Commencement 2021 About Touro University California
Touro University California (TUC) is a Jewish nonprofit, independent graduate institution of higher learning that was founded in 1997 on three Judaic values: social justice, the pursuit of knowledge, and service to humanity. TUC’s vision is to be a place of inspirational teaching and scholarship, transformative leadership, and exemplary service.
Today, the university is organized into three colleges: the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Pharmacy, and the College of Education and Health Sciences. Home to over 1,500 students, TUC is deeply committed to its mission of offering distinguished professional programs in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, public health, nursing, and education. The TUC learning experience is student-centered, enriched by research and scholarship, and prepares professionals for rewarding lives in service to others both locally and around the globe.
Touro College and University System
Touro University California is part of the Touro College and University System (TCUS), which is composed of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. • Touro College was established in 1970 with the mission to educate, to serve, to perpetuate, and to enrich the historic Jewish tradition of tolerance and dignity. Created as an independent institution that would support and strengthen the Jewish community, Touro has remained steadfast in its commitment to Jewish continuity and more broadly, to humankind. • TCUS has grown to serve a widely diverse population of over 19,000 students across 35 schools in four countries and is uniquely attuned to the importance of an education that accommodates students from all backgrounds and circumstances. • Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro College Los Angeles and Touro University Worldwide, are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System.
History of the Campus
Touro University California faces the Napa River on historic Mare Island where in 1854, the first permanent Navy installation on the West Coast was established. Naval operations at that time ensured the flow of gold and U.S. mail to and across Panama and protected American whalers in the South Pacific. Under the leadership of Commander David G. Farragut, Mare Island began a long history of shipbuilding. The first U.S. warship built on the West Coast was launched at Mare Island in 1859, and the first dry-dock on the West Coast was completed in 1891. The Mare Island Base Hospital, a National Historic Landmark, was constructed in 1899 on the foundation of an even older Navy hospital. The only U.S. battleship ever built on the West Coast, the Californian, was launched from here in 1919. Other historic milestones include the building of a platform on the vessel Pennsylvania, which permitted the first carrier landing of an airplane, and converting the Navy’s first vessel to run on oil rather than coal. During World War II, Mare Island produced almost 400 vessels and in 1958 launched the first of 17 nuclear submarines.
tu.edu
1 Congratulations Graduates!
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Touro University California’s Spring 2021 Commencement. On behalf of the entire university leadership team and our faculty and staff, we are thrilled to have you here remotely for this wonderful celebration.
I offer a special welcome and thank you to the family and friends of our graduates. They could not have completed this journey without your steadfast support.
Graduates – your commencement marks a pivotal and important day for you, Touro, and most of all, the communities and people that you will go on to serve. Today, after persevering through long days of studying, lectures, and labs while learning at the side of our expert faculty and community partners, you can walk with your heads held high as well-prepared professionals in your field.
You will be joining a distinguished group of alumni who are outstanding doctors, pharmacists, educators, physician assistants, nurses, family nurse practitioners, public health practitioners, and health science professionals. You are now fully prepared to meet the same challenges and make an important impact on those that look to you for help and counsel. As the newest alumni of the university, I encourage you to remain closely connected to Touro University California. You are now the leaders and mentors for future generations of Touro students.
Congratulations on your achievement under the most challenging of circumstances. You are joining a battle against a difficult pandemic that has altered our lives in immeasurable ways and will continue to have a grip on our society for some time – even after our lives return to “normal.”
Your presence here is proof that you don’t back away from challenges, and as Touro graduates, be confident in yourself, as I am of each and every one of you, that you have it within you to meet not only this challenge, but the challenges of the future we have not yet discovered.
Shelley Berkley, JD, CEO and Senior Provost Touro Western Division
Touro University California Graduates of 2021, your commitment to social justice has created transformational changes in our community even in the midst of a pandemic. Despite the limitations placed upon you by a global pandemic, you have still found ways to serve your communities that were not insignificant. Many of you have served in communities across the globe to create and implement meaningful public health interventions. The educators among you have adapted to circumstances few other educators have had to face en masse and for such a long period of time, giving your heart and soul to your students no matter the obstacles.
In your own ways, each of you have stood up to the challenge of COVID-19 that has altered the way we live. You responded with grace in the call to shelter-in-place, to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and when volunteers were needed in various capacities, so many of you didn’t hesitate to raise a hand and say, “Send me.”
You have continued to serve by supporting our communities and each other in the midst of great challenges from sewing masks, to caring for the homeless, to staffing drive through testing centers, providing remote education for K-12 students, and working at mass vaccination clinics in Solano County, throughout California and across the nation. Today you stand ready to meet our community’s most essential needs in an unprecedented time.
Your perseverance in these times reminds me of The Little Engine That Could and the growth from “I think I can” to success ending in “I thought I could.” Use your experience to live a life of great impact while continually upholding these values: respect for the inherent value and dignity of each individual, acceptance and appreciation of diversity, and compassion and service to society. We, your faculty and staff, know you will continue to create positive change in our world.
Sarah Sweitzer, PhD, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Touro University California
2 College of Osteopathic Medicine Sunday, May 23, 2021 | 10:00 a.m.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Alan Kadish, MD Shelley Berkley, JD Sarah Sweitzer, PhD Michael Clearfield, DO, President of Touro Chief Executive Officer Provost and Chief MACOI, FACP College and University and Senior Provost of Academic Officer of Touro Dean of the College of System & New York Touro University University California Osteopathic Medicine Medical College Western Division
CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKERS Zoë Lehman and Gregory Weygandt
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Michael Clearfield, DO, MACOI, FACP Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES Shelley Berkley, JD and Sarah Sweitzer, PhD
PRESENTATION OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE DEGREE CANDIDATES
READING OF NAMES Gail Feinberg, DO, M Ed, FACOFP, M dist, Walter Hartwig, PhD, Tami Hendriksz, DO, FACOP, FAAP, and Kimberly Wolf, DO, FACOP, FAAP
RECITATION OF THE OSTEOPATHIC OATH Michael Clearfield, DO, MACOI, FACP
RECITATION OF THE COMMISSIONING OATH Natalie Nevins, DO, MSHPE, COL US ARMY
ALUMNI WELCOME Tami Hendriksz, DO, FACOP, FAAP
BLOWING OF THE SHOFAR Bruce Silverman, MS
CONGRATULATIONS AND CLOSING Michael Clearfield, DO, MACOI, FACP
College of Osteopathic Medicine Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine California (“TUCOM”), founded in 1996, moved from San Francisco in 1999 to its current location, now occupying 44 acres on the historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. Since our first graduating class of 2001, TUCOM alumni are practicing throughout the United States and globally, from large urban cores to rural enclaves and serve honorably in all branches of the United States military and public health services. The mission of TUCOM is to prepare students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine. These fundamental tenets emphasize the care of the whole individual and promote wellness of our diverse communities. TUCOM is distinguished by an innovative, student-centered, systems-based curriculum with robust educational outcomes. The traditional four-year medical school education includes threads that emphasize global and public health, osteopathic manipulative medicine, obesity, hand-held ultrasonagraphy, interprofessionalism, and empathy. Clinical, basic science and translational research, funded by a variety of sources including the National Institutes of Health, enrich the knowledge base of medicine and is foundational to our educational mission. The vision of Touro University - inspirational teaching and scholarship, transformative leadership and exemplary service - are not just goals, but a reality lived each day by our students, staff and faculty.
