NYMC Unveils the Portrait and Diploma of Alumnus Meyer J. Simon, M.D. '25
Dr. Simon’s Portrait Represents the College’s Long Legacy of Inclusivity
Meyer J. Simon, M.D. ’25, was three years old when first he stepped foot in the United States from Vilna, Russia, present-day Vilnius, Lithuania. A first-generation Jewish immigrant pursuing medicine at a time when most United States medical schools imposed an anti-Semitic admissions quota, Dr. Simon went on to achieve his dream of becoming a physician. He graduated from New York Medical College (NYMC) as student body president, practiced medicine in Brooklyn for more than 50 years, and was one of the founders of Maimonides Medical Center. On December 12, leadership, faculty, and students commemorated the unveiling of Dr. Simon’s portrait and diploma—nearly a century old—celebrating NYMC’s longstanding policy of welcoming students no matter their race, color, national origin, religion, or sex.
The grandson of Dr. Simon, Gary Tannenbaum, M.D., RVT, FACS, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Westchester Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, gifted his grandfather's portrait and diploma to the College during the NYMC Hannukah celebration.
“The portrait reminds me, as I hope it reminds you and your students, to take a step back and look at how things were in the past and try to hold onto some of the things that we’re losing as time goes on,” said Dr. Tannenbaum, who talked about the evolution of medicine since his grandfather’s time. The portrait and diploma will be displayed in the Alumni House as a symbol of NYMC’s legacy.
A classmate writing for the Class of 1925 yearbook, for which Dr. Simon was the business manager, described him as a “go-getter” and “born leader” who impressed the College faculty because he “seems to thrive on examinations.” Dr. Simon was a leader of the College chapter of Phi Delta Epsilon, the Jewish medical fraternity. He was also elected junior class president in his third year, and student body president in his fourth.
After receiving his M.D., Dr. Simon spent his career as a general practitioner in Brooklyn, where he was among the founding staff of Maimonides Medical Center. He passed away in 1975, a few weeks after the Kings County Medical Society celebrated his golden anniversary as a physician.
“We’re glad to have Dr. Simon’s portrait back home, accompanied by his diploma, where it belongs,” said Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer.