On Sunday December 7,2014  Dr. Fichman , a pioneering Ophthalmologist and chairman of the board of directors at Upper Albany Main Street and Upper Albany Development , Inc. received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Hartford. Dr. