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EXCELLENCE IN ACTION

SPRING 2026 | TOURO.EDU

TOM ROZINSKI: INNOVATIVE POLI SCI PROFESSOR ENSURES STUDENT SUCCESS IN TOP LAW SCHOOLS AND BEYOND

DIHARA MOHAMED: FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO MED SCHOOL— TOURO TAKES STUDENTS FULL CIRCLE

SEE PAGE 18

SEE PAGE 13

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BRACHA COHEN: FROM TOURO TO GOLDMAN SACHS PARTNER SEE PAGE 14

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Contents

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Embracing Smart AI Adoption

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Touro University Skyrockets 200 Points Since 2020 in New U.S. News Rankings

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Training for Impact: How Touro University Is Strengthening Rural Healthcare

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Breathing Carbon Dioxide May Help the Brain Clear Toxic Proteins in Parkinson’s Disease

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Summer in the Lab at TouroCOM Leads to Breakthroughs for High School Students

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MedAchieve—The Launchpad to a Dream

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Alumni Spotlight: Bracha Cohen Rises Through the Ranks to Become Partner at Goldman Sachs

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Alumni Spotlight: Elisheva Marcus Balances Life and a Legal Career

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Faculty Spotlight: Professor Tom Rozinski An innovative Teacher at Touro, and a Mentor Long After Graduation

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Gurjinder Kaur A Researcher and Professor Excels Equally in the Lab and the Classroom

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Action in the Face of Antisemitism

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Answering the Call for Mental Health Professionals

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A N D TO S E E O U R W I D E - R A N G I N G P R O G R A M S , V I S I T WWW.TO U R O. E D U

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“Touro University stands at a moment of extraordinary opportunity, as advances in artificial intelligence, scientific discovery and professional practice rapidly reshape the world our students will inherit. Our mission has always been to provide an education grounded in Jewish values and real‑world impact, and today that means preparing students to use emerging technologies thoughtfully, ethically and for the betterment of society.”

DR. ALAN KADISH, PRESIDENT

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WITH STUDENTS SHIFTING THEIR STUDY HABITS, THIS JEWISH UNIVERSITY IS

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hen Rachel Dahari went back to school in September to get a master’s degree in social work, she didn’t think the excitement around generative AI would be relevant to her education.

among Touro’s 21,000 students. Last spring, Touro launched a master’s degree program in AI studies, AI is taught across the computer science curriculum, and an undergraduate AI course is being developed for all STEM majors.

That quickly changed when she began to learn about the many ways AI was being used at her school. Social work students were using AI simulation technology to practice interactions with imaginary clients, getting tips for how to help them with substance abuse problems. Dahari learned that the program, Copilot, could instantly find referrals for services her clients needed.

“AI is increasingly central to how we learn and work,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro’s president. “As a university guided by Jewish values, we want to harness this technology not just to enhance our courses of study and better prepare our students for professional success, but to do so in ways that improve society.”

The experience turned Dahari, who supervises care managers at a home healthcare agency in New York, into an AI enthusiast.

Dahari’s experience with AI at Touro University’s Graduate School of Social Work did not happen by chance. The university, which operates under Jewish auspices, has always made practical professional training a focal point of its academics.

Now Touro is positioning itself as a leading adopter of AI in higher education.

What a University‑Wide Commitment to AI Use Looks Like This includes hiring high-level administrators to coordinate AI use, providing grants for professors to explore how to incorporate AI in the classroom, and promoting the ethical use of AI tools

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EMBRACING SMART AI ADOPTION

Touro hired its first-ever associate provost for artificial intelligence: computer science professor Shlomo Argamon. With students already rapidly adopting AI and likely to use it in the workplace after graduation, universities must make sure they learn to use it responsibly, ethically and in an educationally effective manner, Argamon said.

“All of our graduates—both as professionals and citizens—need to know about AI,” Argamon said.

“In fact, AI has the potential to revitalize higher education, if we do it right.”

To support adoption of the technology, Touro recently issued university-wide guidelines on AI that encourage faculty to allow broad use of AI by students, provided students do the substantive work themselves and fully disclose their use of AI tools.

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Dental students, Benji Bloom, left, and Bryan Dovi Teigman, right, working in a simulation lab that uses cutting‑edge AI‑based technology

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Last summer, approximately 85 faculty members received grants to explore ways to integrate AI into their teaching.

AI in Practice Jonathan Robinson, a Touro computer science professor, said he’s teaching students to use AI as they would a “chavruta”—a Hebrew term used to describe study partners who traditionally learn Jewish texts together, helping each other along the way. As with a chavruta, both partners in the study pair must be active.

A new course at Touro’s law school examines the ways AI may disrupt existing legal and political institutions. In a medical school course on multiculturalism, students practice using AI so they can identify cultural biases in the technology.

At Touro’s dental school, students are using AI to detect the scope and nature of tooth decay and create crowns, bridges and implants more quickly and effectively.

“AI has been integrated into everything we do,” said dental student Bryan Dovi Teigman.

Dr. Ben Schwartz, an associate professor at the dental school, said integrating AI into the curriculum has put his dental students “more ahead of the curve than students at other schools and even some dentists.” He added, “We know that AI use is the future of dentistry.”

Balancing AI Use and Jewish Ethics Ethical considerations and caution go hand in hand with the way the university is using AI, said Dr. Jamie Sundvall, Touro’s assistant provost

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of artificial intelligence. For example, she said, social work students learn how to review recorded counseling notes to ensure the AI does not violate patient privacy, make incorrect evaluations or recommend ill-advised treatments.

