The Medical Student, His Therapy Dog, and an App to Stop Overdoses

A certified therapy dog and campus celebrity who accompanies Libman to community events, wellness activities and volunteer programs, the sight of Abe and Tye walking TouroCOM’ s halls is a familiar one of a medical student whose efforts are broad -- encompassing public health research, nonprofit leadership and advocacy, scholarship and community service.

National Recognition for Research

One of Libman’s most significant initiatives started as a student research project examining how environmental and socioeconomic factors contribute to overdose risk among the homeless in Manhattan. Supported by a Touro University Student Research Fellowship and a TouroCOM Harlem Summer Research Stipend, the project earned national recognition, including first-place awards at the American Osteopathic Association’s Osteopathic Medical Education Conference last year and at DO Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in 2026.

But Libman wasn’t satisfied with publishing findings. “The research was clear that there were people falling through the cracks. I wanted to create something practical to connect people to resources when they needed them most,” he said.

That work led to No-D Overdose Prevention, Inc., a nonprofit to prevent overdose, harm reduction and offer access to community resources. It also led to the development of a mobile app to connect users with support services and harm-reduction resources.

The initiative placed second in the Regional New York Business Plan Competition, advanced to statewide competition and stood out as the only nonprofit among the finalists.

Dr. Olalekan Ogunsakin, faculty lead and mentor on the project, said Libman’s achievements represent more than academic success.

“Abe’s accomplishments on paper are certainly impressive. However, what may not be immediately apparent is the resilience, humility, discipline and genuine sense of purpose behind his achievements,” said Dr. Ogunsakin. “I have been most impressed by his growth into a thoughtful, compassionate and innovative future physician who understands that meaningful leadership in medicine is ultimately rooted in service to patients and communities.”

Aspiring Psychiatrist

An aspiring psychiatrist, Libman has served as president of TouroCOM’ s Psychiatry Student Interest Group and introduced Mental Health First Aid certification training at school. He also serves as a regional administrator for the Student Osteopathic Medical Association’s Overdose Prevention Committee and has held leadership roles in student wellness, diversity and addiction medicine initiatives.

“Abe treats everyone around him like family,” said David Lee, OMS-III, a mentee. “Even if it’s your first time meeting him, he talks with familiarity and warmth that immediately breaks all barriers and brings people together. He was everyone’s favorite upperclassman.”

Libman’s research portfolio continues to grow. He has authored or co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications while at TouroCOM, several as first author.

One of his most celebrated projects involved a case report describing how osteopathic structural examination contributed to the detection of colon cancer in an elderly patient. The work earned a first-place award from the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

Another publication grew out of Libman’s experience as both patient and researcher. After suffering an animal bite that made his hand swell so dramatically that he couldn’t hold a pen, Libman underwent OMM (osteopathic manipulative treatment) and experienced significant improvement. The experience became the basis for a case report that is pending publication in the American Academy of Osteopathy Journal.

“I got to experience medicine from the patient’s perspective,” said Libman. “It reinforced how important it is to see the whole person, not just the injury.”

That philosophy has guided a lot of his work, from therapy dog visits to schools and nursing homes, to hours of community service, and also shapes his vision for the future.

TouroCOM professor and osteopathic physician Dr. Mikhail Volokitin, who has worked closely with Libman on multiple research projects, believes that future is bright.

“I’ve seen plenty of students do research,” Volokitin said. “I’ve seen almost none turn that research into a nonprofit, a mobile app and a citywide harm-reduction initiative built from compassion and stubborn hope. Abe doesn’t innovate for recognition—he innovates because someone out there needs the solution he hasn’t built yet.”

Dual DO/MBA

Now starting his fourth year as a dual DO/MBA student – and recently adding ‘dad’ to his list of responsibilities - Libman has built a résumé filled with national research awards and publications. Yet those who know him best say his greatest impact isn’t measured by these accomplishments.

“One of the intangibles that isn’t measured on a résumé is the relationships Abe keeps with  mentees, friends and colleagues,” said David Grossfeld, now a third-year student and another mentee of Libman’s the past two years. “It’s the consistent check-ins during school that put me at ease, the advice for studying, and his natural ability to calm your nerves during stressful periods. He’s rarely seen without a smile on his face, walking with Tye, and it’s an immediate calming presence.”

Asked how he manages it all, Libman credits a strong support system, collaboration and a sense of purpose.

“There are always more things to do than hours in the day. But when the work is connected to helping people, it doesn’t feel like separate projects. It all becomes part of the same mission,” he says.