In Memoriam: TUCOM-CA Founding Dean Bernard I. Zeliger, DO
Published January 22, 2019
2019
Bernard I. Zeliger, DO, Founding Dean and former Chief Academic Officer of what is now Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine—California (TUCOM-CA), passed away Saturday, December 15, 2018. While he was dean at TUCOM-CA he served on AACOM's Board of Deans.
Dr. Zeliger was instrumental in forming TUCOM-CA into what it is today. When writing in January 2017 about the osteopathic medical school’s early years, TUCOM-CA representatives recalled that Dr. Zeliger was a passionate educator and always eager to provide students with the tools and support they needed to be successful. Faisal Qazi, DO, a graduate of TUCOM-CA’s first class, wrote in an August 2017 edition of TUCOM-CA’s The Record that when the school’s cafeteria was not yet ready to serve kosher food, Dr. Zeliger would pay out of pocket for a deli to deliver lunch to the students who kept kosher.
For his contributions to the school and to the osteopathic medical education community, TUCOM-CA presented him with an honorary Doctor of Human Letters (DHL) degree at its 2003 graduation. TUCOM-CA named its annual Leadership/Service student award in his honor.
Dr. Zeliger earned his DO from A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) in 1961. Prior to his tenure at TUCOM-CA, he served as President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) in 1994 and American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) President from 1983 to 1984.