“The reality is that generative AI is not moral,” Sundvall said.

The focus on ethics is one hallmark of Touro’s Jewish character. The University, which was founded in 1971 to support Jewish heritage and serve humanity, is guided by Jewish ethics.

“AI has the potential to revitalize higher education, if we do it right.”

Professor Shlomo Argamon Touro’s first-ever associate provost for artificial intelligence

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“AI IS INCREASINGLY CENTRAL TO HOW WE LEARN AND WORK. AS A UNIVERSITY GUIDED BY JEWISH VALUES, WE WANT TO HARNESS THIS TECHNOLOGY NOT JUST TO ENHANCE OUR COURSES OF STUDY AND BETTER PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS, BUT TO DO SO IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE SOCIETY.”

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Touro’s flexible degree programs have proven very popular among non-Jews, too, who comprise a significant proportion of Touro’s student body.

As AI takes deeper root at Touro, Argamon and Sundvall are working with faculty to ensure that assignments are AI-proofed. This can mean redesigning curricula to be resistant to AI cheating, such as requiring students to complete writing assignments in class with pen and paper or produce personal videos rather than deliver written papers outside of class.

Looking ahead to the job market, the university is constantly assessing how to best prepare students to overcome the threats to entry-level jobs that AI presents.

Recent Touro graduate Yonatan Katz, who used AI in his studies and now works at the accounting firm Deloitte, said that his experience showed him that AI doesn’t eliminate the need for human ingenuity—or human workers.

“At the end of the day, we’re still going to need our brains,” Katz said.

By Peter Ephross Reprinted with permission from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

DR. ALAN KADISH PRESIDENT, TOURO UNIVERSITY

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TOURO UNIVERSITY SKYROCKETS

200 POINTS SINCE 2020 AS COSTS CLIMB FOR STUDENTS NATIONWIDE, TOURO UNIVERSITY ALSO EARNS TOP MARKS FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY AND VALUE

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his year, Touro University announced its ranking in the 2026 Best Colleges list by U.S. News & World Report, skyrocketing almost 200 places higher to No. 143 in just five years, and moving up nearly 30 places from 2025.

This momentum is a clear sign of Touro’s rapid growth, commitment to excellence, and focus on student success and career placement. The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.

In addition, Touro’s significant rise in social mobility rankings, climbing 71 places to No. 73, as well as best value rankings, improving 15 places to No. 104, comes at a critical moment for higher education, as students and families nationwide confront rising tuition costs and shrinking post-graduation opportunities. With affordability and career outcomes under greater scrutiny than ever, Touro’s jump in social mobility signal the University’s growing strength in helping students from all backgrounds not only access a quality education, but graduate prepared to succeed in a challenging economy.

ways to support our students from classroom to career, and continue to deliver excellence,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro University. “We are pleased to see this incredible momentum reflected in this year’s rankings, highlighting Touro’s growth in scale, impact, and preparing students for what they need to take on a changing world.”

Founded in 1970, Touro is the largest institution under Jewish auspices in America and operates as a national system with more than 21,000 students across 36 schools in the U.S. and abroad. As an institution, Touro is committed to empowering students to achieve outstanding careers in medicine, health sciences, education, business, AI and law. In fact, the University produces nearly 4% of the nation’s new doctors each year and continues to expand with innovative programs and facilities.

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors, such as graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and postgraduate earnings.

“Over the past decade, Touro has made great strides to expand our program offerings, find new TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6 | 5

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IN NEW U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

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TRAINING FOR IMPACT: HOW TOURO UNIVERSITY IS STRENGTHENING RURAL HEALTHCARE PREPARING PROVIDERS, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

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At Touro University California, that mission is embedded in its Joint Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies/Master of Public Health (MSPAS/MPH) Program—the only PA program in the nation in which every student earns both degrees. From its inception, the program has focused on increasing access to high-quality, culturally sensitive care in underserved communities.

By integrating public health into clinical training, graduates are equipped not only to treat individual patients but also to address the structural and social determinants that shape health outcomes.

That dual focus recently received a significant boost. In July 2024, the program was awarded a five-year Rural Education and Community Health (REACH) grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. One of only 12 PA programs nationwide—and the only one in California—to receive the award, Touro is using the grant to expand student training in some of Northern California’s most rural counties. The

funding doubles the length and number of student placements at sites such as Round Valley Indian Health Center in Covelo, extending rotations to 12 weeks and placing two students at a time.

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cross the United States, rural communities continue to face persistent shortages of physicians, dentists and primary care providers. Long distances to hospitals, limited specialty access, underfunded clinics and high rates of poverty create a fragile healthcare landscape. Touro University has responded with a location-based strategy that treats higher education not only as training but as rural health infrastructure—building workforce pipelines explicitly designed around recruitment, community partnership and long-term retention.

Round Valley illustrates both the challenges and the promise of rural training. Serving roughly 3,000 residents on a Native American reservation and in the surrounding mountain community, the clinic sits more than an hour from the nearest hospital and can be snowed in during winter. Power and internet outages are common. Specialty referrals require long travel, and providers often function as urgent care in addition to primary care. Yet the clinic turns no one away—setting up outdoor treatment areas during COVID-19, transporting dialysis patients long distances and conducting house calls.

For students like Nina Sanfilippo and Neil Daag, the experience is transformative. Immersed in a setting where staffing is thin and needs are complex, students quickly develop clinical autonomy. They witness collaborative care rooted in community trust—providers working tirelessly to ensure patients feel heard and respected. The public health lens they bring helps them connect patients to food assistance, insurance enrollment and preventive services, reinforcing the idea that effective care extends beyond the exam room.