3 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2021
Name Residency Location
Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Ashley Anderson (10) Family Medicine Center - CA
Yamah Anwari Internal Medicine Sunrise Health GME Consortium - NB
Sama Alazawi (18) Transitional Year Naval Medical Center San Diego - CA
Transitional Year and Sunrise Health GME Consortium - NV and Randy Aviado Radiology-Diagnostic Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Sunrise Health System - Southern Hills Yama Babari Family Medicine Hospital and Medical Center - NV
Yasmin Bains (2, 4, 6, 11, 17, 19) Medicine - Primary Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital
Zucker School of Medicine - Northwell Staten Jayinee Basu Psychiatry Island University Hospital - NY
Adam Blank Family Medicine LewisGale Medical Center - VA
Pranay Bonagiri (7) Internal Medicine Scripps Mercy Hospital - San Diego - CA
ThucAn Bui (12, 17) Emergency Medicine Merit Health Wesley - MS
Jay Chan Internal Medicine Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - CA
Benson Chen Emergency Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Central Valley - CA
University of Nevada Las Vegas George Chen Internal Medicine School of Medicine
Catherine Choi Family Medicine Central Washington Family Medicine
Sydra Cooperdock Family Medicine Concord Hospital - NH
Kevin Dales (10) Emergency Medicine Riverside University Health System
Wright State University/Wright Patterson Asit Hirenkumar Dave (18) Psychiatry Air Force Base - OH University of California San Francisco - Sarah Davis (14) Family Medicine Fresno - CA
Navneet Deol Family Medicine Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa - CA
Hannah Dragomanovich (5, 7, 11) Family Medicine Lifelong Medical Care - CA
Simone Easterbrook (6) Family Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Santa Rosa - CA
Sarah Faitell (8) Psychiatry Maimonides Medical Center - NY
Katherine Farley (6,13) Internal Medicine Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital
Medicine - Preliminary/ Maya Gattupalli (11) Neurology and Neurology University of Arizona-Phoenix
4 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2021
Grant Gifford Internal Medicine St. Mary's Medical Center - San Francisco - CA
University of Texas at Kavitha Gilroy (3) Pediatrics Austin Dell Medical School
David Go (17) Internal Medicine CA Pacifc Medical Center - San Francisco - CA
University of California San Francisco - Irene Guzman Internal Medicine Fresno - CA University of California San Francisco - Souad Hamade (3,8,11,15,17) Internal Medicine Fresno - CA University of Miami/ Rowena Hann (8,11,17) Medicine - Pediatrics Jackson Health System - Florida Emergency Medicine/ Jessica Heng (8) Family Medicine Jefferson Health - Northeast - PA
Liana Hinds-Pereira Pediatrics Morehouse School of Medicine - GA
Michael Hower
Mahrose Iftikhar Family Medicine Shasta Community Health Center - CA
Medicine - Preliminary/Physical Esme Irvine (17) Medicine and Rehabilitation and Albert Einstein Medical Center - PA Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sukhpreet Janda (3) Family Medicine Sutter Health - CA
Jonathan Jong (17) Emergency Medicine New York - Presbyterian/ Queens
Michigan State University - Jaime Katuna (8, 11) Emergency Medicine Spectrum Health - MI
Shubhreen Kaur General Surgery Henry Ford Macomb Hospital - MI
Rebecca Kawagoe Family Medicine Kaweah Delta Health Care District - CA
Physical Medicine and New York University Grossman School of Lucinda Kurzava Kendall Rehabilitation Medicine - NY
Natasha Khokhar (8) Family Medicine San Joaquin General Hospital - CA
Jessica Kim (18) Anesthesiology Brooke Army Medical Center - TX
Rachel Kim
Kristen Kobayashi (3, 17) Emergency Medicine New York - Presbyterian/ Queens
University of California Davis Ryan Koewler Emergency Medicine Medical Center - CA
Katherine Ku (1, 8, 9, 20) Emergency Medicine St. Joseph's Medical Center - CA
Gokul Veedu Internal Medicine Brown University/ Kent Hospital
Ikramah Latif Internal Medicine San Ysidro Health - CA
5 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2021
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Vy Le (3) Psychiatry Wichita
Joelle Lee (17) Dermatology St. John's Episcopal - NY
Joshua Lee (10) Family Medicine Chino Valley Medical Center - CA
Lawrence Lee Internal Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Oakland - CA
Zoë Lehman (8, 11, *) Family Medicine Swedish First-Hill Family Medicine - WA
Griffin Lerman Orthopaedic Surgery Valley Consortium - CA
Naran Lodhia (18) Surgery Naval Medical Center San Diego - CA
Baylor College of Medicine - Houston - TX Jaimie Long (17) Pediatrics and Children's Hospital of San Antonio - TX
Adam Lyle Pathology University of Utah Health
Dunia Mardini Family Medicine Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-IL
Angela Martey (11) Family Medicine San Joaquin General Hospital - CA
Western Michigan University Stryker Nahal Massoudi Emergency Medicine School of Medicine
Ana Mathew Internal Medicine St. Joseph's Medical Center - CA
Jennifer McDonald Psychiatry Baylor College of Medicine - Houston - TX
Ryan McHenry (6) Family Medicine St. Joseph Hospital - Eureka - CA
University of California San Francisco - Alia McKean (3) Pediatrics Fresno - CA
Andrew Melendez Emergency Medicine University of Connecticut School of Medicine
University of Texas Health Science Center - Ian Mines (17) Internal Medicine San Antonio University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sabiha Mulla Emergency Medicine Pinnacle Hospitals - PA
Jessica Nguyen (10) Internal Medicine San Joaquin General Hospital - CA
Minh-Thy Nguyen (3, 10, 17) Pediatrics Children's Hospital - Oakland - CA
Spencer Pace Internal Medicine Loma Linda University - CA
University of California San Francisco - Daniel Park Internal Medicine Fresno-CA
Raj Patel Emergency Medicine Riverside University Health System - CA
University of Nevada Las Vegas Sydney Phan Family Medicine School of Medicine
6 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2021
Vimala Ponna Family Medicine Kaiser Permanente - San Jose - CA
Transitional Year/ Radiology KPC Health Hemet Valley Medical Center - Hayden Porter and Radiology Diagnostic CA KPC Health Hemet Valley Medical Center - Akhil Puri Transitional Year CA
Ryan Quinn (17) Orthopaedic Surgery Riverside University Health System - CA
Mikaela Rico Obstetrics-Gynecology Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - CA
Sage Rivard Emergency Medicine Desert Regional Medical Center - CA
Chiara Rosenbaum (11) Dermatology Beaumont Health, Trenton - MI
Felicia Salanga Family Medicine Adventist Health Glendale - CA
Kevin Shiah Internal Medicine Riverside University Health System - CA
