School Year Opens with Day of Service
Hundreds of Incoming Students Fan Out Across Vallejo, Fairfield-Suisun Region to Support More Than a Dozen Nonprofit Organizations
An estimated 430 incoming students provided roughly 860 hours of volunteer work to support 14 area nonprofits last week on the first day of orientation at Touro University California.
The students painted picnic tables at Rush Ranch, the Solano Land Trust property adjacent to the Suisun Marsh. They bagged produce for future distribution at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano warehouse in Fairfield.
Students helped spruce things up at the Humane Society of the North Bay, at Kyle’s Temple Community Garden, and at the Florence Douglas Senior Center, all located in Vallejo.
They put down burlap and spread woodchips along the mosaic staircase in the heart of downtown Vallejo, and provided dozens upon dozens of hands to help the volunteer staff at Loma Vista Farm care for the animals under their care.
Students View TUC as Pathway to Future Success
Emerald George is a Registered Nurse who is entering the School of Nursing to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing and then her Family Nurse Practitioner certification, and ultimately her Doctorate.
George has a passion for seniors and plans to one day serve the ever-increasing number of baby boomers as they enter their golden years, through a series of luxury residential care facilities she hopes to establish.
“As we know, our elderly population is growing and growing quickly, and it’s time that we stepped up and we took care of our elderly population, when they took care of us,” George said. “I know here at Touro University, my goals will definitely be accomplished.”
Randal Ilechukwu hails from Oklahoma and is entering the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences program. He was initially on the wait list and said he’s happy he was accepted to the program.
He hopes to parlay his MSMHS degree into a spot in the Doctor of Osteopathy program.
“I’m big on mental health, so I’m hoping to become a psychiatrist one day or just advocate for mental health in any way I can,” Ilechukwu said.
Student doctor Gopal Kumar is a U.S. Army veteran who is entering his first year in the Doctor of Osteopathy program in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. He comes to TUC after five years of service as a military laboratory technician and with an undergraduate degree in molecular and cell biology from UC Berkeley.
“I decided to come to Touro because I’m familiar with the Bay Area and I want to continue to serve in the best capacity possible,” Kumar said. “I know that Touro can set me up for success.”
A Welcome Message of Encouragement
The volunteer workday July 24 is in keeping with the university’s mission: To serve. To lead. To teach. It’s a message that was echoed by Senior Provost Patricia Salkin, who serves as Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost for the Graduate and Professional Divisions with the Touro University System that’s based in New York.
“We are thrilled that you selected Touro University California to further your education,” Salkin said Wednesday while addressing the students gathered in the Lander Hall auditorium, with university leaders seated nearby.
“There is no one who is more student-focused, and more caring about your success, than the people sitting on this stage and the teams that they work with on a daily basis,” Salkin said. “I think that you have selected a really special place, and a place where you can not only survive, but thrive.”
Salkin offered words of encouragement to the students as they begin their programs at the Mare Island campus.
“You have all enrolled in professional degree programs that are great professions, they are serving professions, and you’re starting off with service in the community, but they’re also hard,” Salkin said. “You worked hard to earn a spot here, and you are all here because you earned your seat here.”
Dr. Tami Hendriksz, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Interim Chief Academic Officer for the University, also welcomed the students and in a separate message offered her thanks to all those involved in making orientation a success.
“Each of you plays a vital role in making Touro University California a place of excellence, growth, and community,” said Hendriksz, who graduated with a Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 2006 from TUC, said. “Together, we will create a brighter and healthier future for generations to come.”
Orientation activities spanned July 24-26 and continued July 28-29.
Sonography Program Launches with First Cohort
The inaugural class of students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, which offers an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography, took part in a separate orientation session July 22 before joining the larger incoming class of master’s and doctoral students across the university’s diverse array of medical and health sciences programs.
Sonography is the first undergraduate degree offering in the university’s 27-year history. The program spans five semesters, or 22 months.
Orientation for those entering the Graduate School of Education was scheduled to take place later in August.