Touro’s broader strategy extends beyond physician assistant education. In California, its College of Osteopathic Medicine has prioritized rural partnerships and structural competency—a curriculum that moves beyond teaching social

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Third‑year students and faculty at Touro University’s College of Dental Medicine provide care to a patient at the newly opened clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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determinants of health to examining why they exist. As a result, 21% of graduates practice in underserved areas and 8% in rural communities, the highest proportion of any medical school in the state.

In New Mexico, Touro opened the state’s first dental school and clinic to address one of the nation’s lowest dentist-to-resident ratios. By recruiting students with ties to the region and training them locally, the program aims to anchor a long-term dental workforce in a state with high Medicaid enrollment and significant oral health disparities.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how Touro is expanding their footprint beyond the campus walls. By recruiting from rural communities, training students within them and supporting retention after graduation, Touro is not only educating providers—it is helping rebuild the health systems of places in dire need.

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BREATHING CARBON DIOXIDE MAY HELP THE BRAIN CLEAR TOXIC PROTEINS IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE

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RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED A WAY TO HELP THE BRAIN CLEAR OUT PROTEINS IMPLICATED IN PARKINSON’S AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

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verexposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) can be connected to a host of health issues like cardiac arrhythmia, hearing loss, convulsions and more. However, Touro researchers have found that breathing low levels of CO2 intermittently may actually be able to help patients with Parkinson’s disease.

A team of researchers, led by neuropsychologist Sephira Ryman, Ph.D., associate professor at the Mind Research Network (MRN), part of Touro University’s Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute and the University of New Mexico, Department of Neurology, is exploring how to boost this system, called the glymphatic pathway.

One of the causes of Parkinson’s disease is the clumping of toxic proteins in the brain. This accumulation may occur because people with Parkinson’s have an impaired system for clearing out these proteins. Finding ways to enhance this clearance may help slow the progression of the disease.

Her team studied how breathing carbon dioxide intermittently can boost the glymphatic pathway and help the body get rid of the proteins.

Specifically, they investigated how CO2 could be used to dilate and constrict the brain’s blood vessels, which in turn drives the movement of

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cerebrospinal fluid through brain tissue to clear unwanted proteins.

Their research was published in npj Parkinson’s Disease Journal.

The glymphatic pathway is most active when people are deeply asleep. In this state, breathing slows down and the brain exhibits slow changes in blood flow, which drive the glymphatic pathway.

However, for people with Parkinson’s, who often experience sleep disturbances, this waste removal process may be impaired, leading to a buildup of toxic proteins, like alpha-synuclein, and in some patients, amyloid beta and tau proteins—these are also implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.

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“At the time, we were trying to understand how a reduced and delayed blood flow response may influence the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease,” said Ryman. “Once we understood the role of glymphatic clearance in Parkinson’s disease, that is when we realized that we may be able to mimic, in the awake state, the glymphatic clearing response that typically occurs deep sleep using intermittent CO2.” Senior author on a subsequent review paper, Dr. Henry Lin, chief of medicine, New Mexico VA Health Care System and professor of medicine, University of New Mexico, was instrumental in integrating the human and animal research, revealing the critical insight the shaped the direction of the research.

As proof of concept, the team administered alternating doses of room air with higher-than-normal concentrations of CO2. They not only succeeded in reproducing the rhythmic response of the blood vessels of the brain, but blood samples following the intervention contained increased levels of brain proteins implicated in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests that the potentially toxic proteins were flushed from the brain.

Touro researcher, Dr. Sephira Ryman

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In a prior study, Dr. Ryman found that a large number of people with Parkinson’s disease have a reduced and delayed response to intermittent CO2 exposure.

This novel strategy for enhancing the glymphatic system could potentially help preserve brain function, improve cognition, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s and potentially those with other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Ryman and her colleagues are planning additional research to fine tune the protocol for CO2 exposure.

They are investigating whether intentionally practicing controlled breathing practices, such as slow abdominal breathing, might be a way to enhance the glymphatic system and preserve brain function. Breathing practices may influence the glymphatic system through multiple physiological mechanisms, including regulation of carbon dioxide levels and changes in thoracic pressure that help facilitate the return of blood from the brain to the body.

“In addition to highlighting the potential for controlled breathing practices to facilitate waste clearance, these findings raise the intriguing possibility that rhythmic, controlled CO2 exposures may serve as a direct and potentially more effective modulator of glymphatic function,” said Ryman.

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SUMMER IN THE LAB AT TOUROCOM LEADS TO BREAKTHROUGHS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 1 0 | TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6

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TouroCOM’s MedAchieve is a successful twoyear STEM program that empowers high school students to become physicians and healthcare providers through mentoring and academic enrichment in the sciences. MedAchieve has now expanded its program to offer high school students the opportunity to participate in summer research in addition to receiving mentoring during the school year.

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Jack Cao, a rising senior at Stuyvesant High School, researched the effects of particulate matter (PM) pollution known to cause and worsen respiratory diseases like asthma and cardiovascular disease.

Using fruit flies, his study aimed to analyze the effects of PM on development. Cao reported that exposure to the fine particles can severely delay the life cycle and reduce successful hatching to adults.

“Early exposure to science is helpful when applying to college and pursuing a career in science, especially for individuals from under-resourced areas,” said TouroCOM Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Director of Community Affairs Dr. Kamilah Ali, who developed the MedAchieve summer program out of her own love for research.

