom one day a week and the rest of the coursework is completed asynchronously—online and on the student’s own schedule. Students can join LCW from anywhere in the world, yet benefit from small classes, flexible schedules and mentoring from world-class faculty. Students can also pursue their degrees from Jerusalem with courses at Touro College Israel in Jerusalem and remotely through LCW in NY.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Tova Bram

Software Engineer, Facebook (Meta) Tova Bram was always strong in math and science, excelled in high school sports and suffered zero fools. “I had three brothers and was small, so I had to be serious,” she says. At college, she was ready to work hard. One major was not enough. Nor was one internship at a time. Bram headed toward a computer science degree and pursued finance as well. One of her professors urged her to incorporate finance into her career, and Bram became a member of the Economics Honor Society, made the Dean’s List and graduated with a computer science major and a finance minor. One of her internships was at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, where she got to use her talents in both finance and software design and was hired full time upon graduation. She rose to senior software engineer. While there, she contracted a serious case of pneumonia. Her idea of resting was to teach herself all about e-commerce, so she founded LoveSylvester, which sold clothing and accessories. “I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t breathe,” she explains, matter-of-factly, “so, I started a business.” After four years at BlackRock, Bram received an offer from Facebook. She is a member of the Facebook Live Team, where users livestream events from a phone, computer or connected TV. Says Bram, “It’s a pretty cool job.” Bram remains close with her finance professor. She speaks to students and works through her career network to offer internships and professional positions to Touro students and graduates. “Touro helped me reach my full potential,” she says. “I believe in paying it forward and helping other students, especially women, succeed in tech.”

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LCW

This year, LCW expanded the partnership with The School of Health Sciences and launched the Nursing Pathway Program. Students who qualify can be accepted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program even before they begin LCW. Students take the nursing prerequisite courses at LCW and then transition seamlessly into the nursing program.

Undergraduate Divisions

technological skills. Additionally, in collaboration with the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and The School of Health Sciences of Touro College, LCW and the other Lander Colleges introduced the Integrated Honors Tracks for students who have decided on careers as doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists or speech-language pathologists.

Lander College for Men Beis Medrash L’Talmud Lander College for Men (LCM)/Beis Medrash L’Talmud boasts dedicated faculty, majors and courses of study designed to prepare students for a multitude of professions, exceptionally high acceptance rates to graduate and professional programs and a beautiful sevenacre campus in Queens, New York. But what sets LCM apart is the entirely balanced dual curriculum of intensive Torah study and rigorous academics. “Lander College’s rigorous dual curriculum challenges our students to realize their fullest academic potential,” said Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of LCM. “The religious and moral principles that frame their study of Jewish texts cultivate crucial virtues that, in turn, lead to great personal and professional success.” Torah study at Lander College for Men is led by HaRav Yonason Sacks, a world-renowned Rosh Yeshiva who has authored over 40 original volumes on Torah and Talmud. The Beis Medrash, the Torah study hall, is full and bursts with the energy of students engaged in Talmud study. He and other noted scholars and teachers nurture advanced Torah learning. Under their direction, students achieve a high level of Judaic and Talmud scholarship. Most will pursue careers in the professions or the business world, often eventually becoming leaders in their communities. Others will become rabbis or Jewish educators, helping transform the Jewish community through their knowledge and passion. ADVANCED ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES The Academic and Jewish Studies Honors Program offers exceptional students the opportunity to cultivate their intellectual gifts through advanced analytical research in 40 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

their chosen disciplines, as well as in Talmud study and the liberal arts and sciences. All students must enroll in a course that integrates ethics and Jewish law into the major curriculum. Additionally, LCM recently launched a workshop, Interpersonal Communication: Success in the Workplace, to help students build emotional intelligence, develop cultural competency and discover what it takes and how to communicate as a team member in a multicultural environment. In conjunction with New York Medical College (NYMC), a member of the Touro University System, the three Lander Colleges created the Medical Honors Pathway, which offers the opportunity for qualiﬁed applicants to continue their studies at NYMC after completing their undergraduate education, provided they sustain the academic requirements. In addition, in collaboration with Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and The School of Health Sciences of Touro College, the three Lander Colleges introduced the Integrated Honors Tracks for students who have decided on careers as doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants and physical therapists. BEYOND LANDER COLLEGE Over the last 11 years, 100 percent of applicants from LCM were accepted into graduate programs in dentistry and law, 95 percent into doctoral programs in psychology and 90 percent into medical school. Lander graduates also score amongst the very top universities on the New York State CPA exam and secure employment in leading global and national firms in a variety of fields. LCM leadership takes pride in the students’ satisfaction with their college experience; 70 percent of solicited alumni contribute to the University during annual fundraising drives.

Undergraduate Divisions

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Avi Horowitz

Corporate Finance Leader At Lander College for Men, where Avi

cable giant Liberty Media. Horowitz, a New

Horowitz graduated in 2003, he played

Jersey native, wasn’t interested in relocat-

tennis with his Judaic studies rabbi and had

ing to the company’s Denver headquarters.

a close relationship with one of his finance

Instead, he began working in the trust divi-

professors.

sion of Morgan Stanley, where he stayed for

Both

men

became

trusted

mentors. “In most colleges, you wouldn’t get that chance to get to know your professors and have them know you and act as guides to your future,” says Horowitz, 40 and married

nearly four years. Still, he pined for the energy of another start-up. One day, a friend rang him to say, “’I need someone to be a senior finance person at our start-up,’” recalls Horowitz. “He didn’t have to ask twice.”

with three children. “I remember it was 9/11

This one was SecondMarket, a financial

and we were all in class and in shock, and in

technology platform, later scooped up by

walks our finance professor, covered in dust.

Nasdaq. After that merger, he was recruit-

He had walked from Wall Street, where he

ed by a start-up called Bread, an e-com-

worked, to class. That’s a role model.”

merce lending business. In December 2020,

While many of his classmates went on to graduate schools, Horowitz headed straight for the business world. He discovered that start-ups are his passion, for the combination of hard work and huge possibilities. “Start-ups are exciting, you aren’t a cog, the things you do matter,” he explains. “You’re building from the bottom up so you do everything — accounting, reporting, equity management, run payroll, HR. It’s a seat-ofthe-pants excitement.” So far, Horowitz has been an integral part of three. The first was in the entertainment division of a telecom business, later sold to

42 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Alliance Data bought it for $450 million. Horowitz remains at Bread today as head of financial operations, while it is being integrated into the much larger Alliance Data. As a member of the first graduating class of Lander College for Men, Horowitz thinks of the school as a start-up that became a great success. “I took a chance on them and they took a chance on me,” he says, fondly. “Because I didn’t get lost in a huge, impersonal university situation, I had the luxury of getting to know myself. I learned that if you treat people right, they succeed. And if they succeed, you succeed.”

LCM faculty are also studying novel molecular pathways in early-stage lung cancer and working to better understand and find a cure for genetic diseases affecting Ashkenazi Jews, such as Crohn’s. Professor Yakov Peter’s research interests include epithelial cell and stem cell function in inflammation, fibrosis and cancer. As a firm advocate of student research in education, Dr. Peter supervises the scientific growth of undergraduate students in his laboratory. Several of his students are currently working on research involving lung cancer stem cells to better detect and potentially prevent lung cancer development.

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LCM

and during election years, they looked at why “shy voters” don’t reveal their true intentions to pollsters. In another recent study, they looked at pay differences of men and women who used an online, anonymous marketplace. After controlling for age, flexibility, parental status and experience, the researchers still found a 10.5 percent gender pay gap. They attributed the gap to women picking lowerpaying gigs due to an ingrained expectation of lower earnings carried over from the traditional workplace setting.

Undergraduate Divisions

RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS Over the last few years, social and behavioral sciences have been revolutionized by the rise of online data collection platforms. Thousands of research projects are now conducted on platforms such as Mechanical Turk and Crowdflower. Dr. Jonathan Robinson of LCM’s computer science department and Dr. Leib Litman from the LCM psychology department collaborate to examine various aspects of this new online research environment. During the pandemic, they studied factors affecting face mask-wearing

New York School of Career and Applied Studies

New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) is home to a diverse and vibrant student community that reflects the social, economic and multicultural mosaic of New York City. Whether they hail from the far side of the globe or the borough next door, traditional and non-traditional NYSCAS students know they will receive the kind of quality education needed to succeed. CAREER-FOCUSED EDUCATION NYSCAS offers 45 associate and bachelor’s degree programs in a wide spectrum of majors including business management, information technology, network administration and security, digital media design, human services, biology, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-law and the health sciences. Programs place a significant emphasis on field training, internships and other hands-on educational pathways to careers in today’s competitive market. With extensive hours of field study in human services, students are prepared for the rigors of the real-life workplace in careers such as child and youth program administration, gerontology services and adult, family and addiction counseling. Exceptional academic preparation also affords students the opportunity to continue their education in one of Touro’s graduate or professional schools, or at other institutions.

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Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

HONORS PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES Highly motivated and dedicated students enroll in biology and psychology honors programs. Many participate in exciting laboratory research and continue their studies in graduate programs offered at The School of Health Sciences of Touro College. Biology students continue to work on the bioinformatics portion of our stomach cancer research project, where they have the opportunity to research RNASeq data of cancer patients to identify proteins and pathways involved in the process through which healthy cells become transformed into cancer cells.

NEW PROGRAMS IN MEDICAL, HEALTH SCIENCE FIELDS Recognizing the continued growth in healthcare career opportunities, NYSCAS has launched associate degree programs in nursing and medical imaging. Nursing is ranked consistently in the top 10 healthcare careers by U.S. News & World Report. The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing at NYSCAS prepares students for New York State RN licensure, and to enter the nursing profession with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience. The medical imaging programs in radiologic technology and sonography blend classwork and clinical rotations in state-ofthe-art centers. Once graduates pass the appropriate licensing exams, they can expand their career prospects by enrolling in a wide range of advanced courses offered including MRI Imaging, Computer Tomography (CT), mammography and interventional radiography.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in humanities in Arizona, Frida Fuzailova headed next to Touro’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS). She knew what career she wanted—dentistry—and that Touro would take her there with all the prerequisites required. “I honestly loved it,” she says of NYSCAS, which she attended for two years. “You weren’t a number with the professors there. You were a name, a person, and they made it their job to know you.” Today Fuzailova, a wife and mother of three little ones, is in her last year of Touro College of Dental Medicine, where upon graduation, she hopes to practice general dentistry. “I love Touro’s dental school as much as I loved my first Touro school experience,” says the 31-year-old Fuzailova, who lives in Queens. It was the personal touch that meant so much to her. “I was always continually surprised that the professors and faculty were able to give such genuine attention and help to students,” says Fuzailova, who was a straight-A student. In physics 2, I remember the professor taking extra time to spend with students before the exams. He was always ready to answer questions. All the professors were dedicated to helping us prepare for the future.”

ACCELERATED PATHWAYS In partnership with Touro’s graduate schools, NYSCAS has developed accelerated pathways leading to a master’s degree in education, computer science and pharmacy, allowing students to save time and money as they build a solid future in one of these high-demand fields. TOURO.EDU | 45

NYSCAS

Many NYSCAS alumni continue to pursue graduate and professional education, earning advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, health sciences, pharmacy, psychology, social work, law, education, business and technology.

Frida Fuzailova

Dental Student, Touro College of Dental Medicine

School for Lifelong Education

The School for Lifelong Education (SLE) meets the need for higher education in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. This school is the first nontraditional, comprehensive, university degree program designed to accommodate this population, providing individualized courses of study for men and women without sacrificing the quality of the education or the need to maintain cultural sensitivity. GUIDED DEGREE PROGRAMS SLE’s guided study model supports the needs of all students who are able to achieve their goals due to flexible scheduling, customized plans, ongoing advisement and class modalities. Located in the Hasidic community of Borough Park, Brooklyn, SLE’s academic excellence begins with its faculty, comprised of highly qualified professionals who deliver top-quality academics with keen understanding of the unique background of the student body. SLE students earn associate and bachelor’s degrees in interdisciplinary liberal arts and sciences, math and computers, psychology, human services and Judaic studies. Graduates go on to professional schools in business, medicine, research and health sciences. “The SLE modality of instruction has proven to be instrumental in transitioning

46 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

work and life experience into formal education. First-time university students receive assistance in creating degree plans and upper-level students receive structured advisement toward graduate and professional goals. All students consult with our assistant dean and receive individualized step-by-step programs. We continue to offer increased educational opportunities and additional degree programs while supporting our students through every stage of their academic and professional careers,” says Shoshana Grun, SLE program director. DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEARN SLE offers three teaching modalities: traditional classroom settings; small classes or learning collaboratives; and guided, one-on-one mentoring. The curriculum emphasizes skill-building, effective communication, problem-solving and ethics to prepare students for the demands of the workplace. The program’s flexibility creates an environment conducive to independent learners. “The supportive atmosphere at the School for Lifelong Education encourages student success and allows our nontraditional students to make their dreams a reality,” says Dr. Briendy Stern, assistant dean at SLE.

Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Moshe Bulmash

Medical Student, New York Medical College Moshe Bulmash grew up in awe of his father, a pediatrician for our family, but I can’t recall a time when a patient knocked at the door on a Friday night and he didn’t answer without hesitation,” says the proud son, one of nine children. “It never felt like an intrusion. It was his calling and I wanted to emulate him.” He is doing just that. Bulmash, 27, is in his first year of medical school and plans to become a pediatrician. He wouldn’t have made it to med school, however, without Touro’s School for Lifelong Education, where he graduated at the top of his class in 2021. “The dean meets with every single student and customizes an academic plan. I feel so indebted to this school. It’s a super-supportive place.” Bulmash had previously concentrated on his religious studies in one of the most rigorous and intensive Talmud study academies in Jerusalem, Israel. “When I decided on pre-med, I was married with a child,” says Bulmash, who now has two little boys. “SLE got me up to speed and helped me excel at the sciences. They are not only accommodating to your life schedule, but allow you to grow academically at your own pace. I left very prepared for med school.” Today Bulmash keeps his father, who still practices, up to date on medical school. The elder marvels over the differences since his student experience a half-century ago. “He didn’t stop at being a physician,” says Bulmash, who attends New York Medical College. “He was an advocate for families. Watching him, I knew I wanted to be just that kind of a doctor.”

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SLE

who never said no to a patient in need. “Friday nights are

Machon L’Parnasa Institute for Professional Studies Machon L’Parnasa is a unique division of Touro, offering associate degrees and serving the local Jewish population. Known as the Institute for Professional Studies, Machon L’Parnasa offers programs on a professional entry level that are in keeping with the University’s mission to address underserved populations. Machon L’Parnasa’s program is geared to the local communities, with flexible class schedules—daytime, evenings and Sundays—designed to meet the particular needs of our student body. Although some students may enroll with limited academic backgrounds, all leave Machon L’Parnasa empowered to compete in the job market or pursue advanced degrees. Students’ needs are also met via classes that are small and personalized. Machon L’Parnasa provides students the opportunity to study without compromising their religious and cultural values. The Institute provides academic training in professional fields, with programs that are designed to enhance students’ career prospects while supplying the tools needed for success, including language and literacy, oral communication and quantitative skills. A key advantage of the Machon L’Parnasa approach is that it offers the opportunity for students to earn their degrees in stages, as their academic skills improve. A SPECIALIZED EDUCATION With separate men’s and women’s divisions located in Brooklyn, New York, Machon L’Parnasa offers associate degree programs in a variety of disciplines with most students continuing on for a baccalaureate degree

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Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

in their choice of major. The administration takes a personalized approach to helping students overcome challenges and reach their career goals. The Institute maintains high academic standards to prepare students to meet the demands of the workplace, while offering flexible schedules to accommodate personal needs.

AREAS OF STUDY Graduates often pursue careers in accounting, finance, management, marketing, psychology, special education, speech-language pathology, multi-media design, human services and IT and local area networking. Increasing numbers of students are entering careers in the health sciences and medicine. Machon L’Parnasa is always looking to add programs in fields that meet the current demands of modern society as well as the needs of our student body.

Auditor, EisnerAmper

The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic did not bring Michael Cohen to a standstill. “I graduated from Machon L’Parnasa, went to the school’s career fair and got a great job, passed all four parts of the CPA exam—and my wife gave birth to our fourth child,” says Cohen, now 32. Until he was 27, Cohen was an assistant teacher in a religious school. But the young father knew his growing family required a larger salary. For that, he needed a college education. Like many other students at Machon L’Parnasa, he had never been in a higher education setting. Cohen was especially weak in writing and grammar. “I had this professor who was so amazing and helpful,” says Cohen, who lives in Brooklyn with his family. “After my first assignment,” he said,” ‘Mike, this is a disaster!’ We both laughed because it was true. He helped me get better and better. I started with an F and left his class with an A. That’s what it’s like there. Professors are generous with their time and give you personalized help to succeed.” And succeed he did. Today Cohen, who graduated with a 4.0 grade point average in accounting, is an auditor at EisnerAmper, a Top 20 global accounting firm. He earned his degree at night, after working full time during the day as a fire sprinkler inspector. “Whatever you want or need to do,” he says, “whatever schedule works for you, this school is flexible and helps you get it done.”

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Machon L’Parnasa

Many alumni have reported that at the heart of Machon L’Parnasa’s success is the relationship the school’s leaders build with their students. Graduates continue to share career successes with professors and mentors years after they leave and the school’s directors take special pride in their alumni who take their place as societal role models.

Michael Cohen

Touro College Los Angeles

Carrying the Touro mission to one of the nation’s largest Jewish communities, Touro College Los Angeles (TCLA) combines liberal arts and preprofessional courses in a supportive, Torah-observant environment. Modeled after Touro’s Lander Colleges, it is the only regionallyaccredited Orthodox Jewish university on the West Coast, and an attractive option for students in Southern California.

programs in other fields.

Through its vibrant atmosphere, TCLA links education with Torah-based values and knowledge. Both students and faculty are dedicated to the pursuit of scholarship in an environment that reflects Jewish ideals.

As the demand for professionals in real estate and computer science grows, TCLA has launched new concentrations in those fields. TCLA has also enhanced its health sciences concentration, which is bolstered by a state-of-the-art science lab and Integrated Health Sciences Honors Track, a pathway to Touro’s numerous graduate and professional programs in the health sciences and medicine.

TCLA offers baccalaureate degree programs in psychology, business management and Judaic studies with concentrations in health sciences, accounting, entrepreneurship and marketing, among others. TCLA’s students benefit from its affiliation with Touro University Worldwide, and with the entire Touro system, providing a wealth of online courses and expanding educational options through master’s and doctoral degree programs. Graduates continue their professional studies in prestigious medical and law schools, as well as competitive graduate 50 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Located in West Hollywood, TCLA enrolls students in separate men’s and women’s divisions, and courses are conveniently scheduled to accommodate students who wish to work or continue yeshiva studies while they pursue their academic goals. The small class sizes—taught by TCLA’s outstanding faculty—foster a collaborative learning environment with individualized attention.

TCLA offers the advantages of an intimate learning environment with personal attention to each student, while providing the quality instruction and connections to graduate study of a much larger institution. Graduates’ accomplishments, as a result of their education, have led them on the pathway to professional success in so many fields.

Undergraduate Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Batsheva Lipsker, CPA M&A Tax Manager, Deloitte

Talk about a quick study. Soon after Batsheva Lipsker graduated with honors from Touro College Los Angeles in 2016, national accounting powerhouses. She spent four years at PwC, in tax compliance, and now is a mergers and acquisitions tax manager for Deloitte. She is a tax expert whose clients include private equity firms and companies looking to make strategic acquisitions. She advises them on everything from tax diligence to helping structure businesses, before and after a merger, acquisition or reorganization. “It’s not as hard as it sounds,” Lipsker, 26, says modestly— and unconvincingly. When she entered Touro, Lipsker, who was reared in LA, had little idea what career path she would choose. Then she realized how easily she aced her accounting and math classes and how pained many of her fellow students looked. “One girl asked, ‘do you mind if I come over and study?’ then another asked, ‘wait, can I come, too?’ and then another,” says Lipsker, who graduated with a B.S. in business with a concentration in accounting and now lives in Manhattan. “So, they all came and I helped them study.” She chose Touro because it wasn’t another huge impersonal university. She wanted to know her professors, for them to appreciate who she was and help her reach her goals. “We had close relationships with all of our professors,” she says. “We had interview prep and résumé sessions. A professor offered to look over each of our résumés and helped us make them better. To this day, I still use those lessons. My Touro professors helped me speak to my strengths.”

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TCLA

she began building a career in two of the top four inter-

Touro College in Israel

For the thousands of American students who spend a gap year or two abroad in Israel, Touro College in Israel (TCI) offers the opportunity for undergrads to pursue higher education while studying in yeshivas or seminaries and connecting with the land of Israel. As an extension of the Lander Colleges in Israel, TCI allows students in a highly mobile community to work toward their degrees while they advance their Jewish learning. Educational programming at TCI is also open to those who are living temporarily in Israel and plan to return to the U.S. to complete their degrees. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TCI offers courses in accounting, business, computer science, English, history, psychology, science, mathematics and speech-language pathology. The school also offers ﬁrst-year courses in nursing and occupational therapy, which include introductory and advanced courses in biology, chemistry and physics. Classes—taught to men and women separately, and at different times—are in English and offered to non-Israeli citizens as part of their degree programs. Small class sizes foster a congenial atmosphere conducive to personal growth and building relationships with professors and mentors. The campus includes state-of-theart audio-visual equipment; an online library; and science and computer labs. Graduates have attained leadership positions in schools, colleges and renowned organizations throughout the world; succeeded in highly productive and proﬁtable careers; and in master’s and doctoral level professional programs. LEO AND RACHEL SUSSMAN DEAN’S SCHOLARSHIP TCI is committed to fortifying educational pathways 52 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

between Israel and the global Jewish community. As an added incentive, the prestigious Leo and Rachel Sussman Dean’s Scholarship is awarded to TCI students who attain distinction based on past academic accomplishments, potential for future advancement in their education and their contributions to the Jewish people. TCI: A UNIQUE PLACE AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Working in partnership with the Lander Colleges, and other Touro branches, TCI’s staff offers students personalized guidance and support in achieving their career goals. By affording students the opportunity to take Touro courses in Israel, TCI has become a highlight of their experience at Touro. NEW JERUSALEM TRACK A partnership between TCI and the Lander Colleges, this new program enables students to earn bachelor’s degrees while living in Israel. By combining in-person classes and labs at Touro College in Israel and online courses through Touro’s Lander Colleges in New York, the Jerusalem Track option offers students majoring in biology, psychology, business and computer science the opportunity to maximize time in Israel and begin their professional journeys.

International Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Avraham Shaw Finance Analyst, SMBC

Avraham Shaw was a man on a mission. Shortly after graduating high school, he took the entrance exam for college and career,” says Shaw, now a married father of two. He failed the entrance exam. Writing essays wasn’t his strength, and it showed. “I was brutally disappointed. But I also knew they were right to reject me until I was prepared.” Some tutoring and dozens of practice essays later, Shaw passed the entrance exam easily. He majored in finance with an overall GPA of 3.7. He continued his education at Touro Flatbush, graduating in 2020. “I wanted to prove to them and to myself that I could handle a rigorous education,” he says. “They stayed on me, making sure I was keeping up, making sure I excelled. And I did.” Now 25, Shaw is a leveraged finance analyst in New York City for the Japanese banking giant SMBC. “I’m super excited about my job,” Shaw says. “I love analyzing companies.” So far, he has taken and passed two of three Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams, considered the most prestigious professional designation in finance. “I attribute my success with these difficult tests to what I learned in my finance classes at Touro Israel,” he says. His professors, with their own careers in the corporate world, were unparalleled for their expertise in business fundamentals and savvy career advice, says Shaw: “I would not be where I am today, if not for Touro Israel. In fact, I’d still be in college!”

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TCI

Touro College in Israel. “I wanted to get a head start on

Touro Colleges in Europe

TOURO COLLEGE BERLIN As one of the few select European institutions to confer degrees that are fully recognized in both Germany and the U.S., Touro College Berlin (TCB) attracts students from all over the world—the United States, Israel, Germany, the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe. AREAS OF STUDY Undergraduate classes in psychology, business management and marketing are taught in English by award-winning faculty. TCB students are accepted into competitive graduate programs at highly respected universities in Europe and the U.S. The MBA program in general management offers advanced business education through interdisciplinary curricula and work-study programs, and graduates are highly sought after by multinational companies in Germany. HOLOCAUST STUDIES The Lander Institute for Communication and Tolerance, established by Touro’s founder and first president, Dr. Bernard Lander, analyzes Holocaust history and examines the range of its consequences. The program is affiliated with the Free University of Berlin and students in the Holocaust studies bachelor’s program participate in ﬁeld trips, study archives of original Nazi documents and visit memorial sites. AWARD-WINNING ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS Executives and students alike are continually recognized for their extraordinary dedication and accomplishments. Sara Nachama, TCB’s vice president and rector, was awarded the “Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany” in recognition of her longtime commitment to education and Jewish life in Germany. The Deutschland Stipendium— “Germany Scholarship”—was recently awarded to three 54 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

outstanding students for their academic achievements, exceptional social commitment and leadership skills. LANDER INSTITUTE MOSCOW Lander Institute Moscow affords students in Russia the opportunity to earn a degree and gain a well-rounded education, while strengthening their commitment to Jewish heritage and acquiring the knowledge to serve as qualified educators in Jewish secondary schools and organizations. This program is in partnership with the Federation of Jewish Communities. Built on Touro’s mission to support Jewish continuity, in 1991 Touro became the first American institution of higher education to establish a program of Jewish studies in Moscow. One of the hallmark offerings is the Teachers Training Program. The program currently offers a variety of courses in Jewish studies, mathematics, computer science and other disciplines. Students may earn an accredited bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies, management/ marketing, digital and multimedia design or economics. Most students travel from Russia and other neighboring

International Divisions

ALUMNI PROFILE

Carrie Toptan, M.S. Autism Researcher

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. When was bedazzled by the 1930 Bauhaus building. What she discovered inside those walls was even more impressive: “Awesome professors, small classes, Touro is like a family!” Toptan, now 28, graduated from Touro Berlin with both an American and German Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. “I’m from Berlin and having both degrees will give me more job opportunities and open the whole world.” She was right. After leaving Touro, Toptan moved to the U.K., where she earned two Master of Science degrees from King’s College London, in clinical neurodevelopmental sciences and neuroimaging. For both degrees, Toptan was part of EU-AIMS, the largest autism study in the world. Now she’s working on her Ph.D. in computing at the University of Portsmouth and is the only psychologist on the laboratory interdisciplinary team. “I am specializing in autism, which I’ve been fascinated with since I saw a documentary about it as a child. At Touro, I was excited by the topic even more because I learned the psychological aspects and about diagnostics

countries to attend school in a Jewish environment and build their knowledge of Jewish history and tradition. The Lander Institute campus is equipped with ample classrooms, staff and student facilities and a modern computer laboratory to support academic work, as well as a kosher dining room. The Institute’s hallmark is the atmosphere of warmth and collaboration. This friendly environment enables students to fully realize their potential and fulfill their deep commitment to Jewish tradition and heritage.

and therapies.” An only child, Toptan, who was elected as Touro Berlin’s student government president, is mulling a plan for her future. She hopes to become a professor, a researcher and work in a clinic setting with children who have autism. “I would love to come back to teach at Touro,” she says. “Back to my roots, back to the Touro family!”

