Rooted in Tradition, Driven to Serve: Two Jewish PAs on Faith, Medicine, and Advocacy

How a shared foundation in faith and service has shaped the paths of two Jewish American PAs

May 29, 2025

From post-WWII Brooklyn to the front lines of medicine, Dave Mittman, DMSc (Hon), PA, DFAAPA and Simeon Godick, PA-C, have dedicated their lives and careers to healing, advocacy, and service to the community. Though their paths into the physician associate (PA) profession were vastly different, they attribute their callings as PAs to a shared foundation in Judaism and a commitment to the principle of tikkun olam – the Jewish commandment to repair the world.

A Shared Foundation in Faith and Family
Both men grew up in Jewish households in Brooklyn, shaped by the legacy of the Holocaust and the strength of close-knit communities. Mittman was raised by a World War II veteran who instilled in him the belief that all people are created equal. Mittman says his upbringing during the civil rights era helped shape a lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and advocacy.

Godick, a practicing Orthodox Jew and Rabbi, lives and works in Borough Park, Brooklyn, where generations of Holocaust survivors settled and built community. For Godick, Judaism is not just a spiritual identity, it is a cultural and professional framework that influences how he cares for his patients and engages with the world.

Two Very Different Paths to the PA Profession
Mittman’s journey into medicine was unconventional. While studying pre-law at Queens College, he drew number two in the Vietnam War draft lottery. Hoping to complete his degree, he joined the Air Force Reserves. During a visit to a Naval testing center, a military officer — upon learning of his Jewish background — remarked, “Jews make great doctors, so you, my friend, are going to be a medic.” What began as an act of stereotyping became a pivotal and lifechanging moment for Mittman.

He trained as a medic and was later stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, where he met several PAs and was drawn to their patient-focused, team-based approach to medical care. Their careers and commitment to service inspired him, and he later applied to the Long Island University PA program and became the first PA ever granted practice privileges in the Air Force Reserves.

Godick’s medical career began with his volunteer service in Emergency Medical Services, where he found a calling in frontline care. After working as a paramedic, he entered primary care as a PA. However, Godick quickly realized he missed the fast-paced nature of emergency medicine. For the past 11 years, he has split his time between primary care and emergency medicine, maintaining active clinical roles in both.

Serving the Jewish Community Through Medicine
Both men dedicated significant portions of their careers to serving Jewish populations in Brooklyn.

When Godick is not working in the emergency department at Mount Sinai Health System on Staten Island, he practices primary care in Borough Park, a predominantly Hasidic neighborhood where Yiddish is the primary language, and at times medical skepticism runs deep. Many of his patients are descendants of Holocaust survivors, and as a provider who shares their faith and language, he is uniquely positioned to build trust and deliver care with cultural sensitivity. He treats multiple generations of families and regularly receives heartfelt notes of appreciation from his patients.

Similarly, Mittman’s early practice years provided meaningful opportunities to care for and build trust within newly arriving Jewish communities in Brooklyn. In the late 1970s, Brooklyn became home to thousands of recently released Jewish-Russian immigrants from the Soviet Union.

Many spoke little English and held deep mistrust of Western medicine. While some physicians refused to treat them, Mittman stepped forward to treat patients of all backgrounds. Working with interpreters, he provided care with limited patient history, relying on intuition, empathy, and diagnostic skill. Reflecting on that period of time, Mittman shares that he felt it was his duty to see these patients, and he is thankful for the experience and how it taught him to be resourceful when treating patients. This is an invaluable skill he carries with him to this day.

Living the Values of Tikkun Olam
Throughout their careers, both men have embodied the Jewish principle of tikkun olam through public service and volunteerism.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Godick was a key volunteer with a group known as CPR (COVID Plasma Rescue). He coordinated antibody treatments for severely ill patients, arranged plasma donations, and helped secure vaccines for at-risk populations. He continues to volunteer as a paramedic, driven by the belief that stepping in during moments of crisis is both a moral and professional responsibility.

Mittman has spent decades advocating for PA practice rights across the country. One of his proudest moments came in 1978, when he organized “The March on Trenton,” a rally that brought over 500 PAs to the New Jersey state capital to demand legal recognition. Inspired by the message of Passover: “Let my people go,” the March on Trenton echoed this call by chanting “Let my people practice.” Just over a year later, New Jersey became the 49th state to authorize PA practice. The success of that march demonstrated what is possible when PAs raise their collective voice, showing that the PA profession can have a lasting impact on healthcare policy. That same spirit of advocacy and determination has defined Mittman’s leadership ever since.

Leading, Teaching, and Asking “Why?”
Mittman has held nearly every leadership position in the profession. He served as vice president of his PA class, president of the New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA), and president of AAPA in 2020. He’s also been on the AAPA Board of Directors twice, 30 years apart, and co-founded PAs for Tomorrow — an organization dedicated to advocating for the professional needs of PAs and educating physicians, administrators, and policymakers about the value of PAs in healthcare, particularly in addressing the primary care crisis. Today, Mittman also teaches PA advocacy at the doctoral level at the University of Lynchburg.

Godick continues to lead through direct care, providing critical services in both emergency and primary care settings. What he values most about the PA profession is its flexibility, the ability to straddle specialties, meet patients where they are, and tailor care to each moment.

A Shared Purpose
Today, both Mittman and Godick continue to serve not only their patients, but their communities and profession. Mittman remains a voice for equality and advancement in PA policy, while Godick balances clinical work, volunteerism, and raising six children alongside his wife.

Their stories are distinct, but their impact is united. As PAs — and as Jewish Americans — they exemplify how a person’s faith, desire to serve, and a commitment to healing can shape lives, professions, and entire communities.

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