Among the local organizations supporting the course were BioBus, which works with youth in underserved areas to learn about science; God’s Love We Deliver; Pillars; Perinatal Partnership of Manhattan; and Maria Solá Green Space, in the Bronx.

The high school students were mentored by three TouroCOM DO medical students—Nya Evans, Alexa Wallace and Gabrielle Singh—who helped them develop feasible projects based on the needs of the Harlem community.

“ EARLY EXPOSURE TO SCIENCE IS HELPFUL WHEN APPLYING TO COLLEGE AND PURSUING A CAREER IN “I wanted to work on a project that would have SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY relevance in a community when it comes to environmental challenges,” said Cao. “Working with FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM the flies, it’s pretty evident, depending on exposure, there can be severe consequences. For the UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS.” group exposed the longest, the impact was dramatic. They didn’t grow beyond the larval stage.”

The eight-week pilot launch of MedAchieve’s summer program focused on introducing research skills and knowledge building; conducting needs assessments in Harlem; literature reviews; developing topics and hypotheses; collecting and analyzing data; and presenting results.

DR. KAMILAH ALI TOUROCOM ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PHARMACOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

“This newest addition to MedAchieve represents a very important growth phase. I am excited about building upon this pathway into medicine or other careers in science and what that will mean for future students,” said Dean of Student Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Nadege Dady.

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nstead of socializing with friends or scrolling on TikTok this past summer, four New York City high school students experimented with fruit flies and aloe plants; researched genetic coding of herbal medicines; and did zip code mapping of bodegas—all part of an expanded STEM research program at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Harlem, called MedAchieve.

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Aloe Plants to Genetic Coding of Herbal Products to Impact of Gentrification Abigail Hua, a recent graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School who recently studied at Smith College, studied soil pH and its effect on the growth and survival of aloe vera plants.

“Aloe vera is the perfect plant to reverse the negative effects the environment brings to Harlem,” wrote Hua in her research proposal. “This issue is especially important in central Harlem because there is a high percentage of people living in Harlem that have symptoms of asthma. Although aloe vera cannot cure asthma, it can help provide relief.”

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Anika Haque, a senior at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics (MCSM) in East Harlem, researched genetic coding and barcoding of herbal medicines (red ginseng and Astragalus membranaceus) from distributors to help people determine whether the herbal products they buy online are pure and authentic.

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Raiyan Hasnaen, also a senior at MCSM, used zip code mapping to examine the impact of gentrification and the accompanying loss of supermarkets and healthy retail food outlets on Type 2 diabetes risk in low-income urban neighborhoods—specifically East Harlem.

The students all found the summer program worthwhile and rewarding. They highlighted the seminar presentations and opportunities to interact with working scientists.

Cao, who plans to major in biology in college and aim for medicine, said the program was one of the most meaningful projects he’s been a part of.

“One thing that really stuck with me is how careful and meticulous you have to be. It made me more motivated to pursue a career in science.”

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MEDACHIEVE— THE LAUNCHPAD TO A

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As a student at Bard High School Early College, Dihara Mohamed signed up for Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine’s MedAchieve program, an after-school STEM initiative designed for teens interested in medical careers. The program pairs high school students one-on-one with medical student mentors and immerses them in lectures, hands on labs and exposure to real medical environments. Mohamed is among the first MedAchieve alums to matriculate into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine as a med student.

During the course of her experience with MedAchieve, Mohamed stepped into the anatomy lab at TouroCOM and saw a human cadaver for the first time—an experience she describes as transformative. That moment sparked her fascination with anatomy and set her firmly on her career path.

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The individualized mentoring she received as a high school student became a model for her own future.

Today, as a first-year medical student at TouroCOM, Mohamed has come full circle: she now mentors current MedAchieve students, continuing the same cycle of guidance that helped her succeed.

Mohamed credits MedAchieve with giving her early, meaningful exposure not only to medical science but also to the human side of patient care. The program ignited her interest in osteopathic medicine and laid the foundation for the values she brings to her training now—from holistic thinking to service.

Mohamed, who may pursue an interest in rehabilitation medicine, points to MedAchieve as so much more than an enrichment activity. For her, it was the turning point. It showed her what a future in medicine could look like and gave her the confidence, mentorship and academic spark she needed to pursue it. Today, she stands as proof of the program’s mission—nurturing the next generation of physicians, starting in high school.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

BRACHA COHEN RISES THROUGH THE RANKS TO BECOME PARTNER AT GOLDMAN SACHS

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ouro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences graduate Bracha Cohen is an unlikely superstar. This Brooklyn mother of seven has risen through the ranks of Goldman Sachs by doing what comes naturally to her—mastering new skills and learning new business areas. Last year, she was named partner at the firm, a prestigious title bestowed on less than 1% percent of Goldman Sachs employees. The selection process was extremely rigorous, and Cohen is honored to be recognized as a business leader who excels not only in generating revenue but in representing the Goldman Sachs culture of partnership, client service, integrity and excellence.

Cohen’s professional journey began at Touro University. She chose the school because it offered a strong education and supported her values as an observant Jewish woman. There, she focused on computer programming, enjoying the analytical and creative aspects of the field.

“Touro gave me a solid foundation in technology, and hands-on programming in languages that

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TOURO ALUMNA PARLAYS ANALYTICAL SKILLS AND LOVE OF LEARNING INTO CAREER TRIUMPHS

were used at the time,” she said. “Touro also exposed me to finance basics, so I was well prepared for my first job, and I have been able to learn on the job since then,” Cohen said.