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Europe

Carrie Toptan first laid eyes on Touro College Berlin, she

Graduate School of Business

Graduate business education accounts for almost a quarter of all master’s degrees and in response to market demand, graduate business programs are among the fastestgrowing master’s programs in the country. Located in the heart of New York City, the Touro Graduate School of Business (GSB) has long benefited from a diverse and vibrant student body and a culture focused on helping students explore the global business world, expand their networks and put their innovative ideas to work while enhancing their C-Suite executive skills and aptitude for the industry of their choice. THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS GSB prides itself on its small class sizes, flexible class schedules and highly experienced 56 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Division of Graduate Studies

ALUMNI PROFILE

We are proud of our distinctive intra-Touro co-curricular programs such as the Moonshot Scholars Program, our Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium and our Business Plan Competition. These programs empower students to conceive and pursue their own initiatives or innovation start-up, so that they may develop their ideas into marketable products. Students team

Esther Elkouss, MBA

Global Content Marketing Strategist, Amazon Play Esther Elkouss had too many plans to

companies to join Touro’s annual career

accept being the baby of her family. “I

fairs and (much) more. She was awarded

wanted to be the oldest,” she says, “and

the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship.

acted like I was.” At 10, she started a family newspaper, charming and cajoling far-flung relatives from Israel, Argentina, Barcelona, USA and other spots to contribute photos, features and engaging short stories to her publication. Raised near Valencia in Spain, she graduated from Complutense University of Madrid, with a degree in journalism, then went on to Paris University for a master’s degree in communications and culture. New York City was the next stop. “Of course,” she says. After intense research (Esther knows no other kind) and many interviews (ditto) with everyone “from the receptionist to the dean,” she decided to attend Touro College Graduate School of Business. By then, her passion was marketing, and her speed was breakneck. “I’ve always been very innovative and looking for ways to improve things,” says Esther, now 32, and a 2017 graduate. “I work hard and I enjoy implementing ideas. At Touro, those traits were encouraged and valued.” As a student, she created and implemented robust alumni involvement, brought in top

What she learned at Touro has proved invaluable in the real world. Today, Esther is the global content marketing strategist for Amazon Pay. In that post, she leads global editorial planning and execution across the blog, website and social media of Amazon Pay, which offers customers secure checkout on tens of thousands of sites. She credits Touro for the impressive career she has today, including classes she took in social media and international marketing. The school also offered top internships, such as one she was awarded at a Top 500 global eCommerce firm, where Esther learned the ins and outs of eCommerce marketing. The internship, she says, gave her the experience and insights that made her a winning job candidate to Amazon. Perhaps most important to Esther was the diversity of fellow students she discovered at Touro: “I had the opportunity to work on many real-life projects with international students from different backgrounds and experiences which also helped me prepare to work for a global company.”

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GSB

faculty who are at the top of their fields. We offer programs in accounting, entrepreneurship, general management, international business finance, healthcare management, human resource management, not-for-profit management, marketing and real estate. In consultation with our accomplished Board of Advisors and our Career Resource Center, GSB provides students with real-world experiences, a challenging curriculum, lifelong business skills, mentorship and networking opportunities. Our students obtain highly soughtafter positions in today’s competitive workforce and are committed to making their mark on society.

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HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT The demand for professionals with expertise in healthcare management is particularly strong and shows no sign of abating. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), the employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32 percent from 2019 to 2029.

REAL ESTATE EDUCATION The real estate market is volatile and competitive—and filled with plentiful opportunities for those who are highly skilled and trained to navigate the challenges. With billions of dollars of revenue at stake and hundreds of thousands of real estate companies, the potential for students to achieve success is enormous. Having weathered the uncertainties of the COVID pandemic, the real estate industry is on the rise once again. Real estate is all about knowledge, relationships and connections. Our Advanced Real Estate Entrepreneurship Certificate program features a diverse variety of recognized, business-savvy board members and guest faculty, all of whom are seasoned management executives employed at firms such as Cushman & Wakefield, Red Rock Realty Group and CBRE. Along with GSB’s experienced professors, they provide highly enriching opportunities for networking, mentorships, internships and scholarships. Coursework and credits taken to earn the Advanced Certificate in Real Estate can also be applied toward the MBA. We are ready to help students achieve their dreams and take their real estate careers to the next level.

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GSB

To help our students remain competitive in the constantly expanding business of healthcare, GSB offers a healthcare management specialization in the MBA, M.S. and advanced certificate programs. Through coursework, guest speakers and internship opportunities, Touro students are being trained to meet these growing demands.

Division of Graduate Studies

up with faculty and mentors, receive training and secure funding. They are introduced to technologies that are shaping the future of business and healthcare and meeting leaders in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience and more. Last year, three students advanced to the final round of the NY Business Plan Competition and another GSB student won the “Social Entrepreneurship Award”.

Graduate School of Education

Special education and diversity—these are two of the hallmarks of Touro’s Graduate School of Education (GSE).

participation in clinical practice and membership in state and national organizations within their respective fields.

With enrollment nearing 2,500, GSE is one of the largest graduate schools of education in New York State and is turning out an abundance of highly qualiﬁed teachers and school leaders. Touro’s programs in early childhood education, childhood education and Jewish childhood education are structured to enable students to gain certiﬁcation in both education and special education by earning a single degree.

TRAILBLAZER IN DIVERSITY

GSE offers a rich array of programs in a wide range of educational specialties and fields, including M.S. programs in education/special education, mathematics education, school leadership, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), teaching students with disabilities grades 7-12 generalist, teaching literacy and school counseling. We also offer a master’s in instructional technology in conjunction with the Graduate School of Technology and six advanced certiﬁcates in the following areas: gifted and talented education; teaching students with autism and multiple disabilities; bilingual general education; bilingual special education and speechlanguage disabilities; bilingual pupil personnel services; and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Touro GSE offers educational options to meet every student’s needs, including in-person and online. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Touro GSE in the Top 100 for Best Online Programs in Graduate Education nationally. GSE faculty remain committed to ensuring the effectiveness of the school’s graduates and continually scan the needs of New York’s schools and the profession by way of their

60 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

GSE is a front-runner in awarding master’s degrees to minority students. Year after year, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ranks Touro among the top 100 universities nationally for awarding the most master’s degrees to African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American student populations. In 2020, GSE ranked 35 among the top universities for awarding master’s degrees to educators of color. Learning within a diverse cohort prepares and motivates our students to teach in today’s ethnically and culturally diverse classrooms. In addition, Touro is one of 75 institutions nationwide, and one of five in New York participating in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Holmes Scholars program for the preparation of future educators from underrepresented communities. “These rankings reﬂect Touro’s commitment to educating a diverse group of highly qualiﬁed teachers who will effectively meet the needs of our elementary and secondary school classrooms and curriculum,” observed Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish. “Our mission has always been to foster professional development and academic leadership for all individuals so they can prepare for the unique challenges they will face in their careers as educators.” RESEARCH IMPACTING ACHIEVEMENT AND EQUALITY Through its Lander Center for Educational Research, GSE coordinates efforts to initiate, promote and support research, policy and practice for effective leadership, skilled

Division of Graduate Studies

GSE TOURO.EDU | 61

teaching and equitable opportunities for learning. To this end, the Lander Center works with school districts as well as Touro faculty. Its annual Talks on Teaching series has drawn participants from around the globe and have addressed topics such as Using Cultural Tools to Develop Teachers Reflective Practice and Transforming Curriculum, Exploring Identity and Cultivating Culturally Responsive Educators. The scholarship and community outreach of our faculty are informed by our motto of Leading and Learning from Praxis: Serving with Compassion. Touro GSE was chosen as one of 43 recipients across the country to receive a $4 million grant for a five-year initiative to develop and implement the Young Academic Music and Computational Thinking (YAM) project, which has become a national model. The grant is supported by the U.S. Department of Education and the goal is to improve and innovate the teaching of mathematics, music and computational thinking in kindergarten. This project addresses the disparity in educational opportunities for underrepresented student populations in both urban and rural communities. Project partners are collaboratively designing an integrated music, mathematics and computational thinking curriculum that teachers can implement in inclusive classrooms of cognitively, linguistically and culturally diverse students.

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Division of Graduate Studies

ALUMNI PROFILE

Elisa Alvarez, M.S.

Associate Commissioner, NYS Office for Bilingual Education program at Touro, “We were expected to work

hand as they walked home from elementary

hard but we were supported throughout. The

school in Washington Heights, a large Latinx

academics were rigorous, the structure was in

community in New York City. What should have

place and the professors were already established

been a sweet sharing was sometimes destroyed

in their fields. They understood the real world

by adults who hissed, “Speak English, you are in

of education and taught us the nuances and

America now!”

techniques for succeeding in the field. Things

“That berating of my mom simply for speaking Spanish fueled my passion for advocacy,” says

like building relationships, mentoring, support systems were areas the studies focused upon.”

Alvarez, who among other roles, taught as

The list of what she does today for the largest

a bilingual special education teacher in NYC

school system in America is seemingly endless,

schools, was a middle school principal in the

but primarily Alvarez protects the Civil Right

South Bronx area, a community superintendent

Mandate of English Language Learners and

and

ensures

since

commissioner

January for

the

2020, Office

the of

associate

that

they

receive

high-quality

Bilingual

education. She does this by designing and

Education and World Languages for the State

executing policy and systemic initiatives that

of New York.

significantly improve outcomes for students

In 2000, with scholarship help from the school, she entered Touro College Graduate School of Education. “From the moment I walked through the doors, I began to get the framework for

learning English as a new language. Alvarez, who earned her M.S. from Touro in 2004, is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership to continue her advocacy.

everything I’ve done and continue to do since,”

“Everything I use today,” she says, “comes from

says Alvarez, married with two grown sons.

what I learned at Touro.”

“From how you communicate with people to how you support your stakeholders to how you work as a community, a cohort, a team and never as an island, the lesson reinforced from Touro was that a successful leader serves others and builds a network of critical friends for advocacy.” As a graduate student in the school leadership

Alvarez isn’t hung up on titles, even her own impressive one. Instead she focuses on helping students and families to get what they should have—a high-quality education: “My title allows me to be heard, to lead as a change agent for children and families—in everything from government policy to classroom teaching.”

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GSE

Elisa Alvarez, now 53, recalls holding her mother’s

Graduate School of Jewish Studies

64 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

GSJS offers a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies, which focuses on the history, literature and thought of the Jewish people over the past millennium. This trademark program has expanded to include specializations in Jewish education and in the history of the Holocaust on Touro’s Berlin campus. The Jewish education track focuses on effective classroom instruction and management as well as methodologies of teaching diverse subjects in a yeshiva or Jewish day school environment. GSJS has earned a reputation for close student-faculty interaction, superior instruction and a rigorous, well-structured curriculum. Its faculty members have achieved international recognition for their scholarship, producing notable research and publications in their areas of expertise, presenting academic papers across the globe and receiving prestigious fellowships.

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GSJS

AREAS OF STUDY

Division of Graduate Studies

Perpetuating the Jewish heritage through the study of its intellectual history is central to the mission of Touro University and is woven through the entire curriculum of the Graduate School of Jewish Studies (GSJS). The school instills in its students a commitment to studying Judaism’s rich tradition and applying this knowledge toward advancing scholarship, teaching in the classroom or securing positions in educational administration or Jewish communal leadership.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Benny Berlin, M.A. Rabbi, BACH Jewish Center

It was at Touro’s Graduate School of

I was stretched, I learned new information,

Jewish Studies (GSJS) that Benny Berlin

I learned history, context. I try to teach

honed his mind and found his voice. Now

that way, as well: insightful, engaging,

considered one of the modern Orthodox

intellectually honest and stimulating.”

world’s most educated and dynamic young spiritual leaders, Rabbi Berlin credits GSJS with honoring his calling and refining his oratory gifts. “Without the loving guidance and the level of brilliance of the professors,” Berlin says, “I wouldn’t have the skills or the open heart to be where I am today.”

Toward that end, Berlin teaches a daily Talmud class at the Synagogue. He also teaches a Parsha class. He prepares for hours for each. “I learned a lot of pedagogical tools at Touro,” he says. “How to structure a class, how to study, how to engage and retain knowledge and how to pass that knowledge on by

In the 18 months he’s been rabbi at The

requiring a higher level of thinking. I don’t

BACH Jewish Center in Long Beach, the

spoon-feed, I give points to ponder.”

