Success Stories | Joseph R. Tommasino Memorial Behavioral Health Scholarship

Touro School of Health Sciences

Success Stories

Jeremy Bienenfeld, PA-CA

Day in the Life of a Gastroenterology PA

Over 60 million Americans suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders each year. For many of them, professionals like Jeremy Bienenfeld, a Touro School of Health Sciences PA alum, provide hope and care. A 2021 graduate, Jeremy works at Digestive Disease Care in New Hyde Park, NY, where he uses the skills learned at Touro to help patients improve their quality of life. Passionate about the GI field, Jeremy shares how his Touro education prepared him for his career and why he finds fulfillment in his role.

Jeremy knew early on that he wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, inspired by watching his father, a podiatrist, build meaningful relationships with his patients. Choosing gastroenterology allowed Jeremy to explore a wide variety of diseases affecting vital organs while empowering patients to live healthier lives through preventive care and counseling. A typical day for Jeremy includes reviewing lab work, consulting with attending physicians, and creating care plans in collaboration with patients, ensuring they are the most important members of the healthcare team.

Jeremy credits Touro with shaping his approach to patient care, emphasizing the importance of bedside manner and building trust. He recalls Touro’s focus on personalized instruction, small class sizes, and practical exercises with medical actors as key to his professional growth. Professors like Dana Bignami and Program Director Paula Boyle left lasting impressions, providing mentorship, guidance, and invaluable insights that continue to influence his practice.

Balancing a demanding job with being a father of two, Jeremy reflects on the challenges and rewards of his career. He takes pride in building trust with his patients and values the relationships he develops with them. Despite the occasional long hours, Jeremy cherishes the opportunity to make a difference in his patients’ lives and is grateful for the support of his family and his education at Touro, which laid the foundation for his success.

Klarisse Mathis, PA-C
Caregiver for Grandfather Inspired PA Journey

Touro College School of Health Sciences alum Klarisse Mathis always knew she wanted a career in healthcare but desired more flexibility than the demanding schedule of a physician. Becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) allowed her to pursue her passion for patient care while gaining the ability to work across multiple specialties. Klarisse now applies her Touro training daily in her role as a PA in orthopedics at Lenox Hill Hospital on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Klarisse’s path to Touro was shaped by her personal experiences as a caregiver for her grandfather. The Manhattan PA program’s flexible schedule allowed her to balance her studies with caregiving responsibilities. During her clinical rotations, Klarisse discovered her love for orthopedics, particularly the hands-on aspects of casting, splinting, and assisting in the operating room. This exposure, combined with her background as a Physical Therapy Aide, solidified her passion for helping patients regain mobility and independence.

Touro’s emphasis on real-world patient care prepared Klarisse to excel in her career. She credits her professors for teaching essential skills like taking accurate patient histories, conducting thorough physical exams, and presenting cases to attending physicians. Touro’s small class sizes and diverse student body also helped her develop patience, compassion, and the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds—skills she uses daily in her work.

For Klarisse, communication, agility, and confidence are vital to succeeding as a PA. She views patient education as an essential part of her role, helping patients understand the capabilities of PAs as integral members of the healthcare team. Reflecting on her journey, Klarisse appreciates how Touro’s supportive community and rigorous training empowered her to step out of her comfort zone, embrace diversity, and develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional care to a diverse population.

Dr. Linda Korman Spiegel, MD, CPE, FACP

Going to Touro Was the Best Decision I Ever Made

Nearly fifty years ago, a young Linda Korman discovered the physician assistant (PA) field and made a life-changing decision to join the inaugural PA class at Touro College. “Going to Touro was the best decision I ever made,” she recalls. Linda, now Dr. Linda Korman Spiegel, MD, CPE, FACP, credits Touro’s patient-focused training and camaraderie among classmates for setting the foundation for her remarkable medical career.

At Touro, Dr. Korman honed her clinical skills with hands-on patient care from the start, working across the street at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. “Our training was so intensive and patient-focused. We were learning both the didactic and clinical sides simultaneously,” she said. This early immersion in patient-centered care shaped her approach throughout her career, starting with her first role as a PA at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. There, she excelled, gaining confidence to pursue medical school at SUNY Downstate, where her PA background became a valuable asset.

After completing her residency in 1985, Dr. Korman worked as a staff internist before achieving her dream of running her own practice. “I absolutely loved having my own practice,” she said. “I knew everything about my patients and took calls from them at any time. It was what you might call a concierge model today.” Later, she transitioned to administrative roles, including Medical Director and Vice President of Care Coordination at Saint Peter University Hospital, all while continuing to advocate for physicians and patients through leadership roles in professional organizations.

Looking back, Dr. Korman reflects on the profound impact Touro had on her career. “Touro put me on my career path, and I’m very thankful for that opportunity,” she said. Even in her current role as a Physician Advisor, she continues to rely on the clinical skills she developed at Touro. “Ultimately, I’m here to help people. That’s the idea I had when I started PA school, and it carries through to this day.” Dr. Korman remains passionate about preserving the art of medicine and cherishes the lasting relationships she built through her patient-focused approach. “I can look back and say that I’m very proud of what I did with my life.”