When asked how the field has changed over the course of her career, Cohen asked rhetorically, “what hasn’t changed?” and then answered, “when I started in tech, it was mostly a substitute for manually producing a report. There have been so many disruptors—the internet, the cloud, artificial intelligence, multiple massive transformations.

I am always learning and it never gets boring.”

With the advent of generative AI, Cohen said she uses it to improve efficiency, drive innovation and accelerate productivity.

From Testing Software to Identifying Opportunities for a Unit That Manages $3 Trillion Cohen began as a programmer at Goldman Sachs and now heads a large team of programmers globally across the U.S., EMEA, Asia and India.

Her division—Asset & Wealth Management—man-

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ages more than three trillion dollars. “I started out writing and testing software 30 years ago and have since made several moves to support different business areas. In the process, my roles have become less hands-on; instead, I began leading and overseeing other developers. Now I focus on identifying emerging opportunities and setting priorities for developers. We build platform solutions to ensure that the people in the Business and Operations can achieve their goals in terms of revenue growth, risk management, client service and regulatory compliance,” she explained.

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When it comes to emerging opportunities, Cohen is currently focused on helping evolve the way teams in Engineering and Operations perform their jobs through AI. The advent of large language models (LLMs) and intelligent AI agents have “MAKE SURE YOU THOROUGHLY For computer science students at Touro today, the potential to provide UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS especially in the age of AI, game-changing solutions Cohen offers this advice, across industries includOR REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS ing financial services.

THAT ARE BEING SOLVED WITH “You can’t expect to operate with the same program“The technology empowTHE SOFTWARE YOU ARE ming languages and techers our people to support CREATING; YOU WILL CREATE nical skills throughout your our growing businesses career; focus on concepts, and serve our clients even A FAR BETTER PRODUCT framing good questions and better,” Cohen said. The THAT WAY.” judgement because they will software development always be relevant. AI may teams Cohen leads are inautomate execution, but it can’t fully replace decreasingly leveraging AI tools to assist with gencision-making, systems thinking, communications erating code, tests and documentation, enabling skills and ethical reasoning. Also, make sure you developers to focus on higher-value deliverables understand the business problems that are being while maintaining efficiency and improved code solved with the software you are creating; you will quality. create a far better product that way.

Cohen also described a large-scale initiative she’s Outside of work, Cohen manages to find time for been managing. About three years ago, Goldman exercise, swimming and philanthropic activities.

Sachs acquired a company in the Netherlands to She enjoys volunteering and shares that Goldman expand their business overseas. This company Sachs encourages this pursuit. “Goldman Sachs came over to Goldman with their own people is proud of how many partners are on nonprofit and systems. Cohen has been working on a major boards and they make company funds available integration project to get the combined business to support our charitable interests.” running on common systems. “This is not just a tech project,” explained Cohen, “but a synthesis Volunteer, mom, corporate partner and business and fusion of cultures—people working in differleader extraordinaire, Bracha Cohen is leading a ent countries are learning what we do and how to life of purpose and passion in all areas. integrate.”

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Committed to excellence on all fronts, Cohen has honed her skills at home as well as at work.

“I have learned to be very organized and to delegate at home. I decide what activities I consider to be high value, and I make sure to do those myself. So, for example, I would prioritize being the one to take my kids to the bus and be home to put them to bed but hire help to do the laundry. Prioritizing my time and creating structure are obviously also useful skills at work.” As a religious woman, Cohen strategically built support to manage her schedule by ensuring backup coverage when she could not be available, and volunteering for assignments on secular holidays when her colleagues need to take off. Goldman Sachs is also a company that understands that different types of thought leaders develop better products.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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TOURO ALUM BALANCES LIFE AND A LEGAL CAREER

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rom a young age, Elisheva Marcus knew she’d likely end up a lawyer.

me when planning my course load and applying to law school.”

“I’ve been arguing since I was five years old,” laughed Marcus, an alumna of NYU School of Law, Touro’s Lander College for Women (LCW), and current law clerk to Chief Judge Matthew H. Solomson of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. “My mother always knew I would go to law school.”

She credits Professor Tom Rozinski with shaping her path toward law school. “He was incredibly generous with his time and guidance,” said Marcus. “He encouraged me to study for the LSAT and helped me decide which law school would be the best fit for me. His classes were challenging, but also the most rewarding—I still refer to my notes from his political theory course.”

A Foundation at Touro After taking a gap year in Israel, Marcus enrolled at LCW. For Marcus, LCW’s intimate academic environment provided a strong foundation. “One of the benefits of Lander College for Women is the close-knit environment,” she explained. “That’s incredibly beneficial when it comes to receiving individually tailored guidance. I was especially lucky since I was a history major—I quite literally had my professors and advisors on the phone with

Marcus graduated in 2021 as LCW’s valedictorian.

Overcoming the Challenges of Law School She went on to attend New York University School of Law, one of the nation’s most competitive programs. Despite her preparation, she found the transition demanding.

“NYU is a massive place, and it’s easy to get lost,” said Marcus. “If you’re coming from a small school,

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the adjustment phase can be overwhelming and imposter syndrome tends to creep in. Suddenly, you’re an average student and you have to work harder to stand out. Taking stock of my skillset— both strengths and weaknesses—was key to overcoming that.”

dinner with my family, and pick up work later at home. I wasn’t expected to remain in the office until midnight, as was typical pre-COVID. I could do dinnertime and bedtime, then get back to work. The people there are incredible to work with, and I absolutely loved the work.

