Sometimes you meet someone who has defied all of the odds, confronted bias and hatred, and made it through to become incredibly strong and successful. Dr. Susan Levit is just such a person. I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Levit about her amazing life and her new book, Susanna: Journey to my Dream.
Dr. Susan Levit’s inspiring journey began in a small Soviet town and has spanned four continents. She explained that she believes she was genetically preconditioned to become a doctor. During her childhood she was surrounded by her parents and her siblings, who were all doctors. She described being around the dinner table listening to them tell stories and jokes about their lives as doctors and realizing that to her, nothing was as exciting as medicine. It was as natural as eating and sleeping.
Dr. Levit began medical school in the former Soviet Union. The horrific realities of communism and anti-Semitism prompted an exodus to Israel, where she completed her education. This was challenging, as she did not speak Hebrew, but had to learn. She served in the Israeli army as a doctor, and when her husband was asked to work in Africa as a civil engineer, she moved to Africa where she continued to work as a medical doctor. She specializes in internal medicine and there she treated the local people as well as the expatriate community.
When asked what her biggest obstacle in life has been, she didn’t hesitate to answer: Anti-Semitism.
Dr. Susan Levit lived in a world that held her nationality against her. Every obstacle was constructed to make life more difficult. While in Israel, she had to learn Hebrew and English. Whether it was holding medical school lectures and exams solely in Hebrew, which was not her first language, or shaming her for leaving the communist Soviet Union to make a better life, Dr. Susan Levit dealt with it.
Dr. Levit learned Hebrew and English. She finished medical school despite all odds. Susanna found herself fighting in the Yom Kippur War. She lived through a coup d’état in turbulent Africa. Then, she finally arrived at Lady Liberty’s shores.
What stopped her from just giving up? She explained that she never even had the thought of giving up. She didn’t have any choice, she needed to succeed.
And succeed she did. Dr. Susan Levit was awarded with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She considers this the pinnacle of her success and recognition for her contribution to American society. A girl from a small Soviet town had become the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award given to those who became inspired by the American dream, and fully realized it.
This incredibly elegant woman credits her father and husband as her biggest inspiration in life. They held her high and believed in her, and they knew she had the ability to succeed. When asked what the hardest thing she has ever had to do in her life, her answer was to raise children to be successful and good members of society. Dr. Levit considers both of her children her crowning jewel and greatest accomplishment, with both being highly successful. Her response to my question, regarding if she still believes in the American Dream echoes the message her son, Dr. Eyal Levit, also shared with me:
Yes, she does still believe in the American Dream. She advises to believe in your dream, persevere and achieve.
Dr. Susan Levit’s book, Susanna: Journey to my Dream, is a fascinating story of perseverance that follows her family’s astonishing rise, spanning three generations, four continents, and three wars. It is available in English on Amazon.com and in Russian on Lulu.com, Dr. Susan Levit Stremlenie kmechte.
Dr. Susan Levit’s goal is to influence by personal example; specifically to influence a new generation by personal example. She believes that if you want something strongly enough, and you work to achieve it, it will not only be a dream, but a reality.
