THE MAURICE AND GABRIELA GOLDSCHLEGER SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE, FOUNDED BY ALPHA OMEGA REOPENS
 It is with much pleasure that I announce that Tel Aviv University's Maurice and Gabriela School of Dental Medicine, Founded by the Alpha Omega Fraternity, has begun admission of new students for the first year of studies. This step constitutes a final commitment by the University to "reopen" the School. All that has happened followed the agreement by the University that an objective committee be appointed with a mandate to investigate the most pressing needs of the Dental School. It has further been agreed by the by the University and the Ministry of Education to unconditionally accept the committee's decision.
 Much credit is due Mr. Gideon Sa'ar, Minister of Education, Professor Shlomo Grossman, Head of VATAT (Planning and Budgeting committee for Education), the University Administration, the Faculty of the School, and of course to the members of the School's Dental Advisory Board (DAB). They include Ralph Rothstein, Harold Presikel, Mervyn Druian, Andre Amiach (present...and adding outstanding input...at the recent meeting of the TAU Board of Governors), Ben Williamowsky, Howard Pranikoff, Gerald Niznick, Normal Mohl, Leo Sreebny, Avi Chesner, and recently added members, Stan Bergman, and Steve Kess and Elisha Ben-Zur. Many ‘thanks' especially to the members of the Alpha Omega International Fraternity for their belief in us and for their continuous support through some trying times. Last but not least, we recognize the students and the faculty of TAUSDM who firmly fought for the cause they believed in all along.
Inauguration of the Gerald and Reesa Niznick Faculty Clinics
The Gerald and Reesa Niznick Faculty Clinics were inaugurated on May 20, 2009, at the annual meeting of the Tel Aviv University Board of Governors. The Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity was represented by Ralph Rothstein who received a certificate of honor of the Tel Aviv University on behalf of the Fraternity. The event was opened by Prof. Zvi Galil, President of the Tel Aviv University, and was attended by some 100 guests including Ralph and Bette Rothstein, Andre and Michel Amiach and Mervin and Andy Druian, all member of the TAU Board of Governors.
Following remarks made by Prof. Zvi Galil and Prof. Yoseph Mekory, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and myself addressed the guests. The following are citations from my speech:
"We have gathered here today to celebrate the inauguration of the Gerald and Reesa Niznick Faculty Clinics. Making this dream comes true has required endless amount of energy, efforts, good will and volunteering from a long list of people who pushed us from behind and pulled us from the front......".
"Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick are the greatest supporters of our School next to Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger. I first met Dr. Niznick at NYC in 1982, where I was impressed by his effort to introduce CORE-VENT, Jerry's newly invented implant system and philosophy in Implant Dentistry. A few years later we met in LA, when I came to Dr. Niznick's facility to learn more about his innovations in this field. Being very impressed I invited Jerry to come and visit us at Tel Aviv, and when he came, we influenced him to start investing in excellence, i.e. to invest at TAUSDM, which he did."
"I remember Dr. Niznick's first investment in the school - a modest donation which allowed us to build the Unit of Implantology at the PG wing, and enter into the era of modern implantology. Two years later Gerry came to evaluate our work, and being impressed, he supported us with a special grant of $90.000, to be used entirely for research in Implantology. Much to my surprise Jerry did not ask for any recognition.
In 1994 Dr. Niznick created the Gerald A Niznick Chair of Implant Dentistry, and a few years later Jerry and Reesa pledged 1 M USD for the building of a new PG floor on top of the Dental School, an ambitious plan which unfortunately had to be cancelled later, owing to the financial crisis at TAU. In spite of the disappointment Gerry asked to present him with alternative projects which would better fit the new approach and future plans for the School. The result was the building of the Gerald and Reesa NIZNICK Faculty Clinic which we are inaugurating today. Since additional support was needed to complete this project, AO Int. Dent. Fraternity agreed to bridge the gap. Thank you Gerry, thank you Reesa, thank you Ralph, I have no words to express how fortunate and blessed I feel to be able to stand here today, and deliver these words as a tribute to you. This event that will hopefully be remembered as a turning point in the evolution of the school, a turning point which will take us from strength to strength. We expect The Gerald and Reesa Faculty Clinic to be one of the leading dental centers in Israel, providing the public with comprehensive dental treatment using all the latest techniques. In addition, it will provide Israeli dentists with continuing education and residency training, exposing them to the most advanced professional technologies. The faculty clinic will expose our students to practical modern dentistry, a branch of the profession which is not included in most schools' curricula. Finally, these clinics will help with time to stabilize the school economically. The entire faculty will participate in this endeavor and it is expected to become a one stop shop providing dental care in all dental disciplines."
What has happened at the TAUSDM during the past 4 years, and what is still to happen here, is a revolutionary change in the way of teaching students, a change in the standards of faculty volunteering, and a pioneering effort to run this school at the same speed, on half the consumption of petrol. This revolution demanded a major change, and a change is a difficult thing to go through, especially a change from a known situation to an unknown one."
"Jerry, Reesa, Ralph, I have no words to express how fortunate and blessed we all feel to have friends like you with us. People like you convince me that the season of Light , the spring of hope, and the best of times, are still ahead of us."
Prof. Haim Tal
Head of the School
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