Harman Singh Psychiatry Riverside University Health System - CA
University of California San Francisco - Keerat Kaur Singh (8, 11) Family Medicine Fresno - CA
Malini Singh Psychiatry St. Joseph's Medical Center - CA
Danielle Smith Family Medicine Adventist Health Ukiah Valley - CA
Aruna Souri Neurology HealthONE - CO
Peter St. George Family Medicine Providence Health Oregon - OR
Detroit Medical Center/ Warren Stopak Pediatrics - Medical Genetics Wayne State University - MI
John-Paul Suastegui (18) Obstetrics-Gynecology San Antonio Military Medical Center - TX
Timothy Sugimoto (17) Internal Medicine Valley Hospital Medical Center - NV
Tyler Sullivan (11) Emergency Medicine St. Agnes Medical Center - CA
Yasamin Taghikhan Surgery - Preliminary UC Davis Medical Center - CA
Physical Medicine and Oliver Tamis Rehabilitation SUNY Upstate Medical University
Sherin Thomas Family Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Los Angeles - CA
Darren Tiet Family Medicine San Joaquin General Hospital - CA
Dan Ton (17) Surgery - Preliminary San Joaquin General Hospital - CA
Hung Tran Family Medicine Mercy Medical Center - Redding - CA
7 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2021
Harbor - University of California Los Angeles Jennifer Tu (10) Pediatrics Medical Center - CA
Emily Tze (10) Internal Medicine Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital
Kevin Varner Anesthesiology
Irene Velarde Emergency Medicine Kaweah Delta Health Care District - CA
Surgery - Preliminary and University of California San Francisco - East Bay Alyssa Villanueva Anesthesiology and University of Colorado School of Medicine
Peter Vuong (17) Emergency Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Central Valley - CA
Shreshtha Wadhwa
Matthew Wai Internal Medicine Riverside Community Hospital - CA
Aaron Wang (8) Family Medicine Samaritan Health Services - Corvallis - OR
Ryan Wang (17) Internal Medicine Riverside Community Hospital - CA
Winnie Wei-Chieh Wang (3, 17) Internal Medicine Kaiser Permanente - Santa Clara - CA
Gregory Weygandt (8, 11, *) Family Medicine Family Health Centers of San Diego - CA
Kat Winger (11, 16) Pediatrics Children's Hospital - Los Angeles - CA
Brigitte Wray-Miller (8, 11) Family Medicine St. Joseph's Medical Center - CA
Loma Linda University Medical Center - Harrison Wu Family Medicine Murrieta - CA Detroit Medical Center/ Julia Yip (10) Emergency Medicine Wayne State University - MI
(1) Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, 2018-2019 (2) Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, 2019-2020 (3) American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement to women who graduate in the top 10% of their class (4) Bernard I. Zeliger Leadership/Service Award (5) COM student Doctor of the Year Recipient, 2019-2020 (6) Completed Predoctoral Teaching Fellowship – Primary Care or Osteopathic Medicine (7) Diabetes Certificate (8) Dual Degree Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health (9) Fulbright Fogarty Fellowship 2020-2021 (10) Global Health Pathway Certificate (11) Gold Humanism Honor Society (12) Outstanding Student Clinician of the Year (13) Outstanding DO Student Award (14) Outstanding Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Student Award (15) Outstanding Student in Basic Sciences Award (16) Pediatric Distinguished Student Award (17) Sigma Sigma Phi, National Osteopathic Medicine Fraternity Member (18) United States Military Graduate (19) United States Public Health Service 2020 Excellence in Public Health Award (20) United States Public Health Service 2021 Excellence in Public Health Award * Student Speakers
8 College of Pharmacy Monday, May 24, 2021 | 10:00 a.m.
PROCESSIONAL
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
INVOCATION Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Debra Sasaki-Hill, PharmD Interim Dean of the College of Pharmacy
WELCOME Alan Kadish, MD President, Touro College and University System & New York Medical College
Shelley Berkley, JD Chief Executive Officer and Senior Provost of Touro University Western Division
Sarah Sweitzer, PhD Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Touro University California
RECOGNITION OF FACULTY AND STAFF Debra Sasaki-Hill, PharmD
CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER Hafasa Mojaddidi, MS, PharmD
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Keith Yoshizuka, PharmD, MBA, JD, FCSHP Assistant Dean for Administration Chair, Social, Behavioral, and Administrative Sciences. College of Pharmacy
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES Sarah Sweitzer, PhD
PRESENTATION OF DEGREE CANDIDATES
DOCTOR OF PHARMACY
READING OF NAMES Eric Ip, PharmD, APh, BCPS, CSCS, CDE, FCSHP Laura Baumgartner, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
RECITATION OF THE PHARMACIST OATH Debra Sasaki-Hill, PharmD Keith Yoshizuka, PharmD, MBA, JD, FCSHP
CLASS OF 2020 ALUMNI SPEAKER Runa Akahoshi, PharmD
BLOWING OF SHOFAR Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum
CONGRATULATIONS AND CLOSING Debra Sasaki-Hill, PharmD
RECESSIONAL
9 College of Pharmacy The Touro University California College of Pharmacy was founded in 2005 and achieved full accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) when it graduated its first Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) class of 61 students in June 2009. It is fully accredited through 2023. The PharmD program is unique in the nation in that it provides two full years of advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Students are offered a variety of clinical practice and management opportunities in their final two years. Our PharmD program graduates students that are well-prepared to provide clinical services in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and new healthcare models of practice. Students also have the option to select research and academic experiences that hone their skills in research methodology and academic endeavors. Our international group of pharmacy faculty is committed to supporting student learning, community and professional service, research and scholarship, and have a strong record of partnering with research programs in California and elsewhere to generate new knowledge. Over the years, our PharmD graduates have been selected for competitive pharmacy positions, pharmacy residency programs, research fellowship programs, and graduate/professional programs in business, law, public health and healthcare all across the United States. We are dedicated to maintaining a supportive relationship with our alumni as they pursue their careers and are extremely proud of the 73 Doctors of Pharmacy being presented today.
Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2021
Undergraduate Degree Hometown
Shervin Abtahi MS in Cell and Molecular Biology/Genetics Concord, CA
Bushra Alsharif ɫ BS in Microbiology Milwaukee, WI
Sheida Amadeh BS Agricultural Engineering-Food Industry Fremont, CA
Sharon Ashong * B. Pharm Vallejo, CA
Raman Badal BS in Animal Science Benicia, CA
Alexandria Barney * BA in Biology Chico, CA
Tamila Betyaghoub BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry San Jose, CA
Phuong Uyen Bui * BS in Biochemistry San Jose, CA
Joanne Canedo BS in Biochemistry, MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences Vallejo, CA
Janessa Esmeria Cariaga ¥ BS in Molecular Biology, Minor in Chemistry San Jose, CA BS in Biochemistry, Minor in Asian American Sarah Beth Carpio ¥ Studies Santa Maria, CA Jesus Alex Chavez-Rojas * BS in Human Biology, Minor in Chemistry Lindsay, CA
Mindy Chen BS in Chemistry, Emphasis in Biochemistry San Francisco, CA
Benita C. Cyriac BS in Biology and MA in Teaching New Hyde Park, NY
Casey Diep * ¥ BS in Biochemistry Little Saigon, CA
Daryll Adrian Ferrer * BS in Environmental Science, Minor in Chemistry Daly City, CA
Felicia Gary BS in Animal Biology Citrus Heights, CA
Roberto Gonzalez BS in Microbiology Brentwood, CA
Derek Han BS in Biological Sciences San Mateo, CA
10 Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2021
Sami Hanna ɫ BS in Health Sciences New York City, NY
Zachary Hua BS in Biological Sciences Oakland, CA
Nour Itani * ¥ BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology San Jose, CA
Shany Kalman BS in Chemistry Walnut Creek, CA
Daljit Kandola BS in Biology and Minor in Psychology Livingston, CA
Baljinder Kaur * BS in Biochemistry Yuba City, CA
Judy Lam BS in Molecular Cellular Biology San Jose, CA
Binh Minh Thanh Le BS in Biochemistry San Jose
Christine Le BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Fresno, CA
Jessica Le * BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Fresno, CA
Tiffany Le BS in Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology Alameda, CA
Vu Vy Le BS in Biochemistry San Jose, CA
Megan LeVay * ¥ BS in Biochemistry Yorba Linda, CA
Sarah Elizabeth Lewis ɫ ¥ BA in General Chemistry Watsonville, CA
Ching Man Liu ¥ BS in Pharmacological Chemistry Rancho CuCamonga, CA
Steve Liu BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Castro Valley, CA
Alejandro Lopez-Castillo ɫ BS in Biological Sciences, Minor in Psychology BoCa Raton, FL
Courtney Joy Mac Donald * ¥ BS in Biopsychology Fremont, CA BS in Biological Science (Molecular Biology), April Frances Oro Mancilla ɫ ¥ Minor in Chemistry South San Francisco, CA Hafasa Mojaddidi ¥ BS and MS in Biological Sciences Fremont, CA
Selam Monjor BS in Biological Sciences Oakland, CA
Paochee Moua BS Biology Lathrop, CA
BS in Neurobiology, Physiololgy, & Behavior; MS in Medical Girmay D. Naizghi Health Sciences Emphasis in Pharmaceutical Sciences Santa Rosa, CA Mitra Najmi BS and MS in Cell and Molecular Biology Novato, CA
Catherine Kay Nang BS in Biological Sciences, Minor in Chemistry Simi Valley, CA
Fatemeh Navadeh BA in Journalism and Philosophy Novato, CA
Vanessa Ng * BS in Public Health Sciences San Francisco, CA
William Ng BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry San Francisco, CA
Dee Duong Truong Nguyen BS in Human Development & MOT Castro Valley, CA
Nguyen Nguyen BS in Health Science Fremont, CA
11 Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2021
Nhat Minh Thi Nguyen BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology San Jose, CA
Tam Vo Nguyen ¥ BS in Chemical Biology Milpitas, CA BA in Biology, MS in Medical Health Sciences Sabrina Jennyfer Olshansky Emphasis in Pharmaceutical Sciences Woodland Hills, CA Mauricio Ortega ¥ BS in Biological Science, MS in Biological Sciences San Rafael, CA
Yoon Kyul Park * BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Irvine, CA
Hemadri Parmar BS in Chemistry San Francisco, CA
Sam Pournezhad * BS in Genetics San Ramon, CA
Valerie Stephanie Ramos ¥ BS in Biological Sciences West Covina, CA
Ashley Saclolo-Torres BA in Biology, MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences West Sacramento, CA BS in Biological Sciences emphasis in Neurobiology, Stephanie Mae Salcedo ¥ Physiology, & Behavior; Minor in Textiles & Clothing Vallejo, CA Amenpreet Sandhu BS in Biology, Minor in Psychology Reno, NV
Erica Shew BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Cupertino, CA
Gagandeep Sihota BS in Biotechnology Carlsbad, CA
Raphael Sotelo BA in Chemistry Patterson, CA
Mustafa Sultani BS in Biological Sciences Bay Point, CA
Rothana Aaron Torn BS in Chemistry, Concentration in Biochemistry Stockton, CA
Ramin Totti BS in Neuroscience San Jose, CA
Monica Ukaoma ¥ BS in Biological Science Washington, DC
Jennifer Van BS in Chemistry Long Beach, CA
Toufu Vang BS in Biology Fresno, CA
Tiffany Vong BS in Biological Sciences, Systems Physiology Gilroy, CA
Nicholas Wang BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Fremont, CA
Cindy Wen BS in Biochemistry Daly City, CA
Matthew Wong BA in Chemistry Oakland, CA BS in Chemical Engineering & Pharmacological Vionna Wong Chemistry Sacramento, CA Leslie Wu BS in Policy Analysis and Management San Francisco, CA
Xeng Xiong BS in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior Fresno, CA
* Member of Rho Chi, Pharmacy Academic Honor Society ¥ Member of Phi Lambda Sigma, National Pharmacy Leadership Society ɫ Dual-Degree Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health
12 College of Education and Health Sciences On December 1, 2010, the College of Education and College of Health Sciences merged into a single entity now known as the College of Education and Health Sciences. Within this college are the Graduate School of Education, the Joint Physician Assistant & Master of Public Health Program, the Public Health Program, and the School of Nursing.
