LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2025 -- AltaMed Health Services, in a partnership with Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) and the Annenberg School of Nursing, recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the creation of the AltaMed Health Services School of Nursing. The school is located at AltaMed's East Los Angeles Campus. The program is designed to help meet the ongoing staffing needs for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).AltaMed Health Services, in a partnership with Los Angeles Jewish Health and the Annenberg School of Nursing, recently launched the AltaMed Health Services School of Nursing. The program is designed to help meet the ongoing staffing needs for Licensed Vocational Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants.A nursing class of the Annenberg School of Nursing on AltaMed's East LA Campus"From the very beginning, our vision has been to build a nursing workforce from within, one that reflects the communities we serve and carries forward the AltaMed mission," said AltaMed President and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha. "Over the years, we have worked towards this vision. We aim to address the shortage of bilingual, culturally responsive nurses, and today with our partners from Los Angeles Jewish Health and the Annenberg School of Nursing, that dream has become a reality."The school's new location opened last month with plans to graduate more than 24 nurses during its first year. Serving more than 700,000 people across 60 sites in Los Angeles and Orange counties, AltaMed continues to expand access to high quality health services in the Southern California region."We are delighted to be bringing our state-of-the art nursing school to the team at AltaMed and look forward to expanding the program offerings as their needs evolve," said Dale Surowitz, President and CEO of Los Angeles Jewish Health. "Perhaps most important, this program helps to create a culture where nurses in training learn to better understand the backgrounds, language, and lived experiences of their patients and the critical role that should play in the care experience."With more than 5,700 employees, AltaMed is one of the region's largest employers, providing services to approximately 8% of the Los Angeles population. AltaMed provides comprehensive primary care, pediatrics, dental services, HIV/AIDS care, senior care, behavioral health services, pharmacy services, health education, and more."For more than five decades, AltaMed has remained steadfast in its mission to provide access to high quality health services, regardless of the ability to pay," said de la Rocha. "Our new school of nursing underscores AltaMed's commitment to improve health outcomes in the communities we serve."About Los Angeles Jewish Health: Founded in 1912, non-profit Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth) is the largest single-source provider of comprehensive senior healthcare services in the Los Angeles area, serving nearly 4,000 people each year. Thousands of seniors benefit from community-based and in-residence care and services. Programs include: Independent Living; Assisted Living; Senior Behavioral Health; Short-Term Rehabilitation; Skilled Nursing; PACE; Hospice & Palliative Care; Geriatric Health; Memory Care. In addition, LAJHealth is home to the Annenberg School of Nursing.About AltaMed Health Services:AltaMed understands that when people receive care that considers their individual health needs and respects their cultural preferences; they grow healthy—and help their families do the same. Since 1969, we have delivered complete medical services to communities across Southern California. Our team of qualified multicultural and bilingual professionals—from these same communities— is focused on eliminating barriers to primary care services, senior care programs, and essential community services. With more than 60 accredited health centers and service facilities, we remain committed and ready to help you grow healthy at any age. 

Providing residents with robust opportunities for enrichment is a hallmark of life at Los Angeles Jewish Health. From music appreciation to bingo to arts and crafts and beyond, our activities empower seniors to find joy in community and to make the most of every day. Among the most popular pastimes at LAJH is participating in our Pet Therapy Program—a chance for residents to love, hug, and play with the dogs that regularly visit both our Grancell Village and Eisenberg Village campuses. Generously sponsored by the Steven Ohren Foundation, the Pet Therapy Program is the largest of its kind in Los Angeles. Each week, trained dog handlers and their highly-trained therapy dogs stroll the halls of LAJH buildings, offering residents a chance to receive canine cuddles as they reminisce about their own cherished former pets and animal experiences. It is, notes LAJH’s Director of Volunteer Services Stacy Orbach, a program that delights residents and has important therapeutic benefits, as well. “There’s data out there about the positive health impact of programs like ours, including lowering blood pressure and anxiety,” Stacy says. “In addition, seeing the therapy dogs reminds residents about beloved pets from their childhood—activating their memories and getting them telling stories, which is hugely beneficial, especially for people experiencing memory loss.” Steven Zonis, a certified therapy dog handler, has been volunteering weekly at LAJH for years. He and his dogs, standard poodles Rudy and Ella, work together to engage residents and fill their days with joy. “The residents brighten up and smile when Rudy and Ella walk into a room. What they’re responding to is how