It’s an ongoing Jewish tradition that all parents (not so) secretly hope that one of their children will become a doctor. Free medical advice aside, parents recognize the capacity to deeply impact people’s lives through medicine.
For parents and their children everywhere, graduating from medical school is an enormous achievement. For parents whose children are graduating from the Technion American Medical Program, there is an added personal sentiment—deep appreciation at the opportunity for their child to study in Israel.
Svetlana and Michael Gorbatov, from Boston, are Russian immigrants originally from the Ukraine who immigrated to the Unites States in 1989. Due to visa restrictions and political unrest, it took them a full year to get to the US. “We considered moving to Israel but for many reasons, we decided to go to the States,” said Michael Gorbatov. “But we’ve always felt very strongly about Israel and we were very happy to have Rostic here.”
Technion is an internationally acclaimed medical program in Israel with unparalleled opportunities for students to shadow and work with Nobel-winning doctors in their field of choice, be involved in cutting-edge research and receive personalized attention with class sizes of 20 to 30 students.
Rostic Gorbatov is among the Technion’s 2016 graduating class and was the class representative, acting as a liaison between his class and the administration. He was also an advisor to the lower classman and helped them prepare for exams. “I’m very happy with the education,” said Michael Gorbatov. “I always believed the Technion was good—that’s why I sent Rostic here.”
Gorbatov’s beliefs were confirmed as Rostic matched at his first choice, the prestigious Jacobi Medical Center, in the Bronx, in Internal Medicine. “Rostic passed the bar on the first try and got matched at his first choice. That’s my test for a good education,” said Gorbatov. Tracking the journey that brought them to this day, their feelings were well founded. “When we left Russia, we never thought we would be standing in Israel, watching our son graduate from the Technion,” said Michael Gorbatov.
As Dr. Andrew Levy, Head of Technion American Medical Program, said in his commencement speech, “The Hebrew word menatzeach means to overcome. Overcoming obstacles can confer on a person the ability to be a special kind of leader. One that wants to give of themselves and inspire others to do good.”
This philosophy is precisely why longstanding Technion supporters Ken and Randee Rubenstein also encouraged their daughter, Sara, to study at the Technion. The Rubenstein’s spend their time between New York and New Jersey, where Ken is the President of the American Technion Society Metropolitan Region.
Rubenstein has been involved in Technion for over 20 years. “Technion is one of the most important Israeli organizations,” Rubenstein said, “because the manpower and brainpower from here drives the economy of the country and is necessary for defense.”
Clearly they were thrilled that Sara chose to study at Technion. “I think she did great,” said Rubenstein proudly. Sara matched at Rutgers NJMS in pediatric neurology.
For Technion parents, their children’s success is their own success as well. As Technion Associate Professor Yuval Shaked aptly put in his commencement speech to the graduates, “This is the dream of every Jewish parent, for their child to become a doctor—and you made it!”
By Raizel Druxman