Graduate School of Education
Founded in 2004 to meet the need for high quality educators in the local community, the Graduate School of Education’s mission is to promote equitable, diverse and inclusive education while preparing and supporting the development of innovative, culturally responsive educators who serve, lead, and teach with integrity. Our Master of Arts in Education and Master of Education degrees cultivate teacher leaders through inquiry-based action research conducted in local school districts. Each degree culminates with the completion of a research thesis or project in which the candidate investigates a local challenge, delves into a research cycle informed by the educational research literature, and then reports those findings back to their schools or districts. The Graduate School of Education also offers credentials (licenses) approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in elementary, secondary, special education teaching, and school administration. Alumni serve in local schools as teachers, principals, teacher-leaders, and administrators and live Touro’s mission by making a positive impact in their schools and communities.
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing is proud to contribute to healthcare in the region with the graduation of these Doctoral and Master’s-prepared nurses and post-graduate Family Nurse Practitioners. The Master of Science in Nursing program ushered in the first cohort in 2014 and admits students who are graduates of Associate Degree Nurse or Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. Master of Science in Nursing graduates are eligible to take the national certification for Clinical Nurse Leaders examination and are positioned to be the transformational nursing leaders of the future to meet the needs of the complex and rapidly evolving health care environment. The Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner graduates are eligible for national certification as Family Nurse Practitioners and will increase the number of primary care providers in the region. To address a national health crisis, the focus of the Family Nurse Practitioner program is on primary care and these graduates also complete many specialty hours in the care and management of patients with diabetes and metabolic disorders across their lifespans.
The Public Health Program
The Public Health Program mission is to develop outstanding public health professionals who believe that health is a human right and that health inequity must be addressed in collaboration with communities and with an understanding of the historical roots and structural causes of injustice. This mission is achieved through a program of study that combines a broad public health base with further specialization in one of three areas: Community Action for Health, Global Health, and Health Equity & Criminal Justice. The Public Health Program offers an independent Master of Public Health, an integrated Joint Physician Assistant/ Master of Public Health, and dual degree options for students in the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Pharmacy, as well as the College of Osteopathic Medicine at our sister campus Touro University Nevada. The Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Joint Physician Assistant & Master of Public Health Program
Through the integration of the Physician Assistant and Public Health disciplines, the Joint Physician Assistant & Master of Public Health Program graduates Physician Assistants who understand the link between an individual’s health and the surrounding physical and socio-cultural environment. Established in 2002, and available only at Touro University California, the 33-month Joint Program has a unique, integrated curriculum resulting in all graduates earning both a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master of Public Health. The mission of the Joint Program is to increase access to care for under-resourced populations by educating excellent Physician Assistants who are from these communities or and individuals with a demonstrated interest in serving these communities. The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
13 College of Education & Health Sciences Sunday, June 13, 2021 | 3:00 p.m.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
INVOCATION Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum
WELCOME Lisa May Norton, EdD Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences
REMARKS FROM THE PRESIDENT Alan Kadish, MD President, Touro College and University System and New York Medical College
REMARKS FROM THE CEO & SENIOR PROVOST Shelley Berkley, JD Chief Executive Officer and Senior Provost of Touro University Western Division
REMARKS FROM THE PROVOST AND CAO Sarah Sweitzer, PhD Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Touro University California
RECOGNITION OF FACULTY & STAFF Lisa May Norton, EdD
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES Sarah Sweitzer, PhD
PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIAL AND DEGREE CANDIDATES
SCHOOL OF NURSING DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE, FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING Terrye Moore-Harper, DNP Interim Assistant Dean and Interim Director of the School of Nursing
SCHOOL OF NURSING CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER Caroline Lenaerts, DNP
READING OF NAMES Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner Certification, Master of Science in Nursing Terrye Moore-Harper, DNP
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIVE AND TEACHING CREDENTIALS MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION, MASTER OF EDUCATION Louise Santiago, PhD Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate School of Education
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER Faustino Cadiz, MEd and Administrative Credential
READING OF NAMES Administrative and Teaching Credentials, Master of Arts in Education and Master of Education Linda Haymes, PhD, Page Hersey, EdD, Pamela Redmond, EdD, and Jessica Reed, MAEd
14 College of Education & Health Sciences Sunday, June 13, 2021 | 3:00 p.m.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES PROGRAM JOINT MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES AND MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM Grace Landel, MEd Assistant Dean and Director of Physician Assistant Studies Program
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES PROGRAM CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER Corinne Benson, MSPAS, MPH
READING OF NAMES Grace Landel, MEd
RECITATION OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OATH Grace Landel, MEd
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DUAL DEGREE MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, DUAL DEGREE MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DOCTOR OF PHARMACY Gayle Cummings, PsyD Assistant Dean and Director of Public Health Program
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER Alaina Brett Star, MPH
READING OF NAMES Sahai Burrowes, PhD
BLOWING OF SHOFAR Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum
CONGRATULATIONS AND CLOSING Lisa May Norton, EdD
RECESSIONAL Recorded Music
15 Doctor of Nursing Practice Jenney Leem Lam Tanagra Jackson Alouisa Gay Sadhagun Agcaoili Michelle Ladringan Ekua Baiden Caroline Lenaerts Kristine Yvet Rae Catacutan Betty Melchor Stella Iseghehi Eliboh Aura Sanchez-Mundi Lana Sakura Gleckman Suzanne Goodwin Wang
Master of Science in Nursing Jasleen Kaur Agroia Sonia Mahi Vanessa Elena Almaguer Chetachi Newman Ndu Alexis Raquel Astling Thao Tb Nguyen Grethel Joy Roa Escala Charissa Noelle Purefoy Charlie Pagsolingan Fajardo Anne Sabater Emily B. Fillmore Dara Chan Sek Tiffany Flores Ginger Mae Velasco Sing Azita Gholami Jennifer Rose Sullivan Kristel M. Harbour Lauren Romero Tabora Nikitia Karon Hardwick Ashley Elizabeth Thompson-Brundidge Rupinderjit Kaur Ashley Vasquez Christine Larot Gregory James Weicher Xiaoying Lu Destiny Dell Wilson
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Samantha Butalid
Master of Arts in Education Monika M Berger Keyauna Morris Isabelle Chen Ashley Cassandra Mourlot Victor Antonio Cruz Loyola James Patrick Quinn Dylan James Habegger Meiko Pilar Sace Smith Elizabeth Anne Hall Myla Sue Thompson Jennifer Lynn Hard James Joseph Vaughan Jenifer Lopez-Flores Krysten Marie Vaughn Shannen Ariel-Brown Mendez Marianita Carbonare Vieira
16 Master of Education Amy Eileen Bardwell Irina Jackson Sheri Michelle Blades Jamie Allison Mannion Lutz Janine L. Burt Sarah Louise Magallano Faustino Romero Cadiz Kimberlee Joy Nelson Martha Calderon Danielle Nichole Nevins Jason Robert Chatham Minna K. Nummelin Magen Ann Edwards Tamara Michelle Potier Kathy L. Flynn Erica Kimberly Reeves Jenae’ Tierney Fox Michael Sariano Laurie Gaynor Serina Noel Tomsun Abraham Joshua Gottfried Lynda Jo Tuttle Bergner Stavros Dionysius Gougoumis Sharda Wati Dustin Green Kelly Brian Wehrley Erica Gysbers Elizabeth Felton Whitt Grace Victoria Ingersoll
Administrative and Teaching Credentials Christopher Adame Wendy Arlene Jinks Julie Marie Angold Shomonique Johnson Geordan Justin Herrera Arenal Marisa A. Kaluza Sarah J. Black Hilary Alison Kjaer Martin Castillo Cardenas Josef Joel Klapper Rachel Concepcion Chang Thomas Lewis Lisa Kelly Christopherson Janice Hill Lubin Jeremy Mason Cooper Corey Dae Meshack Leslie Michel Cooper Sarah Miller Stephanie Crocker Sofia Elizabeth Moreno Rosa Dimas Stephanie Morgado Melissa Louise Duncan Alec Mutter Haley Michelle Duncan Colleen Maria O’donnell-Merill Trecia Kadine Frater Heather A. Oja Rachel Galdamez April Marie Olson Darrell Litan Geliberte Brigida Gabriela Perez Taurean Renard Gibson Lori A. Rockwell Amanda Katelin Gunnell Kara L. Schinella Jose Maria Gutierrez Brigetta Carlinda Smith Michael Anthony Henry Chris Tasik Morgan Danielle Jefferson Yarely Estela Topete Pamela Latrice Jenkins
17 Joint Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Master of Public Health Natalie Ambriz Yasaman Lajevardi Vanessa Eleonor Rarangol Pulido Artienda Jenny le Anam Banani Sherlynn Lee Sujata Behera Hayden Leslie Jancy Benavides Sarah Elizabeth Kessler Loebner Corinne Benson Prieto Elizabeth Lopez Rachel Brodhead Jamie Louie Brent Carmona Amy Ly Sabrina L. Chang Ashley-Anne Feria Makaula Sammy Cheuk Steven Montenegro Michela Cupo Robert Oliver Kiley Davis Alexandra Ozder Angela Rose DuTremaine Shafon Monyé Rollins Sean Dy Juanco Ellen Taylor Self Kasey Fontaine Maria Shafer Ana Gabasan Isabel Sim-Campos Natalie Griffin Neda Tahami Yenling Yang Hernandez Mary Thi Tran Waide Gonzales Michelle Truong Reva Jain Justin Tynan Talitha Jansen Van Rensburg Eric Vargas Joseph Karpel Thomas Williams Caitlyn Klan Carmen Yu
Master of Public Health Taylor Anderson Alejandro Lopez-Castillo Hugh Alley Jessica Lopez-Jimenez Bushra Alsharif April Frances Oro Mancilla Sarah Faitell Melinda Martinez Harveer Gill Devin Oates Su Hamade Salina Ramachhita Rowena Hann Keerat K. Singh Sami Hanna Alaina Brett Star Jessica Heng Daeja Tillis Jamie Katuna Jasmine Tran Natasha Shabbir Khokhar Hurjessica Virk Katherine Ku Aaron Wang Zoe Lehman Gregory Weygandt Sarah Lewis Brigitte Wray-Miller Salvador Lopez
18 Masters of Science in Medical Health Sciences Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 12:00 noon The Master of Science in the Medical Health Sciences (MSMHS) is a one-year program designed to enrich a student’s academic knowledge base as well as strengthen a prospective medical student’s credentials for admission to medical school. This one-year program consists of a rigorous graduate curriculum in the basic medical sciences and a semester long research internship course. The curriculum consists of courses in all areas of basic sciences: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Physiology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, and Immunology and Microbiology. The content and rigor of these courses will be similar to medical school and will therefore offer students a sense of the challenges of a medical school curriculum. In addition to spring semester coursework, students participate in a research internship in the spring semester with one of the faculty. This internship culminates in an oral and written presentation. Students have a broad range of research areas to choose from, including drug design for HIV, microbiology, ion channels, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, neuronal development, obesity, public health, osteopathic manipulation, and educational research. After completion of the program, a student has increased his/her basic medical science knowledge base, has been fully engaged in a research project, and has a much stronger application to medical school.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM INVOCATION Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum WELCOME Alan Miller, PhD, Program Director Alan Kadish, MD Shelley Berkley, JD Sarah Sweitzer, PhD Michael Clearfield, DO, President of Touro Chief Executive Officer Provost and Chief MACOI, FACP College and University and Senior Provost of Academic Officer of Touro Dean of the College of System & New York Touro University University California Osteopathic Medicine Medical College Western Division CLASS OF 2021 STUDENT SPEAKERS Shalaya Asal Yazdi, MPH, Melody Wang, Lina Isa A NOTE OF GRATITUDE FROM THE MSMHS CLASS OF 2021 CONFERRAL OF DEGREES Sarah Sweitzer, PhD PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES Alan Miller, PhD, Ted Wong, PhD, Barbara Puder, PhD, Donna Fyfe, MSW REMARKS Ted Wong, PhD, Assistant Program Director CLOSING REMARKS Alan Miller, PhD
DESCRIPTION AND BLOWING OF THE SHOFAR Rabbi Elchonon Tenenbaum and Bruce Silverman, MS Masters of Science in Medical Health Sciences Class of 2021 Andre Ailoje Jaspreet Dhanoya Marc Matossian Jaskaran Singh Natalie Andrew Charles J. Enfield Bryan Muñoz Dominic Som Corey Atkins Akashdeep Gill Kelly Murrell Chanelle Svid Caroline Auxier Srilekha Gnanashanmugam Dante Nazarian Arpana Thalluri Timothy Balmorez Sravya Gudipudi Justin Nguyen Karolyn Tran Elise Jessica Bautista Wyatt Horner Justin D. Nguyen William Umeh Lindsay Brown Tyler Hovsepian Viet Nguyen Sarina Utamsing Sallie Canumay Lina Isa Hanh Pham Andrea Varias Keenan Cane Centlivre Jenna Kirschner Sean Reyes Melody Wang Kyle Chung Rasha Kiwan Alexander Roesner Ashley Westerlund Gabriella Converse Lily Kwong Nitin Saukhla Shalaya Asal Yazdi Aisha Coons Dylan Loquist Nader Shah Merna Danial Gabriela Rios Macedo Kiranjot Shelopal Sharlene Delos Santos Sarah Maple Gurmun Singh 19 The Osteopathic Oath
I do hereby affirm my loyalty to the profession I am about to enter.
