Jason Vega, a Staten Island resident and physical therapy (PT) doctoral student that we covered in the past, has received a prestigious Maimonides Award from Touro University School of Health Sciences.
The School of Health Sciences gives Maimonides Awards to a select group of graduates who exemplify scholarship, leadership, and service.
Some of the community service projects that Jason completed during his time at Touro University School of Health Sciences include assisting in the kitchen with Meals on Wheels in Staten Island, volunteering with medical staff at the NYC Marathon, and working with PENTA to take apart and redistribute prosthetics to those in need. Additionally, he served as Student Ambassador for Touro’s DPT program at its 3 Times Square campus.
A Shared Dream
School of Health Sciences Celebrates Class of 2026
During graduation, the School of Health Sciences recognized the recipients of the Maimonides Award, presented to graduates who exemplify scholarship, leadership, and service.
Concluding her commencement address to more than 700 graduates of Touro University’s School of Health Sciences at the Tilles Center on June 11, Touro University Provost Patricia Salkin quoted Eleanor Roosevelt.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” Salkin said, before adding: “Graduates, believe in your dreams. Dream boldly, dream generously, dream in ways that lift others as you rise.”
The graduates seated before her represented campuses in Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Middletown, and Skokie, Illinois, and disciplines ranging from physician assistant studies and physical therapy to speech-language pathology, counseling, nursing, applied behavior analysis, and many more.
Healing Will Always Be Profoundly Human
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. David Lubarsky, president and CEO of Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
Lubarsky, who was recently named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives, drew from his own experiences as a patient to illustrate the impact healthcare professionals can have on people’s lives. He recalled how a speech-language pathologist helped him overcome a childhood speech impediment and how physical and occupational therapists later helped him recover from injuries.
“You may never know what your influence will carry for that patient or their family, or for how long that impact will be felt,” he told graduates.
Maimonides Award Recipients
The School of Health Sciences also recognized recipients of the Maimonides Award, presented to graduates who exemplify scholarship, leadership, and service.
Staten Island resident, physical therapy (PT) doctoral student, and Maimonides Award winner Jason Vega said, “Receiving a Maimonides Award is a true honor, and I will continue to make a positive impact on others through leadership, excellence, compassion, and service as I advance my career,” said Vega. He’s currently completing his last clinical rotation at BeSpoke Treatments, and he will then work at MOCEAN Physical Therapy. Vega’s dream career is to work as a PT at the NYC Department of Education after completing the National Physical Therapy Examination.
“During my educational journey, I have been challenged in many aspects. Yet, with the guidance of School of Health Sciences faculty, staff, and mentors, I’m entering the PT field with a deep commitment to helping others and continuing to grow every day,” said Vega.
Other winners include:
- Daisy Pinos-Fernandez — Manhattan Campus Occupational Therapy Program
- Annaelle Gabay — Long Island Campus Occupational Therapy Program
- Jason Vega — Manhattan Campus Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
- Valentina Grisafi — Speech and Language Pathology Program
- Nardeen Gerges — Manhattan Campus Physician Assistant Program
- Noa Fuzaelov — Middletown Physician Assistant Program
- Yael Helfgott — Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
- Patricia Paul — Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program
- Andie L. Kleinman — Behavior Analysis Program
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Shannon Wilkens — Illinois Campus Physician Assistant Program
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Jenna Blank — Long Island Campus Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
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Yehuda Kutai — Nursing Program
As the evening wound down and families posed for photographs, the auditorium slowly emptied. The graduates left as members of the latest class of Touro University’s School of Health Sciences.
Banner Image: Jason Vega, Staten Island resident, at graduation ceremony. Image Credit – Touro University
Touro University
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