Honoring the Foundation of a Distinguished Career
Crediting KCU’s rigorous curriculum, talented faculty and enriching environment, Dr. Mitchell Forman’s annual giving advocates for the next generation of physicians.
By Kimberly Winter Stern
Mitchell D. Forman, DO, FACR, FACOI, MACP, FRCP (COM ’73) was a Brooklyn kid with aspirations of one day becoming a physician.
Growing up in the New York City borough, he recalls a kind physician, admired by his family, who made old-fashioned house calls — and an impression. As an osteopathic physician, he incorporated manipulative medicine into the adolescent’s health care. Those principles of osteopathy would later be reinforced by Dr. Forman’s medical education and training at Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCCOM, now KCU).
Fulfilling his childhood dream, Dr. Forman applied to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, eventually accepting the position he was offered to join the KCCOM Class of 1973.
Acknowledging that his KCU education presented opportunities that significantly impacted a celebrated career spanning more than 50 years, Dr. Forman expresses gratitude for the experience that introduced him to — among other values — the importance of patient interaction.
“Many memorable mentors provided me with skills necessary to become a competent, compassionate and effective physician,” he says. “One was Leonard Mennen, DO, a cardiologist I rotated with at KCU who taught me the critical importance of clinical observation. The second was David Kaplan, MD, a rheumatology fellowship supervisor, who demonstrated by example how listening is integral to patient care, to appreciate how socio-economic factors influence healthcare and to understand patients as people and not diseases.”
During medical school and residency, Dr. Forman was exposed to multiple specialties and subspecialties, many which he found intellectually and personally stimulating. This was especially true of the rotating internship experience.
“As I was completing my internal medicine residency at the Brooklyn VA Hospital, I had the opportunity to participate in a rheumatology elective at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center/ Kings County Hospital, a large and respected allopathic academic institution,” he says. “It was there that I was attracted to rheumatology. Offered a fellowship, I became the first DO accepted into that program, remaining there as a faculty member after fellowship training until relocating to Texas in 1992.”
A professional and personal meaningful life
Today Dr. Forman and Pearl, his wife of 52 years and a retired Physician Assistant, reside in Las Vegas. He retired as professor of Medicine and dean emeritus at the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) in 2018 and joined the UNLV School of Medicine in 2018 as a professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology until retiring in July 2021, capping a brilliant, award-winning medical career.
Dr. Forman still teaches at the UNLV School of Medicine and retrieves his young grandson from school nearly every day. He and Pearl are active community philanthropists, with diverse interests in supporting sight-impaired individuals, animal welfare and religious organizations and nurturing the Allegro Guitar Society, which the couple founded in partnership with the UNLV Performing Arts Center to bring world-class guitarists to the city.
Never one to be idle in his profession, Dr. Forman, an esteemed leader in osteopathic medicine, plans to continue 30-plus years of involvement with ACOI — which named him 2008 Physician of the Year — lecturing in topics from ethics to professionalism and more. He hasn’t quite decided how he will volunteer now that he is not practicing medicine.
Career accomplishments and contributions are plentiful, but Dr. Forman is most proud of being the first-ever physician from Nevada to be awarded a Mastership in the American College of Physicians. A close second achievement is being named a Fellow in the Royal College of Physicians-London, an influential community of changemakers focused on shaping equitable healthcare.
“Through my efforts over the decades, I believe doors opened prospects for up-and-coming physicians in academic programs not previously available,” Dr. Forman says.
However, it was the culmination of his years as an osteopathic physician, educator and administrator that led Dr. Forman to a career landmark as founding dean of Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. Highly regarded throughout DO circles for his in-depth clinical, academic and administrative experience, Dr. Forman was approached to establish the school. He made the move in 2004 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth where he was Associate Professor of Medicine and Vice President for Student Affairs to Henderson.
“I helped grow TUCOM, adding more graduate medical education opportunities in Nevada,” Dr. Forman says. “My dean’s position influenced the careers of numerous students and helped create new osteopathic residency programs in Nevada.”
Dr. Forman cites an element integral to his success at TUCOM.
“Surrounding myself with like-minded people who shared my drive, focus and interest and possessed the talents and skills I lacked,” he says. “That philosophy not only benefited my career, but my entire life.”
Appointments as Clark County Medical Society and Nevada State Medical Association president reinforced the acceptance by Dr. Forman’s peers of his training as an osteopathic physician.
“Everything I have accomplished personally and professionally can be traced back to my KCU education,” Dr. Forman says.
Physician first, celebrating future leaders
Regardless of administrative or academic roles he has performed at different junctures in his career, Dr. Forman always considers himself a physician first.
“My dedication to patient-centered care was instilled by KCU,” he says, “and is still at the heart of who I am. Even during my time at TUCOM I was able to see patients, my passion.”
A member of both the Conley Society (donors who annually support KCU with contributions of $1,000+) and Gold Society (donors who give for three or more consecutive calendar years), Dr. Forman is inspired to give to KCU in his parents’ memory.
“They were always encouraging and supportive of my education, and I am grateful to have inherited my father’s strong work ethic and my mother’s people skills — two assets that have served me well,” he says.
As a guest speaker at KCU’s Centennial Gala in Kansas City on October 22, 2016, Dr. Forman reflected on a pivotal moment in the school’s history, sharing with the audience his reactions to the physical growth of the campus, development of the medical school and high quality of students being admitted.
KCU President and CEO Marc B. Hahn, DO, worked with Dr. Forman at UNTHSC. “I have known Dr. Forman for more than 20 years. In addition to being a well-loved physician, he was well-known at UNT and throughout his academic career as a tremendously strong student advocate,” Dr. Hahn says. “KCU is fortunate that he remains committed to KCU’s mission and the success of our students.”
Today the kid from Brooklyn with a distinctive career to his credit is honored to be a product of the school and its faculty.
“It is remarkable to see how KCU continues to innovate to meet the future of osteopathic medicine,” he says, “and a privilege to help shape the next generation of vibrant and engaged physicians through action, giving and advocacy.”