I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and respect both as a physician and a friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity, to perform faithfully my professional duties, to employ only those recognized methods of treatment consistent with good judgment and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature’s laws and the body’s inherent capacity for recovery.
I will be ever vigilant in aiding in the general welfare of the community, sustaining its laws and institutions, not engaging in those practices which will in any way bring shame or discredit upon myself or my profession. I will give no drugs for deadly purposes to any person, though it may be asked of me.
I will endeavor to work in accord with my colleagues in a spirit of progressive cooperation and never by word or by act cast imputations upon them or their rightful practices.
I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college I will be loyal and strive always for its best interests and for the interests of the students who will come after me. I will be ever alert to further the application of basic biologic truths to the healing arts and to develop the principles of osteopathic medicine which were first enunciated by Andrew Taylor Still.
In the presence of this gathering I bind myself to my oath.
20 The Physician Assistant Oath
I pledge to perform the following duties with honesty and dedication: I will hold as my primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all human beings. I will uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice. I will recognize and promote the value of diversity. I will treat equally all persons who seek my care. I will hold in confidence the information shared in the course of practicing medicine. I will assess my personal capabilities and limitations, striving always to improve my medical practice. I will actively seek to expand my knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of advances in medicine. I will work with other members of the health care team to provide compassionate and effective care of patients. I will use my knowledge and experience to contribute to an improved community. I will respect my professional relationship with the physician. I will share and expand knowledge within the profession. These duties are pledged with sincerity and upon my honor.
The Pharmacist Oath
I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow: I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of human suffering my primary concerns. I will apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients. I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me. I will accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence. I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical, and legal conduct. I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care. I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists. I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.
Commissioning Oath
I (state your full name) Having been appointed Captain/Lieutenant in the United States Armed Forces do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God.
21 Corinne Benson, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Master of Public Health Joint MSPAS/MPH Program, College of Education & Health Sciences Corinne Benson is a Midwestern native passionate about reproductive justice and intersecting public health issues. After graduating from University Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she worked with Planned Parenthood in a variety of capacities and continued working with them during PA school. At Touro, Corinne immersed herself in AAPA’s student advocacy efforts as Academy Representative, Leadership Committee member and HOD student delegate. She’s also taken an active role in her school’s community, helping organize campus-wide events with her fellow classmates. Outside of school, Corinne enjoys the reputation of cyclist and cat-lover. Forever sentimental, she’s a proponent of a good cry, good read & hugs from the ones you love, namely her husband Brandon.
Faustino Romero Cadiz III, Master of Education Graduate School of Education, College of Education & Health Sciences Faustino is an educator in his hometown of Vallejo, California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Minor in Drama, from San Francisco State University and a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential from California State Uni- versity, Sacramento. He is a graduate of Touro University California with a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Preliminary Administrative Service Credential. Alongside being an educator he is an avid performing artist appear- ing on stages around the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Zoë Lehman and Gregory Weygandt, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine College of Osteopathic Medicine Greg and Zoë are future family medicine docs, lovers of glitter, sun, plants, and harm reduction. At Touro, they were members of the student government, dual degree DO/MPH students, and members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. They also dazzled the campus every year with their award-winning halloween costumes. In their free time they enjoy sparkling wine, but hope to one day be able to afford champagne.
Caroline Lenaerts, Master of Science in Nursing School of Nursing, College of Education & Health Sciences Caroline Lenaerts was born in the Netherlands and completed her nursing and clinical psychology education in Belgium, before coming to the USA in 1996 with her husband and their three children. She developed her passion for nursing at a young age while accompanying her grandmother, who was a home healthcare nurse. Caroline worked in the hospital setting early in her career, and completed a Master’s in Public Health in 2002. The family moved to California in 2009, she has developed a passion for diabetes care, and works in endocrinology at UC Davis in Sacramento. She loves the outdoors, enjoys yoga, running, swimming, and skiing.
Hafasa Mojaddidi, Doctor of Pharmacy College of Pharmacy Hafasa Mojaddidi, PharmD, is a graduating fourth-year pharmacy student with an MS in Biological Sciences from Dominican University of California where she studied the genetic basis of degenerative eye diseases. In addition, she is a published clinical researcher who studied the relationship between insulin resistance and obstructive sleep apnea at Stanford School of Medicine with the Reaven Lab. During her pharmacy academic career, she has been an intern pharmacist at Walgreens Specialty pharmacy and Sutter Health all while balancing multiple leadership, research, and community roles in both Solano and Alameda County. Her interests include chronic disease management and patient advocacy.
Alaina Brett Star, Master of Public Health Public Health Program, College of Education & Health Sciences Alaina grew up in Goleta, California where she spent most of her time outdoors and working with animals. After earning her undergraduate degree at UC Davis, she became a counselor at a rape crisis center charged with creating and supporting prevention education programs while also serving as an advocate for survivors of violence. Alaina completed her MPH at Touro with the goal of returning to advocacy work and supporting communities. She is now a project manager with a program focused on enhancing emotional health services and serves as a volunteer advocate for vulnerable youth. In addition to her passion and dedication to her work, Alaina is an avid ultramarathoner.
Shalaya Asal Yazdi, MPH, Melody Wang, Lina Isa, Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Shalaya Asal Yazdi was born and raised in the Bay Area, California. She earned a Bachelors of Science from Saint Mary’s College of California and a Masters of Public Health from Boston University. Shalaya is passionate about serving the community. Melody Wang graduated from UCLA with a degree in Applied Linguistics and a minor in Language Teaching. She hopes to join her classmates in Vallejo someday as a medical student. Lina Isa was born in Baghdad, Iraq and immigrated to the U.S at the age of 10. Lina pursued a Bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and physiology from UC Davis. Lina is passionate about public health and hopes to work with under-resourced communities to breakdown inequities in healthcare. 22 Dr. Bernard Lander, Founder of Touro College and University System A teacher to many and a friend to all, Dr. Bernard Lander’s inspired leadership has defined our history and his legacy will shape our future.
By the time he founded Touro College in 1970, Dr. Lander had already established himself as an educational innovator, a trusted and beloved community figure, and a highly regarded thought leader. Education and Empowerment for All Dr. Lander earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University. As a professor at the City University of New York for over two decades, he worked tenaciously to build schools and increase educational opportunities for youths throughout the boroughs.
In the early 1950s, he sat on the founders committee for Bar-Ilan University and served as President of the Queens Jewish Center. In 1952, he co-founded Yeshiva Dov Revel, a day school in Queens, going on to become Dean of the Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University. From 1954-1969, he served a pivotal role in developing YU’s distinctive graduate schools of social work, education, and psychology.