During law school, Marcus faced an additional transition: motherhood. “I had two children during law school,” she said. “My first was born during my second year, and my second right around graduation. I had a six-week-old when I took the bar exam. My experience was worlds apart from the students who lived and breathed NYU—I had an entire life outside of it. But that’s something many LCW graduates can relate to—balancing a beautiful family life with a demanding professional one.”

Clerking for a Judge After her first year at Jones Day, Marcus began a clerkship with Chief Judge Solomson.

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“I’m arguing that institutions of higher education should recognize motherhood as the societal good it is and offer accommodations to students who are pregnant or parents. Family life is the cornerstone of a healthy and flourishing society, not a self-imposed disability to be weighed against one’s educational goals,” she said.

Life in the Law During her time at NYU, Marcus was a Tikvah Legal Fellow and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Liberty. It was through the Tikvah Fellowship that she met Judge Solomson.

“I love Tikvah, and that fellowship was an incredible experience through which I gained many friends and mentors,” she said.

Marcus also worked as a summer associate at Jones Day, one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the country, and later joined the firm as a litigation associate.

“I was selective because I wanted to safeguard my family life,” she explained. “I wanted a firm that would respect that. At Jones Day, I was generally able to head home in the early evening, have

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Marcus is currently writing an article for the Krauthammer Fellowship, reflecting on her experience navigating pregnancy and postpartum life while in law school.

“As clerks, we handle the day-to-day of the judge’s docket,” Marcus said. “We divide up the judge’s cases, monitor them daily, and help draft orders and opinions. Every clerkship differs, but with Judge Solomson, it’s a very hands-on experience.

We get to do a lot of legal research and writing.”

“My generation has grown up in an era of shortform content, like that of Tik-Tok and Instagram reels, and our attention spans have suffered,” she said. “To be a good lawyer, you have to be able to put your phone down and focus for a long period of time. Discipline is everything. Curiosity is the second piece—the more interested you are in the law, the better lawyer you’ll be. And finally, you need a strong backbone. Every draft you send to a supervisor or partner will come back covered in edits. Don’t take it personally—view it as a learning opportunity. Take the feedback, reflect on it and do better next time.”

Balancing Faith, Family and Ambition As for religious women considering a legal career, Marcus is unequivocal.

“Do it,” she said. “The more of us who do it, the better the system becomes. Being the only pregnant woman among 500 students was a little awkward, but if you want a robust professional life alongside a robust family life, don’t settle.”

After her clerkship, Marcus plans to return to private practice.

“My ultimate career goal is simply to find fulfillment in whatever I do,” she said. “I don’t think I could ever be content with just a paycheck.

I need a career that excites me, that speaks to my interests and skills.”

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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AN INNOVATIVE TEACHER AT TOURO, AND A MENTOR LONG AFTER GRADUATION TOURO PROFESSOR TOM ROZINSKI BRINGS NEW APPROACH TO THE CLASSROOM WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL AND BEYOND 1 8 | TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6

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Rozinski brings a rare breadth of real-world experience to the classroom. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School with a master’s degree in government from Harvard University, he spent years in legal practice and public service before entering full-time academia.

His career includes work as a partner in a law firm and seven years in New York City government, including as Commissioner of Homeless Services.

His background informs his teaching, allowing him to connect theory to practice in ways that resonate with students preparing for careers in law, government and public service.

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“I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING MORE TO THE CLASSROOM THAN THEORY ALONE,” HE SAID. “STUDENTS DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW LAW AND GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WORK.” Most of his classes have been at Touro’s undergraduate Lander Colleges in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, where Rozinski teaches political science and law-related courses. He strongly believes that the “best education takes place in the classroom, where students have the opportunity to discuss ideas, not just listen to lectures,” he said.

textbook for his debating course, which focuses on argumentation, rebuttal and critical thinking skills that extend far beyond law school.

Innovation is another hallmark of Rozinski’s teaching style. To help students connect abstract ideas to the modern world, he often incorporates music and popular culture into class discussions.

“Sometimes the ideas of political philosophers are reflected in popular music,” he said. “It gives students a way in, and something memorable to hold onto.”

Beyond the classroom, Rozinski is recognized for his dedication to advising and mentorship, especially for students pursuing law school. A former president of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors and founder of the New York Association for Pre-Law Advising and Pedagogy, he works closely with students on writing development and application strategy, often providing multiple rounds of feedback.

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or almost two decades, Professor Tom Rozinski has been a cornerstone of academic life at Touro University, where his teaching, mentorship and innovative approach to education have helped shape generations of students. Rozinski is widely respected not only for his intellectual rigor and professional accomplishments but for the deep, lasting relationships he builds with students.

“Professor Rozinski played a critical role in my law school application process,” said Ariel Goodstein, a former student at the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Brooklyn. Goodstein is now in his second year at Harvard Law School. “He offered sharp and incisive feedback, and his prior firsthand admissions experience gave me confidence that his advice was both informed and reliable.”

For Rozinski, teaching is ultimately about relationships. “I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life, but teaching at Touro has been the most fulfilling because of the close relationship I have with my students, now and well past graduation,” he said.

“And at this point I’ve been here 20 years, so I’m not going anywhere.”

His courses are designed to mirror real professional work. Students write op-ed pieces connecting political theory to current events, draft judicial opinions, argue cases and participate in formal debates. Rozinski even authored a TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6 | 1 9

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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r. Gurjinder Kaur was molded early by her mother, a woman who earned not one but three post-doctoral degrees, virtually unheard of for a woman of her time—the early 1960s—in her country of India.

other positions, was a school principal, who knocked uninvited on doors in the countryside to convince parents to let her educate their girls.

