Hands-on pre-health event at Touro’s College of Dental Medicine Ma’ayanot students up-close look at careers in medicine and dentistry
Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) recently welcomed a group of students from Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, New Jersey, for an immersive pre-health event designed to introduce them to the many academic and professional pathways available in medicine and the health sciences.
Taking place at TCDM’s Westchester campus, the morning program offered students an opportunity to explore healthcare careers through direct experience, rather than brochures or classroom lectures. With presentations by Touro’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and TCDM, the visit transformed abstract ambitions into a tangible future the students could picture themselves pursuing.
Morning of discovery
The event began with an introduction to Touro’s healthcare programs, followed by rotating sessions in dentistry, osteopathic medicine, and pharmacy.
Students learned about the principles of osteopathic medicine and observed the hands-on techniques that osteopathic care is known for. During the pharmacy session, they learned how to prepare and calculate proper dosing for medications, and for dentistry they were introduced to the fundamentals of restoring a tooth, an experience that offered both technical insight and a sense of accomplishment.
The schedule also included a tour of Touro’s New York Medical College campus, where students visited lecture halls, the library, and laboratory spaces.
Making goals feel possible
For Ma’ayanot students already interested in healthcare careers, the visit provided a sense of clarity.
“We are so grateful to Touro for providing this opportunity,” said Esther Slomnicki, a biology teacher and faculty coordinator for Ma’ayanot’s Medical Scholars Program. “This visit gave our students a rare chance to engage directly with professionals and environments they aspire to be part of, making their future goals feel both tangible and attainable.”
One way Touro helps actualize those goals is through its pathway and linkage programs, in which high school students applying for undergraduate degrees at Touro choose an accelerated track toward a degree at some of Touro’s graduate and professional schools. Applicants who meet certain criteria can do so by streamlining prerequisites for both undergraduate and graduate programs, or even by taking classes for graduate programs as they are completing their respective undergraduate degrees. Touro’s medical and dental honors pathway programs provide direct routes to an MD or DDS for highly qualified students just out of high school or yeshiva/seminary.
Leaving a lasting impression
Instead of a standard campus visit, students enjoyed a lively exploration of future possibilities, asking questions, testing new skills, and imagining themselves wearing white coats.
When it was over they said the day’s interactive format helped bring the experience to life.“It was so interesting to see the wide range of programs at Touro, they really make it possible for students with different interests in healthcare and science to find their path,” said Elisheva Wiseman, a junior at Ma’ayanot. “I especially loved the hands-on opportunities we participated in while we were there. The facilities were beautiful and felt like the perfect place for that type of learning.”
Education aligned with values
The visit also underscored to prospective Touro applicants that they have the ability to pursue their academic goals in an environment that’s aligned with their values and religious observance.
Students noted the glatt kosher dining options on campus, mezuzot on doorways, and an Israeli flag proudly displayed in a dormitory window.
Dr. Golda Erdfarb, DDS, associate professor of dentistry at TCDM and organizer of the event, said they wanted students to see that they won’t have to choose between professional aspirations and personal values.
“Our goal was to help students see that a future in healthcare can be both achievable and aligned with who they are.”