A tireless advocate for social justice, youth outreach, and human equality, Dr. Lander’s influence reached well beyond Queens. Under former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, he served as Associate Director of the Committee on Unity—a precursor to the city’s Commission on Human Rights. While on the Committee, he fought for key fair employment legislation and condemned discriminatory quotas in higher education.
Dr. Lander spent eight years at the University of Notre Dame conducting a national study on youth issues. This work led him to Washington D.C., where he served three United States presidents. He was a consultant in the White House Conference on Children and Youth and sat on a congressionally established advisory council on public assistance. He was also a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime under the Johnson and Kennedy administrations. A Man of Many Words Dr. Lander’s intellect, compassion, and curiosity served many. As an author, he wrote the book Toward an Understanding of Juvenile Delinquency published by Columbia University Press, in addition to numerous scholarly articles. As a public servant, Dr. Lander advised the Maryland State Commission on Juvenile Delinquency. As a community and spiritual leader, Dr. Lander was widely known and much beloved. A longstanding vice president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America for over thirty years, he served early on as rabbi of the Beth Jacob Congregation of Baltimore.
At the time of his passing in 2010, he had achieved more in one lifetime than most could in 10. While advocating for and working on behalf of so many diverse communities, cultures, and causes across New York and the country, he helped Touro evolve. From our first graduating class of 35 students, we have grown into a flourishing international institution serving over 18,000 students worldwide.
As Touro continues to expand, we strive to uphold the values and spirit of Dr. Lander while serving the needs of an ever-growing and increasingly interconnected global community.
Alan Kadish, M.D., President, Touro College and University System & New York Medical College Alan Kadish, M.D. is President of Touro College and University System, the largest Jewish-sponsored educational institution in the United States. Before succeeding Dr. Bernard Lander as Touro’s second president in March 2010, Dr. Kadish distinguished himself as a prominent cardiologist, dedicated teacher and researcher, and experienced administrator. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, Dr. Kadish received postdoctoral training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a fellow in cardiology. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac electrophysiology. Prior to joining Touro in 2009 as Senior Provost and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Kadish taught at the University of Michigan and held a 19-year tenure at Northwestern University. He served Northwestern as the Chester and Deborah Cooley Professor of Medicine, Senior Associate Chief of the Cardiology division, Director of the Cardiovascular Clinical Trials unit, and sat on the finance and investment committees of the Northwestern clinical practice plan. An accomplished and prolific research scientist as well, he has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers, received numerous grants, including from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and contributed to several textbooks. Dr. Kadish is a past chair of the Clinical Cardiology Program Committee of the American Heart Association, and has been elected to prestigious scientific research and education societies including the American Association of Professors, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the American Society of Physicians. As a deeply committed observant Jew and a forward thinker, Dr. Kadish was a natural fit with our mission to serve the educational needs of our varied constituencies throughout the country and around the world. He 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. Our distinct medical programs—two colleges of pharmacy, five colleges of medicine, a college of dental medicine, graduate schools and programs in health sciences—serve increasingly large and dynamic student populations. As one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the US, 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. Dr. Kadish, who was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, and educated in yeshivas in New York, is married with four children. 23 Shelley Berkley, J.D., Chief Executive Officer and Senior Provost, Touro University Western Division As Chief Executive Officer and Senior Provost for Touro University Western Division, Shelley Berkley serves as the administrative and academic head of the Nevada and Northern California campuses of Touro University. In this role, Ms. Berkley oversees two of the fastest-growing medical schools in the western United States, as well as allied health science and education programs with a current total enrollment of more than 3,000 students.
Prior to joining Touro, Shelley served in the Nevada State Assembly and was a practicing attorney, then served the State of Nevada in the United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2013. She was the first woman to serve the District and held the position for seven terms. During her 14 years in Congress, Shelley served on the Transportation Committee, Small Business Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the powerful Ways and Means Committee (healthcare subcommittee).
Among Shelley’s proudest accomplishments during her time in Congress was building the new Veterans Administration medical complex in Southern Nevada to provide quality healthcare to the veterans in our community. She was a vocal supporter of providing more funding for graduate medical education (residencies) and a vocal advocate of reforming our nation’s healthcare system.
Shelley was also known as one of the strongest and most outspoken supporters of Israel in Congress. She left her mark on every resolution, legislation, committee markup, and floor debate affecting Israel and the Middle East.
Shelley was the first person in her family to go to college, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was appointed and twice elected to the Nevada State Board of Regents, which governs and sets policy for the Nevada State System of Higher Education, serving from 1990 to 1998. She served as Vice Chair and fought to keep tuition costs low and to create a law school at UNLV. Shelley currently serves on numerous Nevada and California boards.
Shelley is married to Dr. Larry Lehrner, a kidney specialist and Touro adjunct faculty member. She is the proud mother of two sons – Max, an attorney, and Sam, a member of the executive training program at Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada - and two step-children – David, a specialist in information technology, and Stephanie Lehrner, DO, an osteopathic physician and instructor at Touro University Nevada.
Sarah Sweitzer, Ph.D., Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Touro University California Sarah Sweitzer, Ph.D., serves as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Touro University California. As a Vallejo native, serving at Touro University California is a return home. After graduating high school in Vallejo, Dr. Sweitzer enrolled in courses at Solano Community College. She then transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno, where she completed her BS in Chemistry and was introduced to the world of research through a job in a campus chemistry lab. It was a work experience that changed and shaped her career pathway into science and higher education.
Traveling to the east coast, Sarah completed her doctoral studies in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Dartmouth Medical School before returning to the west coast to complete a post- doctoral fellowship at Stanford Medical School. She then joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and led a National Institute of Health funded research program developing new medicines to treat chronic pain. Her research studies spanned bench to bedside, and her first compound completed Phase II clinical trials.
Sarah was then called to an administrative role when she joined the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy as the Director of Research. In this position, she brought in the College’s first federal grants and set up their office of research. While at Presbyterian College, her research interests grew to include interprofessional education, health literacy, and community engaged projects.
Prior to joining Touro, Sarah was recruited to Portland, Oregon to serve as Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Concordia University with programs in nursing, social work, and health care administration. She played a key leadership role in the 3toPhD® Initiative, an innovative public/private partnership of a private faith-based university and a Portland public school to create a safer, healthier, more educated community in NE Portland.
Sarah has been called back home to Vallejo to be the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Touro University California where she joins three generations of her family to work on Mare Island. Her experiences across the various healthcare educational settings, coupled with the lab bench to community impact translational research, will further the Touro University California vision to serve, to lead, and to teach.
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