“She was an amazing woman, a leader, ahead of her time and place.”

Her only daughter took note. Today, Dr. Kaur is an award-winning neuroscientist, researcher and academic leader. Currently serving as the associate director of the master’s program and associate professor of physiology at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Middletown, Dr. Kaur’s dedication to both scientific discovery and student success has made her a force at TouroCOM.

Though Kaur intended to be a medical doctor like her uncle, she discovered a deep interest in research. She was mentored as a researcher by Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, India, where she received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

Kaur’s dissertation explored how and why opiates regulate reproductive hormones to lower fertility rates in females.

“My mother was the drive behind my passion,” said Kaur of her late mother Avtar, who, among

“I DO BOTH RESEARCH AND CLASSROOM AND I LOVE BOTH. BUT TEACHING STUDENTS IS MY LIFE’S PURPOSE.” DR. GURJINDER KAUR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PHYSIOLOGY, TOURO COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

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A RESEARCHER AND PROFESSOR EXCELS EQUALLY IN THE LAB AND THE CLASSROOM

Before joining TouroCOM, Dr. Kaur spent more than a decade as a research scientist at the Center for Cognitive Neurology at NYU Medical Center and the Center for Dementia Research at the Nathan S. Kline Institute. There, she investigated the cellular and molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative brain disorders, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome (DS).

In 2019, she accepted a position at Touro that allowed her to dig in and further her research on what she calls the Cerebellar Dysfunction Project in Down syndrome subjects. The rate of early onset Alzheimer’s is significantly higher in adults with DS, beginning in the early 40s. “Although many researchers have studied and continue to study the parts of the brain that control intellect and memory, no one has really explored the cerebellum, which regulates motor coordination movement,” she said, explaining that DS patients struggle with ataxia and motor coordination

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Dr. Gurjinder Kaur, with her student in the lab at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

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issues, neurological signs of poor muscle control, causing balance problems and difficulty with fine motor skills like writing or eating, stemming from damage to the cerebellum or nervous system connections.

“I’m looking at cerebellar dysfunction and atrophy in post-mortem Down syndrome brain tissue.” Her research is uncovering more specific neuronal abnormalities and circuit disruptions in the cerebellum in DS brains.

Ultimately, this research may impact interventions and a better critical perspective, deepening our understanding of the cerebellar dysfunctions less frequently described in Down syndrome.

Kaur handpicks about a half-dozen second- and third-year students each year to work on the Cerebellar Dysfunction Project and other clinical research studies that she’s pursuing, providing them priceless hands-on lab experience.

At age 55, Dr. Kaur becomes more and more her mother’s daughter: For her, teaching students is paramount, even to research. “My mother was a very strict teacher, but filled with a contagious passion to instill knowledge,” she said. “I do both research and classroom and I love both. But teaching students is my life’s purpose.”

Her above and beyond ethos has been recognized through several awards, including Teacher of the Year at TouroCOM for the 2022–2023 academic year.

Dr. Kaur encourages her students who have pre-exam jitters or simply want to ask a lastchance question to call or Zoom with her the night before a test. “Our exams are normally on Monday, so I’m often talking with them at 11, 11:30 and later on Sunday nights. It eats me up until I feel certain that my students receive and digest what I am teaching them. Then I can sleep.”

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ACTION IN THE FACE OF ANTISEMITISM: TOURO LAW LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER CLINIC IN THE U.S. TO TRAIN LEGAL ADVOCATES

At Touro University, education is the key to empowerment. This year, Touro Law launched the nation’s first-ever antisemitism clinic at a law school. Led by Mark Goldfeder, a rabbi and lawyer whose academic focus has been on constitutional and international law, this clinic is designed to train the next generation of legal advocates.

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“We plan to produce advocates who will contribute in a meaningful way to the community, whether through litigation, legislation or education,” said Goldfeder.

“OUR GRADUATES WILL USE THE SKILLS THEY LEARN TO DEFEND INDIVIDUALS OR INSTITUTIONS, ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM IN REAL-LIFE, IMPACTFUL WAYS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. THE TRAINING WE PROVIDE WILL EQUIP OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND LEGAL BACKGROUND THEY NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

The Touro Law students are learning from a professor whose real-world experience is already influencing policy. In fact, Goldfeder wrote the seminal law review article, “Defining Antisemitism,” after much discussion in the national arena around the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Largely as a result of his work, a supermajority of U.S. states have now adopted this definition in some form.

Beyond that, Goldfeder founded The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), a nonprofit that addresses antisemitism with advocacy, expert testimony, legislation and litigation. In that role, he has testified before Congress and the Senate on antisemitism and engages in strategic impact litigation, using new legal theories to expand the toolbox of ways in which the legal system can address anti-Jewish discrimination.

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any in the Jewish community are confused and distressed, unsure whether America is still safe and whether the pogroms and blatant antisemitism experienced during the Holocaust have landed in the United States.

Hands‑On, Real‑World Training Touro Law students enrolled in the clinic are given extensive background training on various areas of law ranging from Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to the Anti-Terrorism Act. They are then assigned hands-on opportunities to develop their legal skills; working under a team of dedicated experts supervised by Goldfeder, they interact directly with clients and learn the process of handling a case from start to finish. The goal is that by the end of their training, they will be equipped to handle matters on their own. The students are also offered the opportunity to extend their training and experience through internships and externships at organizations that fight antisemitism.

