The History of Touro University
Touro University (“Touro” or “the University”) is a Jewish-sponsored independent institution of higher learning and professional education founded to strengthen Jewish heritage while providing the highest quality educational opportunities to society as a whole.
Founded by Dr. Bernard Lander, the University was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1970 and opened a year later as “Touro College.” In 2022, Touro celebrated its 50th anniversary and was granted university status by the Board in recognition of the institution’s advanced academic standing. Shortly thereafter, in 2023, Touro marked yet another new and exciting chapter in its history with the opening of its new Cross River Campus headquarters at 3 Times Square. The modern campus brings together eight schools in more than 300,000 square feet, housing state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs and administrative offices on 12 floors.
Touro has grown from an initial class of 35 students in New York City to an international university system of over 19,000 students across 36 campuses and locations, in seven states and four countries. Its commitment to academic excellence and growth through innovative programs continues to inform all of Touro’s endeavors. Today, Touro enjoys the strong leadership of Chancellor Rabbi Doniel Lander and President Dr. Alan Kadish in furthering Touro’s historic purpose.
Touro’s schools serve a variety of communities, providing engaging courses in a range of fields - from medicine and pharmacy to law; business to education; and speech pathology to Jewish studies. The Touro educational experience reflects the Jewish intellectual tradition of commitment to the transmission of knowledge and respect for applied knowledge and discovery.
It is this commitment to a Jewish intellectual tradition that fuels the many outstanding achievements by faculty and students throughout Touro. At the same time, the Touro University experience goes beyond classroom instruction - Touro fosters an atmosphere of warmth, in which close faculty-student relationships, student camaraderie and individual attention are nurtured.
Enhancing the Jewish Heritage
Touro’s first college, the Touro College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was established in 1971. Decades later, the various divisions of the College were designated The Lander Colleges, in honor of Founding President Dr. Bernard Lander, for his historic contribution to higher Jewish education in America. The Lander Colleges embody Touro’s commitment to enriching the college experience for Jewish men and women. They are comprised of three colleges: The Lander College of Arts and Sciences – Flatbush (with separate divisions for men and women); the Lander College for Women – The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School in Manhattan; and the Lander College for Men in Queens. Other Touro schools similarly dedicated to the unique needs of the Jewish people include the Graduate School of Jewish Studies, which prepares students for careers in education and community service; the School for Lifelong Education, to serve the academic needs of the Hasidic community; the Institute for Professional Studies – Machon L’Parnasa, which provides practical applications in higher education for the ultra-orthodox community; and Touro College Los Angeles, which follows a curriculum modeled after The Lander Colleges. In 2015, Touro welcomed the Hebrew Theological College of Skokie, Illinois into the Touro system. Most recently, in Fall 2023, the Lander Colleges opened a facility in Boca Raton to offer courses in-person and to better serve students studying remotely from Florida.
Fulfilling Needs - and Building Strength - in Health Care
Touro has grown into one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the country. Its highly regarded health sciences, dental, pharmacy as well as allopathic and osteopathic medical schools have made Touro a national leader in comprehensive health education and care.
Beginning with the School of Health Sciences in New York City in 1972, Touro pioneered the training of physician assistants and established other campuses in the New York area that prepare healthcare professionals to serve a broad range of patient needs including nursing, physical and occupational therapy, speech language pathology, psychology, and mental health. In 2020, Touro responded to the growth of data and security issues in healthcare by expanding its offerings to a new campus in Skokie, Illinois with programs in healthcare cybersecurity, data analytics, nursing, and physician assistant studies.
The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) opened its first campus in 2007 in Harlem, committed to training osteopathic physicians with a particular emphasis on practicing in underserved communities. A second campus of TouroCOM opened in Middletown, New York in 2014, and a third campus launched in Great Falls, Montana in 2023 to address the state’s physician shortage and increase access to healthcare. TouroCOM’s advanced research facilities include labs and resources on the Montana campus and at the Weissman Hood Institute at Touro (WHIT), formerly McLaughlin Research Institute. TouroCOM also offers an M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences and an M.S. in Pathologists’ Assistant.
The Touro College of Pharmacy, originally established in Harlem with a shared vision to promote wellness, relocated to Touro University’s new 11-story Cross River Campus headquarters established in Times Square in 2023 when several of Touro's New York schools and programs consolidated into one location. TCOP provides pharmacy students with a competitive edge through exciting new courses, esteemed faculty and a unique curriculum that combines classroom and clinical experience rare among pharmacy schools.
New York Medical College (NYMC), one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious health science universities, joined the Touro system in 2011, thereby creating one of the largest affiliations of medical and health education and biological studies programs under one banner. Located in Westchester County, NYMC is the leading academic biomedical research center between New York City and Albany, with nearly $30.6 million in sponsored research and scholarship support.
