Dr. Hylton Lightman, left, president of Total Family Care, with Yehuda Wolf, recipient of Touro's Maimonides Award

Graduate of Physician Assistant Program Proves Slow and Steady Wins the Race

NEW YORK — Yehuda Wolf, a graduate of Touro College School of Health Sciences Physician Assistant (PA) program, received the School’s prestigious Maimonides Award for demonstrating the highest professional ideals of a healthcare practitioner.

Wolf attended yeshivas in Chicago and Israel. At age 25, he was already married with a baby on the way when his wife encouraged him to enroll at Touro. “At that time, I had not a single college credit or any work experience. College was not on my radar,” he said.

At Touro, he attended classes at night while working during the day. Advisors from Touro’s Career Services worked with Wolf, helping him identify, he said, “what I’m good at, what I enjoy doing and which career really makes me tick.” That career turned out to be Physician Assistant.

“I ultimately chose PA because I wanted to help people in a hands-on profession. I am inspired by advances in medicine and by problem-solving until the correct diagnosis is made. And as a PA, I can enjoy the financial benefits as well as time with my family.”

During his clinical rounds, Wolf gained experience at prominent hospitals like North Shore LIJ as well as Montefiore, Jacobi and NYU/Langone Medical Centers.

“Each environment taught me something new,” he said, “but what stuck with me the most is how often patients don’t understand or haven’t received a thorough explanation as to what’s going on in their healthcare. Taking the extra few minutes to talk and listen to patients can go a long way.”

Prof. Sondra Middleton, Associate Program Director of the Manhattan PA program at Touro, was one of Wolf’s instructors.

“It is rare to find a mature, focused and serious student like Mr. Wolf,” said Prof. Middleton.

“He quickly became an academic leader, helping his classmates get through difficult courses and supporting them in every way. He did this while earning excellent grades and maintaining a personal life as a husband a father. He was truly a remarkable student, and I am proud to now call him my PA colleague.”

Wolf works at Total Family Care in Far Rockaway, and at a practice on weekends in Williamsburg.

“Yehuda is an asset to our staff,” says Hylton Lightman, MD, president and medical director of Total Family Care in Far Rockaway.  “Yehuda has brought with him excellent training with a headset for excelling at health care,” continued Lightman.

Moving forward, Wolf would like to remain in family medicine. “I find it important to be able to manage patients at all stages in life. I would also like to be involved in the education of future students, should the opportunity arise.”

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