Congregation has grown by some 15 percent. The new members are young adults and their little ones, who rejoice in the sense of community and in their devoted rabbi. The 31-year-old father of two young sons, and his wife, Sara, are known to visit their new congregants with a home-cooked meal in hand. “You help create a community by being welcoming and warm,” he says.

Among his heroes at Touro, Berlin remains indebted to Dean Michael A. Shmidman and Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Klammer, Ed.D. “The dean is a deeply caring, deeply learned individual who took me under his wing,” he says. Rabbi Klammer nurtured Berlin’s oratory skills. When he spoke to groups of elementary, middle and high schoolers,

Klammer

recorded

Berlin’s

speeches. Together they pored over the

He also understands that to keep and grow

talks. Berlin always had the faith. But it

a community, a rabbi must be a teacher in

was Klammer who upped his delivery,

the truest sense of the word. “People don’t

helping transform Benny Berlin into Rabbi

want to hear things they already know,”

Berlin. “Intelligent compassion,” he says.

says Berlin. “I learned from the most

“That’s the overriding lesson I learned

academically minded professors at Touro.

from Touro.”

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GSJS

SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY Since the inception of the M.A. program 40 years ago, more than 1500 students have graduated. As faculty members in universities in the U.S. and Israel, teachers and principals in yeshivot or leaders of Jewish communal organizations, GSJS alumni continue to make a difference in the lives of countless members of the Jewish community around the world.

Division of Graduate Studies

DOCTORAL PROGRAM Building on the master’s in Jewish studies, Touro launched a doctoral program in 2018. Leading scholar Dr. Shnayer (Sid) Leiman joined the doctoral faculty as distinguished professor of Jewish history and literature, and students have the opportunity to learn and work on their individual research projects under his mentorship. The Ph.D. program represents a new phase in Touro’s contribution to scholarly exploration of the intellectual, social and political history of the Jewish people in the medieval and modern periods.

Graduate School of Social Work

In the wake of the pandemic, Americans of all ages are suffering from a host of mental health issues, as rates of depression and anxiety increase. There is a great demand for social workers to address these needs and employment is projected to grow 13 percent through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Touro Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is meeting the call with more than 300 students pursuing the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. As the school expands, GSSW attracts a diverse student body and is emerging as a leader in its class. Touro GSSW was recently named “Social Work School of the Year” by the National Association of Social Workers NYC Chapter and honored with the Outstanding Educational Leadership Award from the Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund, Inc. (LSWCSF). The growing student body of clinical practitioners serve at-risk and vulnerable populations—the embodiment of Touro’s mission to create a more just and compassionate society. ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY The school’s culturally competent student body is developing a strong track record of community engagement. More than 280 agencies have served as clinical partners, providing opportunities for Touro students to contribute 120,000 hours of service annually through rotations to the elderly, the homeless, victims of domestic violence and other needy and at-risk populations. In addition to community service in the ﬁeld, the

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Division of Graduate Studies

ALUMNI PROFILE

Rachel Assael, LCSW

Social Worker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of-life and anticipatory grief. “I focus on quality-of-

to some, made perfect sense to Rachel Assael,

life issues and meaning-making with patients and

LCSW—who went from fashion marketing and

those who love them when they are at their most

advertising to supporting cancer patients at the

vulnerable,” says Assael.

end of their lives.

She cares deeply for her patients but has taught

“My first career was exhausting, and my current

herself to keep healthy boundaries so she can

career is exhausting, but there was nothing

shield

meaningful, special or rewarding about the first

emotional burnout. Still, there is always one who

career,” says Assael, 33, a clinical social worker

is unforgettable, in life and in death. Assael grew

in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s

attached to a police officer in his 40s. His plan had

Supportive Care Service, also known as palliative

been to run the New York City Marathon, but it was

and end-of-life care. “Now I’m perfectly happy to

canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “So, he ran

be exhausted because I’m doing something I love

it anyway, alone, even at a point in his cancer journey

and something that matters.”

where he was physically declining. His wife drove

Assael graduated from Touro in 2015 with a master’s

next to him in the car for 26.2 miles,” Assael says, still

degree in clinical social work. “The professors were

herself

from

compassion

fatigue

and

moved in the telling. “It was a love story, and it was a

very good, and I liked getting to know my peers in

life-affirming story. Even as he was dying, he lived!”

the graduate program,” she says. “Of course, I still

When friends or strangers ask her how she can

remember my professors, but what’s so surprising to me is that they still remember me—by name! That’s the kind of environment it is.”

work in such a grim environment, Assael is truly perplexed by the question. “To be a witness to patients who know death is near, who are facing

Assael, a runner who lives in Manhattan, spends

their own mortality, is an absolute honor,” she says.

her workdays focusing on her cancer patients and

“The process of dying strips away layer after layer

their families. From assessing psychosocial factors

that used to seem important, and they realize the

impacting pain to assisting with practical concerns

things that matter most have no monetary value.

and participating in goals of care discussions, she

Not to sound corny, but what matters is love: family,

adds value to their days even as they enter the

friends, children, pets, spirituality. Every time I leave

last stages of their lives. Assael offers supportive

a patient’s room, I feel so fortunate to be doing this

counseling around transitions to hospice care, end-

work. Every time.”

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GSSW

What may seem like a mind-blowing career change

Graduate School conducts on-site “Community Days,” inviting guest lecturers to engage the college community on cutting-edge issues. This year, visiting experts discussed the health disparities in New York’s immigrant communities and the role of front-line social workers during the pandemic. FEDERAL GRANTS FOR STUDENTS GSSW has landed several prestigious grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for over $6M to fund monies for MSW students. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program supports scholarships and provides awards to students accepted for full-time enrollment who meet economic and educational criteria, including underrepresented minorities. THE HRSA Opioid Workforce Expansion Grant provides stipends to students who complete internships working in the field of addictions to help combat the opioid crisis. The Behavioral Workforce Grant is a collaborative grant which affords our social work students the opportunity to train alongside other professionals in the area of occupational therapy and clinical mental health counseling to foster a more interdisciplinary approach toward client-centered care. These grants are in line with Touro’s mission of providing accessible and affordable quality education to the underserved and training students to become professionals who serve the most vulnerable populations. So far, over 100 grant recipients have graduated and continued on to meaningful social work careers, making an impact on the lives of so many who struggle with a variety of mental health issues.

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Division of Graduate Studies

GSSW TOURO.EDU | 71

Graduate School of Technology

Technology is moving faster than ever—and more opportunities exist for digital professionals than ever before. At Touro Graduate School of Technology (GST), we ensure students are ready for successful careers in information technology, web development, cybersecurity, data analytics and more. PREPARING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY LEADERS TODAY Students with state-of-the-art technology training remain very much in demand. GST offers several innovative programs leading to a master’s degree across all areas of technology. The Master of Science in Instructional Technology (ITP) gives teachers a competitive edge, enabling them to earn New York State professional certification as educational technology specialists. The degree also provides nonteachers with the ability to pursue education-based careers in corporate training, instructional design or distance learning. We live in a digital world and our Master of Arts in Web and Multimedia Design (WMM) emphasizes how to create digital products using design, video and audio, animation and more. Future UX/UI (user experience/user interface) designers, product designers and creative professionals are taught to leverage research techniques and design thinking to create meaningful experiences for modern audiences. From defending companies against hackers to utilizing data to make important management decisions, GST’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) is designed to shape the next generation of technology 72 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

leaders. This dynamic program offers concentrations in network administration and cybersecurity, data analytics and database, web and app development and project management. Students acquire the necessary tools to upgrade and fine-tune their managerial and technological skills— and stand out as innovators to prospective employers in the highly competitive information technology field. Touro GST has collaborated with Cisco Systems to prepare students who enroll

Senior System Engineer, Chardan Capital Always enthralled with electronics, Brabim Hamal’s mother had to hide her computer when he was a boy, lest he take it apart and put it back together over and over again. Hamal eventually left his home in Nepal, now a young adult who was free to take apart and rebuild computers with impunity. He attended college on a scholarship in North Dakota and later moved to New York City, where his roommate raved about Touro College Graduate School of

COMMITTED TO STUDENT SUCCESS GST alums can be found working in some of the most prestigious companies around the world, including BNY Mellon, J.P. Morgan Chase, Cisco, Google, IBM, Infosys, Microsoft, Urban FT and Verizon. In addition to résumé and interview preparation, our dedicated career services team offers career advisement and job placement assistance. Technology workshops and seminars are regularly presented to current students, alumni and the public. And our expert faculty are working professionals in technology and design, allowing them to bring the latest trends to our graduate program. They combine a comprehensive, engaging curriculum with years of hands-on experience and current, real-world knowledge.

Technology. “He was right,” says Hamal, who graduated in 2016 with a master’s degree in information systems. “The design of the curricula, the actual courses and the professors, I loved all of the experience. They made me feel at home and prepared me for the real world.” They also help students secure the sorts of internships that lead to real-life jobs: For more than a year, Hamal was the IT manager for the Afghanistan Mission to the United Nations, eventually helping keep all communications working while the United States prepared to pull out of Afghanistan after two decades of war. “It was busy,” he says, in typical understatement. “But I worked hard and stayed calm.” He continues to live that mantra today as a senior systems engineer at the investment firm of Chardan Capital Market LLC, in New York City. “I am part of this massive project to update the entire IT infrastructure and take it to the cloud,” he explains. “It’s challenging and, yes, as exciting as my previous job. I was ready for a different adventure, and I’ve found it.”

TOURO.EDU | 73

GST

in the MSIS—Network Administration and Cybersecurity program to earn CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification concurrent with their M.S. degree. This program can open many doors and lead to networking and career opportunities.

Brabim Hamal, M.S.

Division of Graduate Studies

ALUMNI PROFILE

The School of Health Sciences of Touro College

Since 1972, when Touro’s School of Health Sciences (SHS) pioneered the training of physician assistants, SHS has grown into a healthcare powerhouse, educating clinicians in eight different areas of the health sciences—from physical therapy (PT) to occupational therapy (OT), physician assistant studies (PA), nurses, mental health, behavioral science and more. As current events have shown, there is a pressing need for talented healthcare professionals and SHS is helping ﬁll this void, preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders. SHS’s newest program is the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology with a health emphasis, designed to prepare students to work as psychologists in traditional mental health settings, in private practice, as well as in an increas74 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

ingly integrated healthcare system with medical patients, and in collaboration with a variety of healthcare providers. HANDS-ON TRAINING PREPARES STUDENTS FOR ROBUST JOB MARKET Faculty members are still active in their respective fields and are committed to ensuring students are set up for success. They provide students with intensive interaction and hands-on training, so they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they’ll need on the job. In addition, SHS partners with over 300 healthcare facilities throughout the New York area where students complete fieldwork and clinical rotations, putting their learning to practice under the guidance of seasoned specialists.

Division of Graduate Studies

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INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION = COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE SHS’s robust and active Interprofessional Education

In addition to our rigorous curriculum and clinical rotations, SHS students attend multi-disciplinary symposia and challenging roundtable seminars, where they are tasked with creating virtual patient care plans based on case studies, while experts in healthcare, law, social services and finance critique their ﬁndings. “When members of the healthcare team work together, it leads to better patient outcomes with fewer preventable errors and reduced healthcare costs,” said Dr. Louis Primavera, dean of SHS. “Touro provides multiple opportunities for interprofessional education amongst our vast and varied health professions programs to ensure our graduates are ready to enter a collaborative workforce.” Research is an integral part of the SHS experience. Our students are exposed to, and actively engage in, research to help them understand firsthand what it is to be part of a research team and even become independent researchers. Many of our faculty allow our students to work on smaller research projects so students learn how to critique and apply research to daily practices in the clinic.

David Ilan, PA

Organ Transplant, Mount Sinai Medical Center For the past 18 years, David Ilan has held the demanding role of caring for the most vulnerable of patients. As a senior physician assistant, Ilan looks after patients who have just undergone a liver, kidney or intestinal transplant in the Recanati-Miller Transplant Department at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “I receive the patients directly from the OR and from then on, they are my responsibility,” says Ilan, who lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “I treat each and every person like they are my only patient.” It’s no small responsibility. Patients must be monitored closely for everything from vital signs to changes in lab values to medications to the possibility of their bodies rejecting the newly transplanted organ. “I’m very grateful to Touro for pointing me in this direction,” says Ilan of his career choice. “We were given many rotation options and a strong clinical education. We were a close-knit group and we got to see all sorts of possibilities for a PA. Choosing Touro was very beneficial to me.” Ilan still appreciates all the professors did and their willingness

impart

real-life

information

the

students. He is also thankful for the school’s flexibility. He worked during the day and attended school at night and on weekends. “Among other things, they focused on helping us prepare for the licensing exams,” he says. Ilan’s career continues to engage him: “I especially enjoy seeing people with significant illnesses get a new lease on life.”

TOURO.EDU | 77

SHS

Committee engages students and faculty in interprofessional learning opportunities and fosters collaboration between the various health professions with the various professions represented in the school, and in collaboration with the New York Touro healthcare programs including pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and social work.

Division of Graduate Studies

ALUMNI PROFILE

SHS is proud of our 100 percent pass rates on professional licensing exams in various programs, including speech therapy and physician assistant. Our graduates experience high demand for their services in the job market, finding employment within six months of passing their licensing and certification exams. Career opportunities are especially strong and ﬁnancially rewarding and are expected to grow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Touro College Illinois

Touro’s expansion around the country continues with Touro College Illinois. Over the next 10 years, the need for cybersecurity experts, data analysts and health professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, is expected to grow significantly—and we’re working to meet this demand with new in-person and online programs.

make sense of real-world healthcare situations and problems. Big Data in disease research can help predict the spread of infectious diseases,

TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE Touro College Illinois offers a graduate certificate in healthcare cybersecurity and a master’s degree in data analytics with a focus on healthcare that prepares students to use technology to improve the industry for patients and practitioners alike.

MORE TO COME Our master’s degree in advanced practice nursing—family nurse practitioner and our physician assistant programs blend evidencebased strategies and the latest technologies and best practices. With online coursework and oncampus clinical intensives, students will earn a Master of Nursing in a little more than two years. The physician assistant program, set to launch in 2023, will train future professionals to meet the needs of today’s hospital systems and healthcare institutions.

ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING TECHNOLOGY FIELDS Keeping information systems safe and secure is more important than ever, especially in the healthcare sector. Hospitals and clinics, medical labs, insurance providers, pharma companies and other healthcare organizations rely on cybersecurity to protect sensitive data. Combining theoretical and practical knowledge, our certificate program gives students hands-on experience working with cybersecurity software, tools and systems. They’ll also explore key concepts, such as how healthcare information is kept secure, that are essential to being successful in this growing field. LIVING IN A DATA-DRIVEN WORLD Touro’s new data analytics degree program develops the knowledge and skills necessary to work in information technology. Students learn how to use industry tools to uncover patterns and trends in vast amounts of data. Students are then taught how to interpret that data to 78 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

improve patient care, streamline healthcare insurance processes and improve hospital efficiency.

Division of Graduate Studies

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Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

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Professional Schools

ALUMNI PROFILE

As a national leader in experiential legal education, Touro Law Center in Central Islip, New York, focuses on teaching the law while providing hands-on learning opportunities that serve members of our community in need. Our flexible programs, including full-time, part-time and FlexTime, were developed to meet the varied needs of qualified candidates who are committed to learning the law. These initiatives were recognized, and Touro Law was ranked by College Consensus in the Top 10 Hybrid/Online Law Schools for 2022.

Kathleen Rice, Esq. U.S. Congresswoman

EXPERIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT

The Touro Law Center served as the last port of call before Congresswoman

Touro Law focuses on integrating the traditional law school curriculum with real-world experience. Our students gain doctrinal knowledge, skills development, professional values and early practice opportunities through simulated and real lawyering experiences in our classrooms, clinics and field placements.

with this relentless desire to fight for justice and the public good,” says

Touro Law has nearly 30 active student organizations as well as several honor societies, including Touro Law Review, Moot Court and the Trial Advocacy Practice Society. These groups foster a spirit of community among the student body and provide additional opportunities for students to develop individual interests and advocacy skills. CURRICULUM AND STUDY Touro Law recently merged campuses with The School of Health Sciences of Touro College,

Representative Rice. “My Touro roots continue to inspire me in that fight to this day.” Rice’s first stop on her voyage after graduation in 1991 was as assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, where she prosecuted cases of domestic violence and gang activity. Rice’s work led to an appointment to the post of assistant U.S. attorney in the Department of Justice’s Philadelphia office. Then, in 2005, it was back to where it all began in Garden City, New York, where Rice was raised as one of nine brothers and sisters. It was on her return home that she first pursued elected office—first as district attorney of Nassau County, before moving on to the national stage in 2014 with the first of four Congressional wins. Today Rice proudly honors her Touro legacy of public service by representing the citizens of New York’s 4th Congressional District in the halls of Congress. In addition to her work on the House Floor and back in her district, Rice serves on the distinguished House Homeland Security Committee and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. She is especially proud of her community work to protect families from senseless drunk and impaired driving tragedies. “When I was district attorney, I launched an aggressive campaign to strengthen drunk driving prevention, prosecution and education efforts,” Rice says. “And I’ve continued this fight in Congress. I won’t stop working on these issues until we end drunk and impaired driving once and for all.” One of the biggest lessons that the Congresswoman took away from Touro was the importance of community and having a strong support structure in life. “Touro Law is a family—we take care of and help each other,” says Rice. “We are passionate about the law, social justice and the impact of law on those around us.”

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Law Center

Touro Law received recognition as one of the most diverse law schools in the country and has recently increased efforts to fund scholarships for our minority students. We have an active Office of Diversity & Inclusion that helps ensure the school’s commitment to diversity by promoting, creating and maintaining an inclusive environment.

Kathleen Rice launched her journey as a public servant. “I left Touro

creating a Long Island campus. Our location, adjacent to both a state and federal courthouse, provides synergies for both teaching and learning as well as collaborations for unique student opportunities. Every Touro Law student is offered the opportunity to participate in both externships and clinics. Clinical offerings include bankruptcy; advanced bankruptcy; child advocacy; criminal defense; criminal prosecution; education and youth justice; senior citizens’ law; immigration law; landlord-tenant; mortgage foreclosure; small business and not-for-profit; and the Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic. Since our founding, Touro Law has been committed to providing a quality legal education that promotes social justice and community service. Today we stand as a leader in public service with a national reputation for disaster relief services, a Public Advocacy Center and several programs that provide opportunities for students to make an impact in the lives of the underserved, while gaining hands-on experiences including mock trial and street law programs, justice for all partnership program and others. AFFORDABILITY To address affordability and access to legal education, the Law Center has raised significant funds for student scholarships, and we now have more than 70 named scholarships. Approximately 97 percent of admitted students receive scholarships.

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Professional Schools

Law Center TOURO.EDU | 83

Touro College of Dental Medicine

In 2016, Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) became the first dental school to open in New York State in nearly 50 years, and the newest member of Touro’s growing family of outstanding healthcare education providers. With an academic environment that is rigorous, engaging and vibrant, TCDM is preparing the next generation for rewarding careers in a top field. Dentistry has been consistently ranked among the top 10 careers in U.S. News & World Report’s 100 Best Jobs survey for salary, employment rate and satisfying work-life balance. Although TCDM is new, the school has attained full accreditation status without reporting requirements and the average scores of incoming students on the Dental Admissions Test are the second highest in New York State. Students at TCDM are led by esteemed faculty and administrators with unparalleled experience in 84 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Located in central Westchester County in Valhalla, New York, the campus features spacious lecture halls, an expansive student lounge with scenic views, a fitness center and a library. Students are welcome to amenities at NYMC, including the campus bookstore and kosher dining hall. Student life at TCDM is thriving. Whether it is participating in student government or the College’s many student clubs, attending national conferences sponsored by the American Student Dental Association, enjoying membership benefits from the American Dental Education Association, writing for the student magazine, The Tourodont, performing in the a capella singing group, The Chromatic Scalers, or visiting nearby New York City and the scenic Hudson Valley, there is something for everyone. “Our students are an incredibly accomplished group who will develop into skilled oral healthcare providers. We welcome their energy, enthusiasm and passion as they set forth on this journey,” said Ronnie Myers, DDS, dean of TCDM.

Yujun Wang, DDS Prosthodontic Resident, Harvard

Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) was on his list of schools, but after the interview process, Yujun Wang moved it to the top. “I will never forget the genuine kindness and attention of one interviewer, in particular,” Wang says. “When he saw I was nervous, he said, ‘Let’s switch. You interview me.’” Wang was gobsmacked—and grateful. He doesn’t remember what he asked, but he walked away thinking. “I want to go to this school.” Beyond the faculty, the school itself was impressive. TCDM is the first dental school to open in New York State in 50 years. It is state-of-the-art, from the newest technology to experienced professors who are dedicated to every single student’s success. The College graduated its first class of 103 students, including Wang, in May 2020. “We were the very first group,” Wang says. “We bonded and we learned, and we loved everything about the school.” The trifecta of Touro’s technology, teaching and student camaraderie worked. Today, Wang is prosthodontics resident at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Prosthodontists handle dental problems that involve restoring missing teeth. They are highly trained in everything from implants, crowns, bridges and dentures to full mouth reconstruction. Wang considers prosthodontics a perfect fit for him. Some patients cannot afford dental care so by the time he sees them, they are in pain, missing teeth they’ve pulled out themselves or have no teeth left. “They need me, and I want to help them,” he says. Recently, he did extensive repairs for a patient. “When all the work was accomplished, I handed her a mirror. She stared at herself for a long time,” he says. “She was so surprised, and she kept smiling at her reflection. I was smiling with her.”

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Housed on the campus of New York Medical College, TCDM offers students opportunities in groundbreaking clinical research and full access to NYMC’s comprehensive medical library.

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dental education, clinical research and patient care. Students begin their training at TCDM’s state-of-the-art, 119-seat simulation lab and transition to providing patient care at Touro Dental Health, the College’s clinical training facility. Touro Dental Health features 115 dental chairs throughout its six general practice clinics and specialty clinics in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and complex care. TCDM students, under the supervision of experienced faculty, receive hands-on training while providing comprehensive oral healthcare to adults and children— including the community’s most vulnerable populations who may not otherwise receive necessary dental care.

New York Medical College

As a member of the Touro University System, New York Medical College (NYMC) has built upon its sterling reputation as a leading health sciences institution and continues its tradition of fostering a culture of inclusivity and bridging the gap in healthcare disparities, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. From serving as a source of reliable information, education and models for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery to offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics and opening a student-run free clinic for underserved communities, NYMC staff, students and faculty alike joined to not only serve the community, but live by the humanistic ideals that the College has promoted since 1860.

STAYING INFORMED WITH COVID-19 SYMPOSIA In the initial stages of the novel coronavirus outbreak, NYMC and Touro hosted a COVID-19 symposium in January 2020 at Touro’s Midtown Manhattan campus to educate clinical healthcare professionals, healthcare administrators, public health professionals, elected officials and the media, on the latest updates on COVID-19. Since then, these symposia—presented virtually on a regular basis—address pandemic issues from vaccine development and policy to COVID-19 therapies and antibody cocktails, public health and a myriad of medical, psychosocial and research-based insights into the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its three schools—the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences and the School of Health Sciences and Practice—NYMC offers an opportunity for students to treat and work with a variety of populations and pursue a wide range of residency and career options.

KEEPING THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY

COMING TOGETHER AMIDST THE PANDEMIC When the New York State PAUSE executive order necessitated the NYMC campus closure, NYMC leadership quickly implemented plans to transition to remote academic instruction and ensure employees were equipped to work remotely, while maintaining essential biomedical research activities safely. When NYMC reopened in phases, a SARS-CoV-2 pooled screening surveillance program was put in place to ensure the health and safety of the NYMC community. Later NYMC was among the first approximately 50 medical practices in the Hudson Valley to receive COVID-19 vaccines for distribution. In partnership with the New York State Department of Health, a COVID-19 vaccination clinic was set up on campus distributing vaccines to more than 300 individuals. 86 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

NYMC opened a Family Health Center that provides comprehensive, medical and preventive care, as well as urgent care for patients of all ages including employees and the community at large. The Center is directed by Lori Solomon, M.D. ’99, M.P.H. ’09, clinical associate professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “The ability to be in close proximity to some of New York State’s leading physicians, allows us to give each individual that walks through our doors the attention and care they need,” says Dr. Solomon. In May, La Casita de la Salud opened a new location at 19 Skyline Drive on the NYMC campus for the Westchester County community. La Casita de la Salud, which is Spanish for ”the little house of health,” is a student-run free clinic which has been located in East Harlem since 2005, where it works to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities by providing culturally competent care regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, nationality or ability to pay. The

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Westchester location is a joint venture between NYMC’s Family Health Center and Touro Dental Health and offers free medical and dental care to uninsured adults. CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Holding true to its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, NYMC has recommitted itself to maintaining a community of belonging. A university-wide Office of Diversity and Inclusion works to enhance the diversity of the NYMC and TCDM

NYMC

campus community by promoting equity and inclusion in all aspects of teaching, student life, faculty recruitment, clinical practice and research, revamping curricula and mandating anti-bias and anti-racism education for students and faculty. FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN UNVEILED After a year-long community-wide planning process, NYMC unveiled its 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, including revised mission, vision and values statements, providing a road map to address the rapidly changing healthcare fields and ever-evolving higher education landscape. More than 80 representatives from across all schools and areas of the community including faculty, administration, students, alumni and members of the Board of Trustees, served on strategic planning committees. The new plan builds off previous successes and focuses on championing diversity and inclusion, community outreach and further elevating transparency in the College’s decisionmaking process. UNPRECEDENTED ACCREDITATION After a virtual site visit in April 2021, the Middle States Commission on Higher TOURO.EDU | 87

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Education (MSCHE) reaffirmed New York Medical College’s accreditation for the maximum eightyear period with no reporting requirements or recommendations, citing the beneficial partnership with Touro University System. Furthermore, the School of Medicine received an unprecedented 12year re-accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Education (ACGME) for its residency and fellowship programs though 2025, and a fouryear accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through 2022.

ESTABLISHED CHAIR IN BIOETHICS AND THE HOLOCAUST Joseph Popack, a member of the NYMC Board of Trustees, and Penina Popack, established the Miriam Popack Chair in Bioethics and the Holocaust, designed to ensure that medical ethics lessons from the Holocaust are taught to generations of students in in the medical, dental and other health professions. The endowed chair is envisioned to be a university system-wide resource for research and teaching throughout NYMC and Touro University System, and to be a national resource for teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to health professionals.

Jonathan Gavras, M.D. President, Bright House, Florida Division

Jonathan Gavras was the type of student that every school dreams of educating and sending into the world. Dr. Gavras is not just generous in his financial giving, he also happens to be something far more rare: He is generous of spirit. “I want to give them more of my time,” says Dr. Gavras, 62, who is president of the Florida division of Bright Health, an innovative insurance company. “I want to give back to the school that set me on the course of my career and success.” Dr. Gavras feels fortunate to this day to have chosen New York Medical College (NYMC) for his education and training. Not only were the professors knowledgeable, but they were devoted to the students and passionate about graduating top physicians. Dr. Gavras, who graduated med school in 1986, still marvels over the clinical training opportunities that allowed him to do something extraordinary and unheard of as a medical student. “At my time in one of the affiliated hospitals, I helped deliver 30 babies. Delivering those babies is one of the highlights of my career and of my life. I would not have gotten that lifechanging experience anywhere else.” He believes in showing his gratitude in pragmatic ways. Dr. Gavras, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with his wife, a nurse, has donated funds for the Dr. Jonathan and Debra Gavras Endowment. “A medical education is expensive, and I wasn’t an affluent kid,” says Dr. Gavras, who began his career as a pulmonologist before going on to leadership roles in several leading U.S. health companies. “I do not want to see students burdened by huge loans. I want them to concentrate on being compassionate physicians.” Dr. Gavras also is leading the effort to raise money to build a state-of-theart thoracic medicine simulation lab and is beginning to mentor students in pulmonary medicine as well as those interested in a career in academics or healthcare economics. “My education and clinical experience at New York Medical College was tremendous,” says Dr. Gavras. “It shaped me, it taught me about the importance of compassion for patients, listening to patients, where they came from, what were their experiences. It made me a better doctor and a better human being.”

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INCREASED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE FOR CENTER FOR DISASTER MEDICINE New York State elected officials presented NYMC with $1,000,000 in increased funding for the Center of Excellence in Precision Responses to Bioterrorism and Disasters within the Center for Disaster Medicine (CDM). The funding is a major increase since an initial annual pledge from New York lawmakers of $500,000 in 2017 and $925,000 in 2019, a sum that is matched by NYMC in support of the expanding work and impact of the Center. The funding will help the Center continue training first responders in the region.

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Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) is committed to training physicians to practice in underserved communities and to increasing underrepresented minorities in medicine. Clinical education is provided through affiliated teaching hospitals and medical centers that provide a wide range of clinical exposure. Our students and faculty provide health screenings and patient education in the community and mentor high school and college

students to prepare them for the health professions. TouroCOM opened its flagship campus in Harlem in 2007 with a socially aware program that embraces both the technological and medical standards of the new millennium. A second campus was opened in Middletown, New York, in 2014, which also promotes the practice of medicine in underserved areas, including in rural communities. Together, the campuses have graduated 1,884 physicians who serve in residencies at academic medical centers in all specialty fields. TouroCOM also hosts a distinctive one-year M.S. program that grants degree candidates provisional acceptance into the DO program based on academic achievement. Students, faculty and staff with strong local connections work together to support public service, research and provide clinical services in their communities to improve health outcomes, and cultivate a wide variety and diversity among clinical affiliates. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION TOP PRIORITY TouroCOM strives to enhance the student experience through innovative delivery of medical education and strong relationships with clinical partners and local communities that provide meaningful educational opportunities. Students’ educational experiences are comprehensive and delivered with state-of-the-art technology, including the “flipped classroom”—pioneered by TouroCOM in 2010. During the pandemic, TouroCOM parlayed COVID-19 restrictions into creative opportunities that were welcomed. Critical osteopathic manipulative medicine skills were still taught on campus, while applied clinical education

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continued largely uninterrupted, as students were trained in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery and emergency medicine in outpatient settings. Options and flexibility allowed everyone to be engaged and successful. SERVING LOCALLY WHILE ADDRESSING NATIONAL NEEDS

Applications to medical schools are up following the pandemic, and acceptance is competitive. TouroCOM received over 8,000 applications last year for 270 spots. At the same time, an estimated shortage of up to 124,000 doctors is anticipated by 2034, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges’ June 2021 report. These numbers include an expected shortfall of up to 48,000 primary care physicians (family medicine, general pediatrics, geriatric medicine), fields most DOs choose for practice. TouroCOM addresses these needs, sending its graduates to top residencies nationwide year after year. “With the national emphasis on primary and preventive care, as well as healthcare disparities, we seek to improve the approach from caring for the ill to maintaining health, and making care more widely available to all,” says TouroCOM Executive Dean Dr. Kenneth Steier. TOUROCOM IN HARLEM Established in the heart of Harlem on 125th Street, across from the historic Apollo Theater, TouroCOM Harlem has become an integral part of the community. Health screenings and patient education are provided in the community, and high school and college students are mentored to instill an interest in math and science and prepare them for the health professions. The DO students run an award-winning STEM afterschool program for

Erawadi Singh, DO

Psychiatry Resident, University of Virginia Medical Center Erawadi Singh grew up in a one-bedroom apartment with her devoted parents and grandmother. She wanted to become a doctor, but seeing the world came first. Among other endeavors, Singh tutored Tibetan monks and spun tunes as a DJ. Then she was hit by a car in the Caribbean and returned to New Jersey to recuperate and recalibrate. “Despite what happened, I intentionally did everything I wanted to do to stay balanced,” she says. “I didn’t want a life where I looked back.” Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown was her next stop. She chose the school for its “humanity and genuineness,” and graduated with honors in 2019, after being named Student Doctor of the Year. ”It was the first place where students didn’t speak in terms of “I”, says Singh, who founded the Middletown URM UWorld Scholarship, which pays for a student to access a year of online help for medical boards. “Everything was couched in a sense of cohort, a community of kindness. Professors were invested in the whole person, and a compassionate environment makes a better doctor.” Today, Singh is a psychiatry resident at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and the first psychiatry resident to become Housestaff president of all 900 residents and fellows. Her heroes are her grandmother, who died from Alzheimer’s, and in whose honor she will pursue a geriatric psychiatry fellowship, and her family’s doctor who served the community. “Dr. Sharma saw everyone, regardless of their ability to pay,” she says. “I’m grateful to have such altruistic role models and thankful for Touro, for both a solid education and taking a chance on me.”

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TouroCOM students and faculty are continually exploring opportunities to expand community service options and strengthen community ties. The variety of options range from helping local, underserved populations in Harlem and Middletown to similar populations nationally and globally, providing students with engagement and upholding TouroCOM’s mission. Programs offered include helping the homeless, medical missions and running a free clinic.

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Harlem high school students from low-income families. Fifteen percent of TouroCOM Harlem’s class of 2020 was comprised of underrepresented minorities, a ﬁgure signiﬁcantly higher than the national average of eight percent for osteopathic schools. TOUROCOM MIDDLETOWN IMPROVES HUDSON VALLEY HEALTHCARE TouroCOM Middletown is housed

As TouroCOM enjoys its second decade in Harlem and Middletown welcomes its eighth class, the school continues to meet its mission through growth across several domains: enhanced student experiences, delivery of highquality education, expansion of the clinical environment, strengthening of community ties and conducting and publishing research.

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in a former hospital building transformed into a 21st century, tech-centric medical school. The campus features one of the nation’s ﬁrst virtual holographic training centers. TouroCOM’s expansion to Middletown has improved the region’s healthcare system, providing new education and career pathways for residents and driving economic growth throughout the area. Under Dr. Steier’s direction, Middletown has garnered recognition in the Hudson Valley community and received numerous prestigious awards.

Touro College of Pharmacy

Touro College of Pharmacy provides students with ample opportunity to serve the community through programs in education, research and scholarship, in keeping with Touro’s mission. Every year, they deliver hundreds of influenza vaccines and work tirelessly to help underserved communities. This past year, as the pandemic raged, Touro College of Pharmacy launched a COVID-19 vaccine clinic as well as a screening program. A TASTE OF OUR UNIQUE COURSE OFFERINGS As part of our interdisciplinary approach, we offer a course in cultural competency where the Pharm.D. students team up with the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine students, working together in groups and learning how to navigate the shifting cultural waters in order to provide the best medical care to their patients. With a focus on the consequences of health disparities and their relationship to proper medical treatment, our students are more sensitive to these issues, which is vital to their future success as pharmacists. At the end of this course, our students have a greater appreciation of each other’s roles and areas of expertise within healthcare. Biotechnology entrepreneurship is another recent offering that exposes students to the growing field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical healthcare through expert lectures from faculty with industrial experience and CEOs from the private sector. This course covers FDA regulatory approval, intellectual property portfolios and evaluating business models. To prepare students for pharmaceutical and biotechnology careers, the College partners with large pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Bayer, Genzyme, Bristol Meyers Squibb and Pfizer, for student rotations. 94 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

WHERE DO STUDENTS GO FROM HERE? Our students are highly trained in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, physical assessment, drug information and pharmacotherapy and are poised to provide medication management to patients in the community, long-term care or hospital setting. More than 30 percent of our graduates pursue post-graduate training and enter into the American Society of Health Systems Residency Match Program or apply for pharmaceutical industry fellowships. REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE IS KEY Our exceptional curriculum offers students 54 weeks, or nine pharmacy rotations, so students are exposed to numerous settings and have more opportunities to put what they learn into practice. Students may obtain meaningful elective rotations at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While many graduates become community pharmacists or hospital pharmacists, students also pursue exciting career opportunities at pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies.

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Paul J. Isikwe, Pharm.D.

Teva Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Medical Affairs Division With do-or-die determination, Paul J. Isikwe left his hometown of Houston and headed for New York City, where he had been accepted at Touro College of Pharmacy. “It was either like even the sight of blood, so pharmacy it was.” After graduating from Touro, Isikwe completed a two-year Post-

NEW FACULTY ADDED TO EXPAND STUDENT HORIZONS Further expanding students’ horizons, superb faculty have been recruited to augment the excellent mentoring and broad pharmacy education students already receive—with specialties in infectious disease, oncology, drug information, solid organ transplant, psychiatry, critical care, cardiology, internal medicine and ambulatory care. The faculty’s broad experience in hospital, retail and pharmaceuticalbiotechnology settings enables the program to prepare students for exciting, real-world careers.

doctorate Fellowship. Then he joined Teva Pharmaceuticals,

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY The school offers ample opportunity to students to serve the community through programs in education, research and scholarship, in keeping with Touro’s mission. They have helped with recovery efforts in Haiti, delivered thousands of influenza vaccines and traveled for global practice experiences in both Africa and Asia to help underserved communities. The College also provides a very strong interprofessional learning environment with direct access to Touro healthcare professional programs in medicine and the allied health sciences.

dean were open to our ideas and energy.” While a student,

where today Isikwe is part of the Value, Evidence, and Outcomes team within the U.S. Medical Affairs Division. “It’s so rewarding to be in the role I’m in,” says Isikwe, who lives with his wife and infant daughter in Providence, Rhode Island. “It involves analyzing clinical trial data, healthcare economics and outcomes research solutions that improve patient care. For me, it’s very dynamic. Every single day is different.” Isikwe’s journey to Teva started at Touro College of Pharmacy in Fall 2012, the very same year the school graduated its first ever incoming class. “I loved the newness, the possibilities,” he says. “There was no red tape, no bureaucracy. The faculty and Isikwe was instrumental in bringing two student chapter pharmacy organizations to the school. Now Isikwe, who graduated in 2016, is back on campus, this time as an adjunct professor. He created and teaches a course called Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry. Isikwe always knew he didn’t want to be what he calls a “counter pharmacist,” which is the prime reason he chose Touro, which focuses on all aspects of opportunities open to those with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “I get bored easily,” explains Isikwe. “My professors understood who I was and where I wanted to be and helped me get there with advice, experience and support, which put me in the place where I am now.”

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medicine or pharmacy for me,” says Isikwe, now 34. “I did not

Touro University California

Touro University California (TUC), located in Vallejo on the historic Mare Island, was founded to provide outstanding educational programs in healthcare, education and public health that are in concert with the Judaic values of social justice, pursuit of knowledge and service to humanity. These values bind our current 1,500 students together as a caring community and constitute the foundation of our school.

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY The College of Pharmacy (COP) program is studentcentered, technologically advanced and interactive. It is the ﬁrst Pharm.D. program in the U.S. that is modeled on medical school education, offering full two years of classroom instruction followed by two years of clinical experience.

The University’s professional programs in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, public health, nursing and education are all fully accredited. Faculty, staff and students have a powerful commitment to academic excellence, evidence-based professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and active engagement with both local and global communities.

Each spring, first- and second-year COP students leave for the California state capitol to participate in Legislative Day, where they learn to represent and advocate for their profession by meeting their representatives face-to-face. The program offers a 2,800 square foot pharmacy practice center, consisting of a patient care skills area, multipurpose classroom and webcast studio, sterile products training center and a community practice training center was built to enhance our students’ educational experience.

COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Our Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students include a diverse group of highly motivated individuals who are dedicated to becoming leaders in healthcare. In 2021, their commitment to meeting physician shortages resulted in over 61 percent of the graduating class being matched to choices in primary care medicine—our largest group of family medicine graduates ever. For ten consecutive years, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM)—California has been ranked among the top 10-15 universities by U.S. News & World Report for graduates matching in primary care residencies. And in 2019, the National Center for the Analysis of Healthcare Data (NCAHD) reported that among California medical school graduates, TUCOM alumni were ranked number one for percentage of graduates pursuing primary care (58%), rural care (6%) and care in underserved areas (22%).

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES In the College of Education and Health Sciences (CEHS), students pursue careers as public health experts, nurses, educators and physician assistants. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION In the Graduate School of Education (GSOE), students learn teaching strategies for at-risk pupils and become agents for change in social justice, equity and inclusion. Educators throughout the region are prepared to be pioneers in education through master’s programs in innovative learning or education leadership. The GSOE program has a 97 percent master’s degree completion rate, with 95 percent of graduates working in educational organizations. The GSOE has obtained more than $1.8 million in grants to improve education. By partnering

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH TUC’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program is dedicated to reducing health disparities in local and global communities with an unwavering focus on social justice. Its mission is to promote the health and wellbeing of various communities through education, service and research with a focus on underserved populations. Students gain depth through coursework in a chosen specialized public health track in either community health or global health. The MPH program has established strong partnerships in some of the poorest countries across the world: Bolivia, Ethiopia and Cambodia. This program also partners with COM and COP to offer fulfilling dual degree options for our students.

MOBILE DIABETES EDUCATION CENTER Mobile Diabetes Education Center (MOBEC), a state-of-theart mobile trailer, was funded by a gift from Sutter Health System and additional support offered from Solano County Public Health. Since opening MOBEC, the program has served more than 7,000 people—including free diabetes screenings (finger stick glucose and A1c), free diabetes education and Dia-BEAT-it exercise classes. The program also offers the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Diabetes Education and Empowerment Program (DEEP). MOBEC provides diabetes screening for members of the community who may not otherwise have adequate access to healthcare and educates the public about their risk factors, thus aiming to prevent diabetes and prediabetes in their lives. TOURO.EDU | 97

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with non-profit groups like NapaLearns, which has an expressed mission to be a catalyst to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning, GSOE can reach out to a great pool of teaching candidates in a way that keeps tuition low and access to higher education as attainable as possible.

SCHOOL OF NURSING The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is an accelerated program designed to prepare licensed nurses to become nurse leaders. Students become a clinical nurse leader through the Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) to MSN or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to MSN programs. TUC’s nursing program also added the Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner program in January of 2017. This program prepares graduates for the highest level of advanced nursing practice and builds on existing curricula found in TUC’s master’s nursing programs.

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JOINT MSPAS/MPH PROGRAM As the only physician assistant (PA) program in the country where all students receive both PA and MPH degrees, the PA program prepares healthcare providers to work with underserved populations while increasing access to healthcare. The first-time pass rate for the PA National Certifying Exam was 96 percent for the Class of 2020, and 97, 98 and 93 percent for the years 2017-2019. The mission of this program is to increase access to quality healthcare through its graduates. In pursuit of that, over half the training hours of students in the program are at clinical sites that serve medically underserved populations.

DRUG SAFE SOLANO The Drug Safe Solano was founded in fall of 2018 with a generous grant for start-up funding and continued support from MedMark Treatment Centers in Fairfield. The program brings together a motivated multidisciplinary team to address opioid addiction issues in the community. Strategies were developed to improve opioid addiction, prevention, safety and treatment efforts. The coalition is a member of the Expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment in the Jails Learning Collaborative that started in August 2018. Members of the collaborative include the Sheriff’s office, the courts, probation, Drug Safe Solano and the County Administrator’s office. SOLANOCONNEX The Solano County Mental Health Access Grant (20202023), otherwise known as SolanoConnex, is led by Touro University California and funded by the County of Solano. This project was created in response to a recent Human Services Needs Assessment (2019) that showed many residents and providers do not know how to access existing mental and emotional health services in the county. The goal of SolanoConnex is to enhance access to mental and emotional health services in Solano County through the development of a web app that will connect residents to resources that best meet their mental and emotional health needs. STUDENT-RUN FREE CLINIC The Student-Run Free Clinic (SRFC) is organized and staffed by students from Touro University California. A licensed clinician provides direct, on-site supervision. The SRFC was developed to foster a relationship between the city of Vallejo and Touro University by providing a valuable resource for low-income residents of Vallejo, completely free of charge. Students benefit by practicing their clinical skills through increased patient contact, developing interprofessional leadership and teamwork skills and gaining direct experience in dealing with the social, economic and cultural challenges that impact healthcare.

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Fatima Hernandez, Pharm.D.

Principal Pharmacist, Touro CARES Mobile Vaccination For Dr. Fatima Hernandez, Touro University California College of Pharmacy not only prepared her for the real world, but literally saved her life once she

In October 2020, after graduating from the school, Hernandez was living in El Paso when she contracted COVID-19, probably while renewing her CPR license. Back and forth from the emergency room she went, given ridiculous diagnoses, including, “If you’d not be so anxious, you could breathe.” “If I wasn’t struggling to breathe,” says the 39-year-old with asthma, “I wouldn’t be anxious.” Finally, seriously ill, Hernandez was placed on oxygen and admitted. She refused to go on a ventilator, knowing the statistics of ever getting off i t a live w ere a bysmal. “Because my mother speaks no English, she couldn’t help me and no one would give her any information about my health,” says the Nicaraguan-born Hernandez, who spent her childhood in her late-father’s village pharmacy. “And worse, no one actually believed I was a pharmacist.” Two of her Touro professors, Dr. Shadi Doroudgar and Dr. Lucinda Chan, had no trouble believing everything she texted them from her hospital bed. “I was saying good-bye to everyone I loved,” she says, adding that her former professors agreed on the spot to be her medical powers of attorney—by the napkin Hernandez scribbled on and texted them before losing consciousness. “They immediately called the hospital, told them I was a pharmacist and that they were in charge to make medical decisions on my behalf,” she says. “Whatever they did, it worked.” When she was well again and recuperating at home weeks later, she was offered to work at Touro, as a project manager and principal clinical pharmacist on duty for the Touro CARES Mobile Vaccination Program, back on the school’s Vallejo, California campus. “A great job with people who were like family,” says Hernandez, one of only 4% of Hispanic female pharmacists in the United States. “It was always more than a school,” she says. “These were people who truly cared that you became the best in your field.” She has exceeded their soaring expectations: “There is not a person I encounter in my job, particularlya Hispanic person, who I don’t persuade to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including my own mother,” she says proudly. “My record is 100%.“

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entered it.

Touro University Nevada

Touro University Nevada (TUN) has been leading the way in both academics and service since 2004—teaching Nevada’s future doctors, nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists and educators, while caring for our community. Today more than 1,500 students are enrolled in a variety of degree programs and more than 5,000 graduates currently serve as healthcare and education professionals. Former United States Congresswoman Shelley Berkley serves as CEO and senior provost of Touro University Western Division. Ms. Berkley’s demonstrated commitment to healthcare and education, together with a strong academic leadership team, has led to signiﬁcant increases in private support and partnerships for TUN. COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE The Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) is Nevada’s largest medical school, offering degrees in osteopathic medicine and medical health sciences. Our impressive track record includes a remarkable 98.3 percent average first-time pass rate on the COMLEX-USA Level 1 exam—the highest of any medical school in the nation! Our commitment to helping students achieve professional success includes our Medical Health Sciences (MHS) program, which has expanded from a class size of 30 to 60 students. This master’s degree helps students with a lower MCAT score or undergraduate GPA improve their application for medical or PA school. We also partner with Touro University California (TUC) to offer TUN College of Medicine students the opportunity to obtain a Master of Public Health (MPH) at TUC through a synchronized distance learning program. 100 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PARTNERSHIP WITH NEVADA STATE COLLEGE (NSC) OFFERS DUAL DEGREE TUN and NSC have an agreement that provides a pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare to participate in an accelerated double-degree program that allows them to receive a bachelor’s degree from NSC and a master’s degree from TUN. COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES The College of Health and Human Services offers healthcare-related degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies and nursing, as well as advanced degree and certiﬁcate programs in education. We’re proud to say our students and faculty have been actively involved on the front lines since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The School of Physician Assistant Studies and the College of Osteopathic Medicine have been leading the charge on COVID vaccinations for the University and in the community. The University’s students and faculty have provided more than 10,000 vaccines across Southern Nevada. Many of the School of Nursing students and faculty have been assisting in local hospitals. Students in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are all working RN professionals. It was a big year for the School of Education, which celebrated its first Doctor of Education graduates this past spring of 2021. NEW PARTNERSHIPS TUN College of Osteopathic Medicine received a $2.6

Professional Schools

TUN was also the recipient of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Physician Assistant Students (SDS) grant in Southern Nevada, which provides $3.25 million over five years. The grant aims to increase diversity among physician assistant students who have demonstrated financial need. The program’s goal is to increase the number of PA practitioners working in underserved communities. Helping families and children with special needs and offering essential resources to those with disabilities remains a priority for the University. TUN’s internationally recognized Sharon Sigesmund Pierce and Stephen Pierce Center for Autism & Development Disabilities (CADD) received a $3 million endowment gift from the State of Qatar through 2027. The gift, known as the Qatar Patient Care Fund, will provide financial support for families to access services at the Center. The Center offers multi-disciplinary, comprehensive therapy and support for families dealing with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental issues. SERVING THE COMMUNITY At Touro University Nevada, service to the community is central to our mission. Therefore, all programs have a community service/service-learning component to them.

The Stephen J. Cloobeck Regional Center for Disaster Life Support is a National Disaster Life Support Foundation (NDLSF) certified facility offering cutting-edge training for students and healthcare professionals. The Cloobeck Center recently received a grant from the Engelstad Family Foundation to partner with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and provide critical care training to patrol officers. To ensure our future clinicians are well-prepared for real-life situations, the Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation is a state-of-the-art medical simulation environment that provides vital training in patient care, diagnosis, professionalism and communications skills. Our own TUN Health Center is staffed by our faculty physicians and provides clinical rotations for students. The Center is open to the public and accepts most insurances. Services include rheumatology, primary care, geriatrics and osteopathic manipulative medicine. TUN’s commitment to the community includes our Stallman Touro Clinic at the Shade Tree Shelter, which provides free medical care to abused and homeless women and children. The first of its kind in Nevada, the clinic is staffed by Touro physician assistant program faculty and students and has reduced ambulance visits from the shelter to the emergency room by an astonishing 88 percent. Ensuring everyone in Southern Nevada receives essential healthcare services, students, under faculty supervision, provide free, on-site medical care to our homeless population, homeless veterans, low-income seniors and soon, to underserved pregnant women through the Touro Mobile Healthcare Initiative. TOURO.EDU | 101

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million grant from the United Health Foundation to improve maternal health and reduce disparities in underserved communities. This three-year partnership will provide free prenatal screening and care to underserved women in Nevada using Touro’s mobile healthcare initiative, equipped with handheld ultrasound devices and staffed by Touro physicians, nurses and medical students.

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Professional Schools

ALUMNI PROFILE

Travis Snyder, DO

Neuroradiologist, Research Entrepreneur, Professor Dr. Travis Snyder is a breathlessly busy man who would have it no other way. A 2009 graduate of Touro University Nevada’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, Snyder is a neuroradiologist, leader and more. “It all started with Touro,” says Snyder, who was applying to medical schools from his thenhome in North Carolina. “I liked that it was a new school in a place with seven big hospitals and no medical schools! The founding dean was dynamic and very pro-student. He knew the community was ripe for a medical school. He promised a great education, great rotations and endless opportunities, and he was right on all of it.” These days, Snyder, 42, who goes off on yoga retreats when possible (translation: not often), has a full-time career reading and diagnosing X-rays, MRIs and CT scans of the brain and spine, at SimonMed Imaging in Las Vegas. “There’s nothing static about neuroradiology,” says Snyder. “To me, it’s a pure medical and intellectual specialty. The technology is always changing, improving, allowing us to see and understand more. It’s a field that’s never static.” But Snyder takes advantage of what an average person might call downtime: He is an adjunct professor of radiology and neuroradiology at Touro, where he gives at least two lectures a year on imaging. He takes several third- and fourth-year Touro students on clinical rotations every month. Snyder also owns a research company, Imgen, which has the largest non-military database on mild traumatic brain injuries, as well as a carbon monoxide database. Through Imgen, Snyder offers summer research internships to 60 first- and second-year Touro medical students. To fund Imgen’s research and pay the interns a stipend, Snyder works as a medical legal consultant. Enough, already? Snyder laughs, before adding a tad sheepishly, that he is the residency program director for Sunrise Health Care of America Consortium in Las Vegas, the first radiology residency program in Nevada. Does this tireless Touro University Nevada booster ever choose Touro graduates? For this Las Vegas doctor, it’s a safe bet he does.

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an entrepreneur, a researcher, a professor, a medical school mentor, a community health

Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide (TUW) spawns from a legacy of online learning within Touro University System. Initially modeled upon the Robust Learning Model (RLM), the founders, the late Drs. Edith and Yoram Neumann of blessed memory, built the first university program in the world to offer an accredited, fully online Ph.D. program with no residency requirements. In 2012, TUW promoted advanced concepts fostering academic success, which serves as a testament to the powerful learning environment built into the current system. LEARNING ANYTIME, ANYWHERE With dynamic, online degree programs that cater to both the busy schedules of adult learners and the 104 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

DEGREES AND PROGRAMS TUW has educated a wide array of students—from a Screen Actors Guild administrator whose degree paved the way to a national executive role to a high-ranking military officer

Human Rights Activist

Dr. Coralanne Griffith-Hunte possesses what she calls a “willful pursuit to persevere.” In 2014, she was so debilitated from years of back surgeries and breast cancer treatment, that she had zero energy. A wife and mother of four, with several degrees and professional achievements, Dr. Coralanne, as she’s called, then 41, could have rested quietly and recuperated. “No way,” she says. “I decided to get a doctorate to make my brain work again, get it going!” In 2018, the Barbados native was awarded a doctorate

A GLOBAL EXPERIENCE TUW’s online academic experience is fully supported by highly qualified academic faculty, outstanding administrative services and cutting-edge technology. Taking classes and earning degrees through new media and communications from anywhere in the world, the diverse student population learn by following a scholar-practitioner approach and directly applying course content to careers or professions. MILITARY FRIENDLY With its access, affordability and flexible schedule, TUW is a perfect fit for the logistical challenges facing government workers and members of the armed forces pursuing higher education. As the name suggests, TUW provides access to classes and assignments from anywhere in the world and offers courses that accommodate military members on active duty, as well as those transitioning out of the armed forces and into civilian life.

in psychology from Touro University Worldwide. Dr. Coralanne, now 49 and living on Long Island, chose the school because, “They said, ‘Tell me about you,’” she says. “I talked, they listened, they talked, I listened, we collaborated, just the way communication should work. The professors brought things out of me I didn’t even know were in there.” Among her successes, Dr. Coralanne has received the New York State Senate 2019 Woman of Distinction Award and the 2019 Humanitarian Award; in 2020, she joined the United Nations 58th Commission for Social Development to end homelessness and assisted in developing the UN’s Resolution on Homelessness. In 2021, she spoke in Switzerland at the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, and was featured in Forbes magazine in May 2021 for her expertise on the effects of mass incarceration and post-traumatic prison disorder. She doesn’t just dish out advice, she takes it: “It’s okay not to be okay,” she says. But with a caveat: “Don’t wallow. Get up, get going!”

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who earned a degree in industrial psychology. Through its fully regionally accredited online courses, students can earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in a variety of subjects, including business administration and business analytics; industrial organizational and human psychology; social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy; health sciences; and healthcare administration and health education.

Coralanne Griffith-Hunte, PsyD

E-Learning Opportuniities

ALUMNI PROFILE

career advancement needs of professionals already in the workforce, TUW is committed to developing a passionate, connected learning community to help students achieve their individual academic goals on their own schedules. Whether they are jump-starting a career or getting a boost up the corporate ladder, TUW students are given the tools to gain the communication, critical thinking and leadership skills needed to advance and succeed.

Hebrew Theological College

Hebrew Theological College (HTC) is committed to the advancement of scholarship in accordance with the principles of Judaism. The school provides academic programs to produce Torah-imbued college graduates and superior advanced graduate and professional programs for qualified students who will serve the Jewish community and humanity through their professional and personal vocations. Established in 1921, HTC joined the Touro University System in 2015 and is housed on a seven-acre campus situated in the quiet Chicago suburb of Skokie, Illinois. HTC boasts a beautiful study hall, state-of-the-art computer lab, science laboratory and the Saul Silber Memorial Library. A separate women’s campus for HTC’s Blitstein Institute is located in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. TORAH, ACADEMICS AND LIFE HTC offers an intensive program of Talmud study combined with academic studies, focused on developing a love of Torah learning and advancing professional and career goals in a yeshiva setting. Students form lifelong relationships with rabbis and faculty. HTC offers an accredited Bachelor of Arts degree, including a required general education component that consists of comprehensive core curricula in both advanced Hebrew studies including Bible, Hebrew, Jewish history, Jewish law and Jewish philosophy and liberal arts and sciences—natural sciences, math, English and social science. Students major in Talmud and are encouraged to add a second major in accounting, business or psychology. HTC students are provided the expertise, knowledge and skills needed to excel in their chosen field upon graduation. In particular, graduates of HTC’s accounting CPA track are expertly prepared for the CPA examination. Likewise, the psychology department is

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staffed by clinicians who prepare students to matriculate into top-tier PsyD programs, as well as programs in social work and education. BLITSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN Blitstein Institute of Hebrew Theological College welcomes students from across the Midwest as well as a cohort of international students hailing from South America, South Africa, Europe and Israel looking to gain a superior education in a Torah-imbued environment. It offers a comprehensive curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree with a major in Judaic studies and additional majors in accounting; business, including e-commerce and marketing; computer and information sciences; education, including licensure in primary, secondary and special education; English; graphic arts and design; health sciences; psychology; and speech and communication disorders. The health sciences major provides prerequisite courses for graduate and professional education leading to careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacology, physician assistant and physical and occupational therapy. Blitstein Institute offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in cooperation with North Park University and has cooperative agreements with Midwestern University, DePaul University and Rush University. Blitstein graduates have been accepted to top-tier graduate programs at Northwestern University, Rush University Medical Center, UIC and NYU.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Affiliated Affiliate Schools Schools

Tova Benhamou Clinical Laboratory Analyst

Tova Benhamou may have graduated from Touro’s

Dr. Laurie Erickson, chair of the Department of Health Sciences at HTC, thought that her former student would be interested in hearing a presentation from an invited guest speaker. “She asked if I wanted to join in on Zoom along with her current students,” says Benhamou, who was moved but hardly surprised. “Not only did she reach out, but I couldn’t listen in at the time, so she recorded it all for me! That’s what the professors are like, they remember who you are and reach out even if you’re no longer there.” Benhamou, a 22-year-old newlywed, graduated from Touro’s HTC with a double major in Judaic studies and health sciences. After receiving her degree, she secured a position at LifeScan Labs, a private medical testing company, where she became a microbiology processor—setting up body fluid c ultures a nd p erforming C . d iff, in fluenza and RSV testing. Her managers were so impressed by her knowledge, work ethic and abilities, they offered additional training and promoted her to clinical laboratory analyst. Benhamou now operates sophisticated, state-ofthe-art equipment, performs tests on blood samples, analyzes and reports results. She credits HTC for her professional achievements. “You’re an individual there,” she says. “They take care of us, they give each of us a good education, customizing it for every student. Then they help show us what to expect when we leave and go out in the world.”

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Hebrew Theological College (HTC) in 2019, but faculty at the Chicago-based school are still looking out for her.

Yeshivas Ohr HachaimInstitute for Advanced Talmudic Studies In keeping with Touro’s mission to educate, perpetuate and enrich the historic Jewish tradition, Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim—Institute for Advanced Talmudic Studies was established to address the needs of students interested in pursuing advanced Talmudic scholarship in a rigorous learning environment. A full-time yeshiva that was founded in 1983, Ohr Hachaim serves as an incubator for the next generation of Jewish leaders and educators and has achieved national prominence as a premier center of Torah study. RIGOROUS STUDY AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING Located in Queens, New York, Ohr Hachaim provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in ancient Jewish texts and study in a classic yeshiva environment. Under the leadership of Rabbi Doniel Lander, the son of Touro’s founder and ﬁrst president Dr. Bernard Lander, Ohr Hachaim is producing outstanding post-graduate scholars who have assumed important positions in rabbinic and lay leadership throughout the U.S. and around the world. PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES As an anchor of the Queens community, Ohr Hachaim has developed into a 108 | TOURO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT

magnet attracting individuals of all ages who wish to advance their Torah study. Many are drawn by the warm, welcoming atmosphere and special classes are designed to enable business leaders and professionals to experience the Yeshiva’s vibrant spirit and challenging lectures. The impact of Ohr Hachaim, however, reaches far beyond its immediate geographical location. Students from across the Tri-state area are enrolled in its affiliated high school. Yesodei Yeshurun, also located in Queens, is renowned for its excellence in both Torah and general studies. Yesodei Hatorah, Ohr Hachaim’s recently established high school located in Naugatuck, Connecticut, is the focal point of an exciting new community that Ohr Hachaim is developing. Students hail from all over the United States and are reaping the benefits of comprehensive standards of excellence that is essential to the Yesodei experience. In Philadelphia, Yesodei Yisroel, the third high school in Ohr Hachaim’s network of Torah institutions, has bolstered the local communities of Elkins Park and Northeast Philadelphia.

Affiliate Schools

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES & BOARD OF GOVERNORS PRESIDENT’S

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Mr. Bruce Lilker

Mr. Zvi Ryzman Chairman

Mrs. Rena Barta

Mrs. Gail Lipton

Rabbi Doniel Lander Chancellor

Mr. Gavriel Berger

Mr. Joshua Manaster, Esq.

Mr. Harvey Blitz

Mr. Harold Matheson

Mr. Stephen Brown

Mr. Robert Marcus

Mr. Rod Chay

Mrs. Meryl Maybruch

Mr. Abraham Biderman

Rabbi Alan Ciner

Mr. Ira Nutis

Mr. Shmuel Braun

Mr. John Crepsac

Mr. Joseph Popack

Dr. Benjamin Chouake

Dr. Hazel Dukes

Mrs. Yaffa Popack

Mr. Allen Fagin

Mr. Sam Epstein

Mr. David Portal

Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman

Mr. Alan Fuchsberg

Mr. Daniel Retter

Dr. Zahava Friedman

Mr. Charles Ganz

Mr. Alex Rovt

Mr. Gilles Gade

Mr. Adam Geiger

Mrs. Lindsay Schottenstein

Rabbi Menachem Genack

Mr. Paul Glasser*

Mr. Nathan Sklar

Mr. Solomon Goldfinger

Ms. Beth Gorin*

Mr. Howard Stein

Mr. Abraham Gutnicki

Mr. Bruce Gould

Mr. Andrew Tananbaum

Mr. Brian Levinson

Mr. David Grunblatt

Dr. A.M. Tannenberg

Mr. David Lichtenstein

Mr. Marc Moyal

Mr. Gary Torgow

Mr. Martin Oliner

Mr. Michael Hasten

Mr. Marvin Weitz

Dr. Lawrence Platt

Mr. Aaron Herzog

Dr. Rachel Yehuda

Mrs. Margaret Retter

Dr. Mark Jacobs

Mr. Stephen Rosenberg

Mrs. Robin Jacobs

Mr. Israel Sendrovic

Dr. Alan Kadish

Mr. Gary Torgow

Dr. Martin Katzenstein

Mr. Jack Weinreb

Mr. Lloyd Keilson

Rabbi Shabsai Wolfe

Rabbi Moshe Krupka

Mr. Steven Zuller

Rabbi Doniel Lander

Dr. Alan Kadish President

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*Office of Institutional Advancement

REPORT Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Elisheva Schlam Senior Graphic Designer Tali Berger Graphic Designer KS Revivo Director of Publications Esther Greenfield Assistant Director of Publications Laurie Kohanchi Writers Christina Cheakalos Barbara Franklin Stacy Gerard

Building Our Future Together PARTNER WITH TOURO UNIVERSITY: SHARE IN OUR MISSION AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY Touro offers unique and meaningful opportunities to philanthropic partners to assist us as we continue our vibrant growth and achieve the dynamic vision of the next 50 years. BUILDING OUR FUTURE—INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AT TOURO UNIVERSITY As we look back at the progress and accomplishments achieved throughout our philanthropic efforts at our many schools and programs, we also look forward to a very bright future where our lay leaders continue to play a broader role in our schools and programs. As we now approach the celebration of our 50th anniversary, our sights remain on our dual mission: to build upon the tenets of our Jewish heritage, while serving humanity at large. We understand as we embolden our philanthropic partners to step up their support, we will look forward to their role in the continued growth of our academic enterprise, while attracting so many others who will serve as the spark for Touro’s growth in the next 50 years. In that regard, we must remember that every institution

needs a strong community of friends and supporters. The high level of expense associated with need-based scholarships, the cost for research across many fields of endeavor and support for our strategic plan, will only bear fruit if we maintain and expand our institution’s base of friends and funders. This is a challenge to our Board of Directors, 100,000+ alumni, community support agencies and the large community of potential donors who will support us as they read through reports such as this, and understand not only the scope and breadth of our academic offerings, but conclude that investing their support in Touro is a valued and worthwhile endeavor. Touro University offers something for everyone, no matter what your background, ethnicity or academic orientation. The opportunities for support are as bold, whether needbased scholarships, merit-based scholarships, support of research, dedication of a particular facility and even the dedication of new buildings and extensions through our capital campaigns.

We pride ourselves on the way we develop relationships with donors, and we welcome you to call us at 646.565.6030 or email Vice President for Institutional Advancement Paul S. Glasser at paul.glasser@touro.edu. To give online and for further information on giving opportunities, visit: www.touro.edu/giving or call 646.565.6030.

TOURO UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT 50 WEST 47TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10036 646.565.6030 WWW.TOURO.EDU/GIVING

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TOURO UNIVERSITY www.touro.edu

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