In 2016, the Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) opened on the NYMC campus, New York State’s first new dental school to launch in nearly 50 years. The school operates a state-of-the-art teaching practice offering comprehensive high quality oral health services for all ages at reduced cost and a Complex Care Clinic staffed by expert faculty who use the latest tools and techniques in digital dentistry. Services include routine dental exams and preventative care as well as cosmetic dentistry, advanced dental reconstruction, TMJ diagnosis, and implant surgery. The Center is uniquely designed with the most advanced dental technologies available anywhere, including 3D imaging, guided implant surgery and endodontic microscopy. TCDM also offers oral healthcare to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) as part of its mission to address a critical need for accessible and compassionate care among marginalized populations. Currently work is underway to build a new facility -- TouroCAREs (the Center for Access, Respect and Empathy) -- to serve this community, as well as to train tomorrow's dentists on how to treat this important community and eliminate significant barriers that affect their access to care. Additionally, through an annual “Give Kids a Smile” program, students and faculty provide screenings, lessons and fun-filled dental-themed activities to hundreds of children in Westchester County.
In 2025, TCDM opened a state-of-the-art new patient clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which experiences severe shortages of dental professionals, especially in rural communities. The clinic, the first dental school facility in the state, is located on the campus of Touro’s Lovelace Biomedical Research Laboratories, a not-for-profit research organization with a rich history of helping pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. Lovelace joined Touro in 2022, significantly expanding Touro’s capacity to make a difference in the health and lives of Americans. Founded in 1947, Lovelace is one of the oldest not-for-profit biomedical research institutes in the country, noted for excellence in respiratory disease and neuroscience research, toxicology, drug development and protecting the nation against chemical, biological and nuclear threats.
The New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) became part of Touro University in 2025. Founded in 1911, NYCPM was the nation’s first medical college devoted to educating and training doctors of podiatric medicine. It combines outstanding classroom instruction with clinical training in one of the world’s largest foot care clinics.
In 1997, Touro established Touro University California (TUC) and its several health science schools: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University College of Pharmacy, and the College of Education and Health Sciences. In 2004, Touro University Nevada (TUN) was created to help address critical needs in health sciences and education and as a resource for community service in Nevada. TUN includes the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Health and Human Services, which offers numerous degree programs in health sciences and education.
Charting New Territory in Law, Business and Technology
Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, opened in the 1980’s, operates out of a new law complex on Long Island that includes a federal and state courthouse – the first law campus of its kind in the country. The Law Center is home to the William Randolph Hearst Public Advocacy Center, developed to create positive change in communities, legal training, and improve the lives of countless individuals in and beyond the local community. The Graduate School of Business offers a variety of graduate degree programs and trains graduates to work effectively in a world market of independent economies. The Graduate School of Technology offers multiple degree programs that reflect the power and pace of technological change. Touro University Worldwide, an online university, offers graduate degree programs for lifelong learners or those interested in furthering their professional development. In 2021, Touro created Touro University Illinois, which offers advanced degree programs in physician assistant training and nursing.
In 2024, Touro launched a comprehensive AI initiative to integrate artificial intelligence across all aspects of the university, from academics to research and operations. This includes developing AI literacy for all students, offering advanced technical training, and supporting faculty and staff in utilizing AI effectively. The initiative's goal is to prepare students for a future where AI is prevalent and to enhance the overall quality of education, research, and operations. New AI courses were launched, including a new M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Systems and an advanced certificate in Applied AI through GST.
Educating the Educators, Serving the Community
Touro’s Graduate School of Education prepares America’s future leaders in education with one of the largest teacher education programs in New York State. Through its Lander Center for Educational Research, public schools are assisted in addressing problems that impact student achievement and educational opportunity. The New York School of Career and Applied Studies was established to provide quality undergraduate education at multiple locations throughout New York City that serve the needs of the city’s populations. The Touro Graduate School of Social Work inspires and prepares graduates for clinical social work practice in an urban environment and for the most effective advocacy for their clients.
Forging Ties with Israel and Revitalizing Jewish Life in Europe
Touro College in Israel was established in 1986 to provide the English-speaking population in Israel with the opportunity to earn credits towards an academic degree while studying in Israel. In 1991, Touro College became the first American institution of higher education to establish a program of Jewish studies in Moscow. The Lander Institute Moscow, established to afford members of the Jewish community a greater awareness of their Jewish heritage, offers a well-rounded general education and preparation to serve organizations and schools. In 2003, Touro began offering an academic program through Touro College Berlin and later established on the Berlin campus the Lander Institute for Communication about the Holocaust and Tolerance.