The Last Lecture

Edited by Rabbi Neil Fleischmann

Over the last three and a half years, I have attended Touro’s clinical PsyD program in Manhattan. This program prepares aspiring psychologists to become adept researchers and clinicians. Next week our beloved professor, Dr. Louis H. Primavera, known by many as “Dr. P.,” will be retiring from his tenure at Touro. Before our program says goodbye to Dr. P., I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and admiration for his outstanding 57-year career in psychology.

At Touro Dr. P. taught statistics and research design to first-year students. Dr. P. also provided dozens of students assistance on their independent research projects. Many PsyD students prefer to learn exclusively about therapy and have slim interest in statistics or research courses. In addition, many PsyD students have concerns about passing statistics and research courses. Yet, Dr. P. made these dreaded courses exciting and manageable. His classes featured memorable stories and life lessons. His office hours had no limits. Most important of all, Dr. P.’s dedication to students showed me and my classmates what it means to be a true class act.

In all of Dr. P.’s classes students learn about his turbulent journey to becoming a psychologist. In his early 20s, Dr. P. had tried college twice and dropped out both times. “It was too hard and I didn’t want to do it,” is how he summed up that time. However, encouragement from his beloved wife inspired him to give college another try. And this time something clicked. Young Dr. P. went on to finish college and to be admitted to a PhD program in psychology.

Dr. P. shares his educational challenges for two reasons. First, to help students understand that success in graduate school comes with hard work and perseverance. He said, with the truth-telling credibility earned in the school of hard knocks, “It’s not about being brilliant; you just have to keep at it, and I’m here to help you learn how to keep at it.” The man who, at first, struggled to complete college went on to become a statistics expert with over 100 research publications.

Dr. P. also shares this story to express gratitude for his beloved wife. “If it wasn’t for her,” he said sincerely, I never would have gone back to school, and I’d never have become a psychologist. I owe everything to her.” Over the course of my life, I have never heard anyone admire and cherish his spouse more than Dr. P.

In the classroom Dr. P. loved to share clinical and research-related stories. During one memorable story he reflected on a heroin addiction group therapy meeting he observed. During the therapy meeting, its leader asked group members a striking question: “What do you guys think of heroin?” All group members offered similar responses. “It’s awful, terrible, etc.” The therapist provided an unexpected reply: “It’s not terrible; it’s amazing. I used to do heroin. and loved it. It’s the best feeling in the world. But, it’s just not worth it.” This powerful story offered tremendous insight about group therapy for individuals struggling with substance use.

Outside of the classroom Dr. P. went above and beyond for students. He held nightly office hours on Zoom to help students better understand classroom material. In these Zoom meetings Dr. P. went at each student’s pace and patiently repeated himself several times for clarification. One time I asked him about his schedule. “Dr. P., other professors have office hours once a week. Why do you give us so much of your time?” A smile the size of Texas erupted across his face. “Yosef, my job is not just to teach you, but to make sure you get the material. I want all my students to pass and be successful.”

During conversations with students and faculty Dr. P. always wears a warm and welcoming smile. He loves to schmooze and has an endless supply of stories and jokes. In my opinion he would be the best person to sit next to on an airplane because he is so very warm and interesting.

In private conversations Dr. P also provides invaluable personal and professional guidance: “Yosef, you always have to put family first. No matter how alluring a job or conference may be, always check in with your wife. Always make time for your children. Publishing papers and books is nice, but being there for family always takes precedence.”

In his 57-year career, Dr. P. taught at four PsyD/PhD psychology programs and helped over 200 students write their dissertations. Dr. P. has also worked as a statistics expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering for 13 years. He drove around and trained with the co-creator of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dr. Albert Ellis. Dr. P. has written over 100 research publications and several books. But if you ask him about his greatest accomplishment, he will say, “that I’m a proud father of two kids and grandfather to two grandchildren, and that I am married to an amazing woman.” He would also add, “I am pleased that I followed in my father’s footsteps and treat everyone with dignity and respect.”

To our dear professor, we wish you and your family immense health and success. We hope to one day become true mensches and family men and women as you have so gracefully done.

You will be missed.

Your PsyD students at Touro