genuine the dogs are; they just love to give love and get love with no ulterior motives or underlying agendas,” he says. “It’s wonderful to watch.” Rudy and Ella are pros at their work: Both have certifications through the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Los Angeles Police Department, and Rudy is the winner of AKC’s 15 th annual Award for Canine Excellence and a semi-finalist for the American Humane Society’s 2025 Hero Dog Award. They are celebrated members of LAJH’s pet therapy team. With stars like Rudy, Ella, and many others, LAJH’s Pet Therapy Program has a dedicated fan base of residents who look forward to the visits and even prepare for them. One resident has a special bond with a therapy dog named Andrew; she has graham crackers waiting for him when he arrives every Wednesday. On the days she is not there, Andrew goes into her room and waits for her to return. This year, for the fourth year running, LAJH will produce a pet therapy calendar featuring all the dogs from the program. Also made possible by the Steven Ohren Foundation, the calendar is a highly anticipated publication that adorns many residents’ walls and staff work stations.“We’re grateful to the Steven Ohren Foundation for its support, which this year is enabling us to provide copies of the calendar not just to residents and staff, but also to any interested member of the community,” says Corey Slavin, senior vice president of the Los Angeles Jewish Health Foundation. “By sustaining our Pet Therapy Program, as well as our intergenerational music programming, the Steven Ohren Foundation brings meaning, liveliness, and fun to our residents on a daily basis, and we’re thrilled to have their ongoing partnership.” Included in the calendar are photos of the therapy dogs visiting LAJH residents and selected quotes from residents expressing gratitude for their canine friends. “They make us feel alive and useful,” one resident quote says. “They make a lot of people happy and are such a blessing. I can’t get enough of the therapy dogs.” We hope you are as inspired by the Ohren Foundation’s support as we are! If you are interested in receiving a calendar or are interested in supporting LAJH, please email Corey Slavin at [email protected].

A bar or bat mitzvah is a Jewish rite of passage—a coming-of-age ceremony that welcomes young Jews into adulthood and signifies their commitment to taking on new responsibilities. Last month, a joyous and meaningful group adult b’nai mitzvah at Los Angeles Jewish Health marked a different kind of passage, celebrating the wisdom, tenacity, and resilience of 10 seniors as they embrace opportunities for learning and growth in older age. Held at LAJH’s Grancell Village campus, the b’nai mitzvah event, the largest bar and bat mitzvah of skilled nursing residents in LAJH’s history, drew a capacity crowd of several hundred people—friends, relatives, loved ones, and staff who came to support the seniors as they chanted in Hebrew and reflected on their Jewish roots. The residents, who ranged in age from 76-98, were Lois Schindel, Selma Schwartz, Cherie Goodman, Harriet Golden, David Lander, Phyllis Gottlieb, Robert Orgen, Richard Zelle, Jack Schlaifer, and Ilene Cohen. In addition to reading from the Torah, the b’nai mitzvah spoke about their Jewish journeys and about the meaning of their lives over the decades. “I was born into a family that had very conservative Jewish ideas, and girls could not be bat mitzvahed,” Cherie said. “I am proud of who I am and glad today I could enjoy that experience.” Phyllis concurred. “My grandfather was a rabbi in Russia, and my father was quite religious, too,” she said. “Judaism has always been central to my upbringing and family identity. My children were bar and bat mitzvahed, and I thought, ‘Why shouldn’t I do it, too?’ They’re all proud of me, and being a bat mitzvah feels very special.” For Robert, having a bar mitzvah required overcoming significant obstacles. “Judaism means the world to me, but after my stroke, nobody had the time or patience to try to teach me Hebrew until I met with LAJH Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Bender,” he said. “I’ve wanted this more and more every day, and it has fulfilled my dream.” The residents studied with Rabbi Bender for a full year to prepare for the bar and bat mitzvah ceremony. Under her tutelage, they learned to read sacred text, lead prayers, and gain a deeper understanding regarding the significance of the day. “For most of these residents, this was their first time being called to the Torah,” Rabbi Bender said. “At LAJH, not only do we cultivate physical health, we also inspire residents to pursue their dreams and lives filled with purpose and meaning.” Once the residents had read from the Torah and completed their remarks, Ilana Springer, LAJH’s senior vice president of in-residence services, commended them on their extraordinary achievement. “Thank you for inspiring us, and for showing us that there are goals and dreams we all can reach for in our own lives,” she said. “Mazel tov, and we wish you luck in fulfilling your next dream!” Also on hand at the event was LAJH Board Chair Judy Friedman-Rudzki, who presented the new bar and bat mitzvahs with an engraved kiddush cup. The residents received photographs of themselves and a special certificate to commemorate the day, as well. Following the ceremony, residents and guests were treated to a festive reception. But before they broke bread, LAJH CEO and President Dale Surowitz expressed his admiration of the bar and bat mitzvahs’ strength and positivity. “What you have accomplished is absolutely amazing and demonstrates to all of us that age is only a number,” he said. “You are an inspiration to all of us.”