18 April 4 • 2019
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W

hen Robert Folberg, M.D., 
was named dean of the new 
Oakland University William 
Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine 
in 2008, his background included 20 
years as a National Institutes of Health-
funded researcher and as a pathologist 
and ophthalmologist. Folberg also was 
influenced by Judaism and credits his 
Jewish values for helping to create what 
has been called the medical school’
s 
“kindness curriculum.
” 
“I began to build a culture by putting 
some values out there,
” says Folberg, who 
stepped down Feb. 18 as dean. Although 
clearly noting OUWB is a secular school, 
the founding dean says, “When you are 
creating something, you need a frame 

of reference and I brought these things. 
Science, knowledge and the techniques 
of medicine need to be tethered to gen-
erous amounts of humanity to create 
virtuoso physicians.
”
He references the Jewish Musar 
Movement that stresses personal growth, 
the Zohar and Rabbi Abraham Joshua 
Heschel. 
The patch on OUWB medical stu-
dents’
 lab coats has two circles repre-
senting the school’
s core values, which 
Folberg connects to Jewish traditions. 
The circles (one for the medical school 
and one for Beaumont Health) represent 
the communities they serve and the 
understanding that every community 
member has infinite value.
To develop a physician expert in more 

than science and medical techniques, 
OUWB developed a special selection 
process, curriculum and culture under 
Folberg’
s leadership. The admissions 
process emphasizes attributes and expe-
riences that predict whether a physician 
will be altruistic, compassionate and 
empathetic. 
“Empathy is more than a course or 
how we teach or inspirational speakers. 
This is our culture,
” Folberg wrote for 
the Association of American Medical 
Colleges (AAMC) News. “Patients come 
first, and the goal is to develop doctors 
who are not only knowledgeable, but are 
also skilled communicators, compassion-
ate people, respectful of diversity.
”
OUWB students participate in spiri-
tuality rounds with pastoral counseling 
staff. “We ask that students go outside 
their own faith traditions, which helps 
them learn what patients bring to crit-
ical decision-making from their faith,” 
he says. Community service also is 
emphasized.
Such humanistic values reflect 
Folberg’
s traditional Jewish education 
in Philadelphia. As an adult, he took 
classes at Gratz College, a local Jewish 
institution, and taught Hebrew school 
while attending Temple University 
School of Medicine. His brother is a 
rabbi.

“I did a lot of interfaith work and 
advocacy when we lived in Iowa City. 
Amy (his wife) taught Hebrew school 
and I was an amateur hazzan,” he says. 
They belong to Congregation Beth 
Ahm in West Bloomfield.
While a professor at the University 
of Illinois Medical School in Chicago 
during the 1980s, Folberg initiated a col-
laboration with an Israeli medical school. 
OUWB has academic partnerships 
in Israel, including a medical student 
exchange with Hadassah Hospital. 
The OUWB Medical School began 
with 50 students and now has expanded 
to 500 students. 
“Given my experience with medical 
schools across the country, there is no 
question Dean Folberg has established 
a top-rate medical school with a truly 
unique and innovative mission, extraor-
dinarily accomplished and dedicated 
faculty, and a growing list of exemplary 
academic and community engagement 
achievements,
” said OU President Ora 
Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D.
Folberg announced last year he 
would not seek to extend his 10 years as 
dean. He will continue as a professor of 
foundational medical studies as well as 
pathology and ophthalmology. He says 
he and Amy now consider Metro Detroit 
their home. ■

Running to Raise Dollars

Young Franklin resident plans a run across America 
in memory of her late grandfather.

W

hat Jackie Katz, 22, remem-
bers most about her late 
grandfather Jerry Katz are his 
smile and the interest he showed in her 
activities. 
“Every time we visited or spoke over 
the phone, he always enjoyed asking 
me about my accomplishments in 
cross-country running and track and 
field,
” said the Franklin resident.
For that reason, Jackie thinks her 
grandfather would be proud of a new 
challenge on her horizon: taking part in 
the 4K for Cancer run across the country 
to benefit the Ullman Foundation, which 
provides support to young people with 
cancer. 
Accepting the challenge has special 
meaning for Jackie since she lost her 
grandfather to pancreatic cancer in 2015. 
“I felt helpless in his fight,
” she said. “I 
couldn’
t really do anything to help the 
situation. Through the 4K for Cancer, 

I am able to give back and make an 
impact on those going through a similar 
situation.
”

Jackie, a member of Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek, has a goal of raising 
more than $5,000 for the race and has 
accumulated about $3,500 so far. She will 
begin her race in San Francisco on June 
16, running with a team of about 30 peo-
ple, and will end in Boston Aug. 3. All 
told, she and her team will cover more 
than 4,000 miles.
During the race, Jackie and her fellow 
runners will visit various cancer centers 
to volunteer, including visiting with 
patients, putting together care packages 
and cooking for patients staying at vari-
ous Hope Lodges and Ronald McDonald 
Houses.
“I think my primary reason to do this 
challenge is to give back to the cancer 
community,
” she said. “I’
m excited to 
meet a lot of people who are also moti-
vated to do the challenge and I’
m excited 
to see the country in a new way.
”
Becca Eddy, coordinator for the 4K 
for Cancer run at the Baltimore-based 
Ulman Foundation, said the race will 
bring together about 120 people. The 
event not only includes runners but 
cyclists, too. Participants come from all 
quarters of the United States, as well as 
Europe and Asia. 
Participants will run or cycle past 

spectacular American sites, according 
to Eddy, including the Grand Tetons, 
Mount Rushmore around July 4 and 
Niagara Falls.
“There is no better way to see the 
country than on foot,
” said Eddy, who 
has participated in the race herself. “It’
s a 
lot of fun. One of the best parts is getting 
to know your teammates.
”
With the support of Ulman, the 4K 
for Cancer has generated more than $7 
million. The foundation provides nation-
al scholarships to young people living 
with cancer. They also offer a navigator 
program, which helps young people 
from around the country locate support 
services. 
“Ulman is one of the oldest and largest 
organizations helping young people who 
have been diagnosed with cancer,
” Eddy 
said. “Our programs really do reach 
across the country.
”
To support Jackie Katz, visit her fund-
raising page at https://ulman.z2systems.
com/Jackie-Katz. For more information 
about the Ulman Foundation, visit 
ulmanfoundation.org. ■

Elizabeth Katz is a Metro Detroit freelance writer. 
She has no relation to Jackie Katz.

Jackie Katz

jews d
in 
the

Kinder Doctors

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Former OUWB Medical School Dean 
Robert Folberg with a student 

Folberg’
s legacy at OUWB 
includes Jewish values.

ELIZABETH KATZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

