Alum Inspires Campus with Research Day Talk
DO Graduate Earns Inaugural Alumni Researcher of the Year Award
A nationally recognized medical radiology educator at a major New York City research institution returned to campus this spring to help inspire today’s students as they navigate the early stages of scholarly research.
Dr. Jonathan Revels, DO Class of 2012, offered the keynote address during Research Day activities April 23 on the Touro University California (TUC) campus. He was presented with the University’s first Alumni Researcher of the Year award.
Revels while on campus took part in a private tour to see all that’s new to the University.
Dr. Tami Hendriksz, who serves as Campus Provost and Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, described the keynote address by Revels as “inspiring” while praising his continued connection to TUC’s mission.
Her praise extended to all those involved.
“The presentations, posters, and thoughtful discussions were a powerful reminder of the brilliance, curiosity, and compassion that fuel our work here at Touro,” Hendriksz said.
A Pathway to Sustained Research
Revels during his presentation shared the foundations of scholarship, spoke of his research journey, and offered a pathway for students to collaborate on and lead research that yields published results. He emphasized that incremental research – building on one’s prior work to take research to the next level – is a strategy he’s found successful.
“First and foremost, always choose projects that you are passionate about,” Revels said. “When you care deeply about the topic, it’s so much easier to stay motivated and even when the work gets hard or things don’t go as planned, you can still be passionate about it. That excitement will carry you through the ups and the downs and make the whole experience more meaningful and a lot more fun.”
Revels has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 95 oral and poster presentations at national conferences. He is also a recipient of the Radiological Society of North America's Honored Educator Award.
Happy to Return to Campus
Revels was last on campus around the time he graduated. He had high praise after taking a tour of his alma mater, to include the renovated Truett Hall and its classrooms dedicated to teaching future medical professionals.
As for the recognition?
“It’s surreal because, thinking about where I was 17 years ago stepping on campus in 2008, to now 2025, I just could not have imagined all the things I’ve been lucky enough to participate in and accomplish, and I will say a lot of that is because of the foundational knowledge that I gained here at Touro,” Revels said.
Revels is an Associate Professor at New York University.