David Cohn, M.D., B.A.’75

A New Direction

By Carol Olechowski

David Cohn, son of an 89-year-old World War II veteran, believes “all people have a right to good health care, and veterans have clearly earned it.” Through Locum Tenens, a program that allows him to work “wherever I choose, for as long as I want, depending on availability,” he’s doing his part to provide that care at the Saranac Lake and Westport, N.Y., Veterans Administration (VA) clinics.

Board-certified in internal medicine with an emphasis on geriatrics, Cohn is a University of Miami School of Medicine graduate. He offered “primary care for all adults” at Jacobs and Cohn, M.D., P.A., in Miami, then worked solo at the practice until it merged with Elite Healthcare. Ties to UAlbany and family, and memories of summer camp at Schroon Lake, drew him to the North Country.

At the VA clinic, staff treat physical ailments and “a lot of mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A good support system, with social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, is available to help the vets,” notes Cohn, who sees five to 10 patients daily.

Cohn credits Albany – “the best school that accepted me” – with “making me a better person and therefore a better, more caring physician.” He majored in psychology and minored in math, played JV and varsity baseball, and was involved with Albany Men’s Intramural Athletics (AMIA). Cohn, who has taught medical professionals and trainees, recalls “various psych courses and statistics” and the examples of math professor Richard Hornblower, “who always encouraged me towards a career in medicine, and my other mentor, Robert Hicks, who taught psychology.”

Remembering “those who contributed to me,” Cohn supports UAlbany with donations “mostly for the baseball team.” He returns to Albany for the yearly alumni baseball game and remains a close friend of former intramural adviser Denny Elkin.