MSU and Hillel: a vital
partnership
Inspired for good
He didn't know it at the time, but David
Kaufman's path to practicing medicine began
N
when he met Laryssa, the woman who would
In August 2011, MSU Hillel was one of two campus
Hillel organizations to receive the Indispensable
Campus Partner Award at the Hillel Professional Staff
become his wife.
Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. There are more than
500 Hillel Foundations internationally.
Kaufman, professor and founding chairperson of
Michigan State University's Department of
The award recognized MSU Hillel for its strategic
Neurology and Ophthalmology, started out
alliances with Michigan State University. MSU Hillel
pursuing sports journalism at the University of
Wisconsin (UW), where the couple met. He
k
David Kaufman, professor and chairperson, Department of
Neurology and Ophthalmology
earned a bachelor's degree in zoology and
history from UW in 1973 and a DO from the
connects with the campus community in a variety of
ways—from offering programming for Jewish and
non-Jewish students to organizing Alternative Spring
Break trips in various parts of the United States and
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
"Sparrow is a very fertile area for clinical research
in 1978.
Israel. Hillel also has a voting position on the
and education for the Colleges of Osteopathic
Associated Students of MSU student governing body
"My wife preceded me in medical school," he says.
Medicine, Human Medicine, and Nursing," says
through its Jewish Student Union (JSU).
"It changed my life's path, watching her. It's funny
Kaufman. "Our partnership allows faculty to
how people inspire you. I don't think my wife
assist with clinical care of people in the
knows how much she's influenced me."
community and provides outstanding
educational opportunities to our students."
Kaufman came to Michigan State in 1984 as an
That ability to help patients remains a source of
Medicine.
inspiration for Kaufman, whose own research
interest in me that I had in it," he says.
As the college continued to expand, Kaufman
was selected in 2000 to chair the then new
Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology,
the relationships built with the university," says MSU
Hillel Director Cindy Hughey. "We're very connected
with MSU. We're special and unique because of that
assistant professor in the College of Osteopathic
"I was quite fortunate that MSU had the same
"Our dynamic Hillel is successful in part because of
relationship."
uses the eye as a simplified model of what
MSU Hillel
happens in the brain to determine the
establishes its
effectiveness of medical interventions for
distinctive position
conditions that include multiple sclerosis, stroke,
by working with
and cancer.
various campus
administrative and
"Medicine provides people with extraordinary
the first clinical department created at MSU since
opportunities," says Kaufman. "I can't imagine a
1975 to be jointly administered by the Colleges of
better way to live your life."
Osteopathic and Human Medicine. Since then,
academic units.
For example, MSU
Hillel recently
Ask Big Questions fellows promote
their Laugh in Peace comedy show last
November. MSU Hillel partners with
MSU's Office for Inclusion and
Intercultural Initiatives on the Ask Big
Questions initiative.
the department has experienced significant
Kaufman and his wife, Laryssa, a physician in
worked with MSU's
growth, deploying faculty researchers around
MSU's Department of Internal Medicine and
Culinary Services to
the world, receiving major funding from the
Department of Physiology, have passed on their
introduce a new
National Institutes of Health, and specializing in
passion for medicine to their children. Sarah, 24,
kosher meal service
multiple disciplines of neurology.
currently is enrolled in a dual MD/PhD degree
program to accommodate those with special dietary
program at Washington University in St. Louis,
An expanding partnership between MSU and
needs. MSU's kosher meal service program was
and Matthew, 26, is an administrative fellow at
Sparrow Health Systems offers more ways for
developed in partnership with Hughey, Rabbi Jason
the Detroit Medical Center.
Miller of Kosher Michigan, and Chuck Radd, principal
Kaufman and fellow faculty and students to
owner of Woody's Oasis restaurant in East Lansing.
reach patients in mid-Michigan.
Additionally, MSU Hillel is working closely with MSU's
Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives on Ask
Spart,?.:r:
Qrc- givates
on the r dar of interriF:tionai
COntinU2d
Big Questions, a national initiative that helps diverse
international internships. And it also helps
Ron Cichy, who notes that 77 of the school's
groups of students explore the deep questions at the
participants "unpack" their experiences and translate
approximately 850 students participated in study
heart of life that many share. Through this program,
them in a way that resonates with potential
abroad programs across all seven continents during
employers.
summer 2010.
students of diverse backgrounds are finding
commonality through their conversations. Hughey
initially brought the initiative to Paulette Granberry
"Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience: How to
"MSU is committed to providing international learning
Russell, senior adviser to the president for diversity
Sell Your Study Abroad Experience to Employers and
experiences for our students," Cichy says. "Study
and director of the Office for Inclusion and
Graduate Schools"—a joint offering of the Office of
abroad complements the international segments that
Intercultural Initiatives.
Study Abroad and Career Services Network—provides
we teach in our courses on campus."
students with the information and skills needed to
effectively communicate their international
experiences in their résumé and application cover
letters and during job interviews.
The School of Hospitality Business has found study
abroad to be critical to student success, says Director
About 3,500 of the nearly 48,000 students enrolled at
One of the top 25 majors declared by freshmen in
MSU are Jewish, and Hughey says MSU Hillel helps
MSU's fall 2011 class, hospitality business helps
that segment feel welcome while also reaching out
prepare students by integrating a global perspective
to non-Jewish students through organizations such
throughout the curriculum and promoting flexibility
as the JSU and other vital campus partnerships. 9
regarding job relocation, he says.