On the Shooting Outside the Capital Jewish Museum in DC
We were deeply pained by the murder of two innocent people outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. We were, in addition, shocked to learn that the alleged perpetrator has worked for the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) for the last eleven months.
We appreciate the joint statement of the AOIA and American Osteopathic Association (AOA). We concur with their sentiment: this was a horrific crime. With six medical school campuses at Touro University, five of which are schools of osteopathic medicine, we are compelled to add our individual and institutional voices to the condemnation of this crime.
The AOA and AOIA statement reads, in part
"The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) joins with the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) to express our profound sorrow in response to the tragic shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening. We were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime… We extend our deepest sympathy to the victims’ loved ones, wishing them peace, comfort and strength during this unimaginably difficult time."
As America’s largest institution of higher education under Jewish auspices, Touro’s mission is to uphold the Jewish heritage and to educate and serve. One of the ways we do so is by training physicians to respect and revere life. We will respond to this terrible act by redoubling our efforts to teach all our medical students the eternal values of doing good while, as articulated in the Hippocratic aphorisms, to “First, do no harm.” There is no room for bias or hatred in medicine. We also urge our colleagues to denounce antisemitism and bias in all of its forms.
These have been painful and sad days for us. We mourn this tragedy and condemn violence, along with all people of goodwill. May we all contribute to the healing of humanity that is so desperately needed.
Dr. Alan H. Kadish
President, Touro University and New York Medical College
Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar
Dean, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Nevada
Dr. Edward C. Halperin
Chancellor, New York Medical College
Dr. Tami Hendriksz
Dean, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-California
Dr. Neil W. Schluger
Dean, School of Medicine New York Medical College
Dr. Kenneth J. Steier
Executive Dean, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine New York – Montana
Dr. Stephanie Zeszutek
Interim Associate Dean, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Montana
