Dr. Nadege Dady Presented with Nubian Union Legend Award
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean was Honored for Leadership and Service
New York, N.Y. – Dr. Nadege Dady, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) Dean of Student Affairs, received a Nubian Union Legend Award at the organization’s “Chasing Stars” Holiday Gala Monday evening in Greenwich Village.
The award was presented to Dr. Dady and other honorees who exemplify “unconditional sacrifice and community service [and who] stand as icons of stewardship to everyone.”
The Nubian Union is composed of two community-based non-profits focused on the growth of brain injuries: Unity Missionary Investors, which aids economically-challenged communities with tools and programs; and the Nubian Cultural Center for Research & Development, a multigenerational program that promotes racial and ethnic harmony through cultural exchange and education.
Dean Dady was singled out for a Legend Award for taking a leading role at TouroCOM in getting students involved in a Brain Injury Project launched under Unity that educates the community about - and supports research on - brain injuries.
“She’s profoundly responsible for our collaboration with Touro in working with students to educate the community about the growing incidences of brain injuries,” said Henry Rawls, vice president and chair of Unity Missionary Investors. “She’s very inspiring, supportive and very helpful. Because of her inspiring students to be aware of this tremendous malady in our society it’s absolutely incumbent upon us to recognize her contributions.”
Mr. Rawls said traumatic brain injury is not well-understood by the general public – neither the causes, how to prevent the injuries, nor how widespread they are.
“Many people don’t understand brain injury as a major malady. It’s what we call a ‘silent injury’ because you don’t see scars. A lot of people, very well-educated people, don’t consider it a major issue. Now we see it in the news because of sports, but sports are a very small part of the reason brain injuries occur,” Mr. Rawls said, citing senior citizen falls, ‘rough play,’ and shaken baby syndrome. “A lot of children are having children and they don’t know how to discipline nor care for their children properly.”
Robert Goldberg, executive dean of TouroCOM, agreed, “The scars may not be evident when one looks at a person, but when one meets the family and loved ones, it is clear that the scars can be deep in their minds and hearts,” he said, adding he was very proud of Dean Dady as well as Martin Levine, DO, associate dean for education development at TouroCOM, who also played a key role in bringing TouroCOM together with Nubian and was the evening’s keynote speaker.
Monday’s Gala featured a host of clergy, celebrities and community leaders, and a special presentation by arts writer and critic for NPR and other major media outlets Randy Gener, himself a Legend Award recipient. Actor/producer Tobias Truvillion served as Master of Ceremonies.
Other recipients of the Legend Award included Dr. William Gibbs, Chief of Service of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn; concert pianist Professor Richard Alston; and fashion and media specialist China Flowers.
In expressing her gratitude, Dean Dady said, “I am deeply honored, humbled and thankful to the boards of the Unity Missionary Investors and the Nubian Cultural Center for this recognition. I am grateful to have had opportunities to motivate others, give back selflessly and express leadership through service to others.”