MARK GOLDFEDER DIRECTOR OF TOURO LAW’S ANTISEMITISM CLINIC 2 2 | TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6

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Students from the clinic accompany Goldfeder (center) to Texas to train the FBI, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies about how to recognize and deal with antisemitism in the field

Mark Goldfeder, director of Touro Law’s Antisemitism Clinic (center) took students from the clinic, Jacob Gaon (left) and David Rofeh (right), to the White House, where they met with leaders of the DOJ Task Force on Antisemitism, the Deputy Secretary of Labor, the Senior Director for Counterterrorism and other senior White House officials

“I’m grateful to Touro for creating a space where students can pursue justice while standing proudly for our Jewish identity and the broader community,” said Jacob Gaon, a third-year Touro Law student who is participating in the antisemitism clinic. “The clinic provides us with a rare opportunity to engage in meaningful legal advocacy under the guidance of one of the nation’s leading experts on religious liberty and Jewish civil rights.”

This semester, clinic students have completed trainings on antisemitism for the FBI, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies; worked with the NYC Antisemitism Task Force; and met with senior administration officials.

The students have worked on state, federal and

international cases, and are developing areas of expertise. Several are also working on accompanying academic papers to submit for publication.

“It’s amazing how quickly the Antisemitism Law Clinic has made an impact—in the community and in the classroom,” said Goldfeder. “Our students aren’t just studying the law—they’re out there using it—helping real clients, shaping policy and standing up for Jewish civil rights. You can see them growing into advocates in real time. We’re really proud of what’s being built here, and we’re just getting started—next semester, we’ll be expanding our partnerships and taking on new cases that push the boundaries of what civil-rights protection can look like.”

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ANSWERING THE CALL FOR

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: TOURO UNIVERSITY’S UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY PATHWAYS

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Touro University’s pathway programs prepare students for a rewarding career in mental health, starting with an undergraduate degree in psychology and continuing directly to a graduate program in counseling, social work, industrialorganizational (I-O) psychology, applied behavior analysis (ABA) or clinical psychology. Touro’s BehavioralSciencePathwayProgramallowseligible undergrads to begin graduate-level coursework—

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION—THE TWO MOST COMMON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES—ARE ON THE RISE IN THE U.S. WITH AN ESTIMATED

53.8 million

STRUGGLING DAILY WITH THESE CONDITIONS.

earning credits that count toward master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling, I-O psychology or ABA while still completing their bachelor’s degree. These courses not only save time and tuition costs but also give students a confident start to their professional careers.

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t a time when mental health needs in the United States are rising dramatically, building a strong workforce of trained professionals is more important than ever. More than one in five U.S. adults experience a mental health condition in a given year—totaling tens of millions of people who seek care, support and intervention each year.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Pathway prepares students for work as licensed professional counselors, focusing on therapeutic skills, theory and practicum experiences that empower graduates to help individuals, families and communities manage mental health challenges. The I-O psychology track applies psychological principles to workplace and organizational settings— equipping future practitioners to improve team dynamics, leadership and employee well-being.

Meanwhile, the ABA Pathway trains students in behavior intervention techniques used widely in educational and therapeutic programs, especially for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Beyond these pathways, Touro supports advanced study in social work (MSW), designed for professionals dedicated to community advocacy and clinical practice, and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology—a doctoral-level program blending rigorous clinical training with research and supervised practice to prepare students for licensure as clinical psychologists. PsyD students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of groundbreaking research initiatives with topics ranging from neurodiversity and

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MORE THAN

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CONDITION IN A GIVEN YEAR—TOTALING

10’s

OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SEEK CARE, SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION

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EACH YEAR.

autism to eating disorders and depression. Some of their research has even been published in prestigious medical journals.

Together, Touro’s structured pathways create a clear pipeline from undergraduate psychology into impactful careers in mental health, addressing both the growing demand for services and the critical need for well-qualified professionals.

“TOURO UNIVERSITY IS TRAINING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO MEET THIS DIRE NEED IN ANY AND EVERY SETTING WITH POPULATIONS RANGING FROM SCHOOLCHILDREN TO TEENS, ADULTS AND SENIORS. OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC AND REAL-WORLD CLINICAL TRAINING AS WELL AS RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES. OUR GRADUATES ARE COMPASSIONATE AND COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THERAPISTS WHO OFFER MUCH-NEEDED HELP AND SUPPORT TO THE CLIENTS AND PATIENTS THEY SERVE.” DR. STEVEN LORENZET DEAN, TOURO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6 | 2 5

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. Alan Kadish President

Rabbi Doniel Lander Chancellor

Mr. Zvi Ryzman Chair

Mr. Abraham Biderman

Mr. Gilles Gade

Mr. Brian Levinson

Mr. Israel Sendrovic

Mr. Shmuel Braun

Rabbi Menachem Genack

Mr. Dovid Lichtenstein

Mr. Jack Weinreb

Dr. Benjamin Chouake

Mr. Solomon Goldfinger

Mr. Martin Oliner

Rabbi Shabsai Wolfe

Mr. Allen Fagin

Mr. Abraham Gutnicki

Dr. Lawrence Platt

Mr. Steven Zuller

Mr. Howard Friedman

Ms. Debra Hartman

Mrs. Margaret Retter

Dr. Zahava Friedman

Ms. Judy Kaye

Mr. Stephen Rosenberg

@wearetouro

www.touro.edu • 2 6 | TO U R O U N I V E R S I T Y 2 0 2 6

Touro is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

For Touro’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please visit www.touro.edu.

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