Cedarhurst pre-med a Touro valedictorian

Moshe Ostreicher, of Cedarhurst, has been named the 2026 valedictorian of Touro University’s Lander College for Men.

An honors biology major, he plans to apply to medical school in the upcoming cycle.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a physician,” he said. “Over time, that childhood aspiration has only grown stronger.”

That sense of direction was reinforced through hands-on experience, including his work as a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Woodmere Fire Department, a role he has held for more than two years. Responding to emergencies and caring for patients in critical moments, he said, gave him a clearer understanding of the responsibility that comes with medicine. His work with the department earned him its 2025 EMS Provider of the Year award.

“I chose Touro for the academic pathways it offered, the Jewish environment, and, perhaps most importantly, the small class sizes,” he said. “That personal connection is invaluable.”

“Moshe Ostreicher is a great example of the academic values we seek to inculcate in our students,” said Dr. Henry Abramson, dean of Touro’s Lander College for Men. “Not only did he earn a perfect score of 528 on his MCAT — an achievement that is met by only 0.01 to 0.02 percent of students who take this rigorous standardized test for admission to medical school — he also volunteered many hours to tutoring his peers in organized study groups, bringing the rest of the class closer to its potential. He’s a remarkable young man.”

Ostreicher’s academic interests led him to research projects with Northwell Health and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. One project earned him an invitation to present his findings at the American College of Emergency Physicians’ 2025 Scientific Convention in Salt Lake City.

Ostreicher’s path to Lander College for Men included studies at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in high school, followed by time learning in Israel at Toras Moshe and Sh’or Yoshuv.

Before entering medical school, he will continue his work as an EMT and return to the Feinstein Institutes to continue research involving mitochondrial transplantation and critical care physiology.

“My goal is to have a career that combines scientific knowledge with meaningful patient care and makes a real difference in people’s lives.”

Touro University also named three other 2026 valedictorians.

Nini Schulman is the valedictorian for Touro’s Lander College for Women.

An accounting major, Schulman served as chair of the Honors Board before becoming its chair, and had internships at EisnerAmper, Deloitte and PwC, where she will begin working full time as a tax associate after graduation. She plans to become a CPA before eventually attending law school.

“My ultimate goal is to work at the intersection of business and law,” Schulman said.

Batya Zitron was named valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences Women’s Division.

A psychology honors major, Zitron works at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine as a clinical interviewer in the neurology department and is a research assistant at the Arts and Development Lab at Brooklyn College.

She plans to apply to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs.

“My career goal is to become a neuropsychologist,” Zitron said. “I’ve always been fascinated by science and particularly interested in understanding the brain and how it shapes our sense of self and the way we experience the world. My hope is to combine my passion for science with the opportunity to work closely with people and make a positive impact in their lives.”

Joseph Levy was named valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences Men’s Division.

An honors biology and psychology major on the pre-med track, Levy was executive editor of Touro’s Science Journal. He participated in Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Clinical Oncology Open Learning program, where he observed oncologists across specialties and gained exposure to patient care, physician-patient communication and clinical decision-making.

“My ultimate goal is to become a physician who combines strong clinical knowledge with humility, compassion, and a commitment to lifelong learning.”

Commencement ceremonies for Touro’s Lander Colleges will take place at Lincoln Center on May 31.

Reported by Touro University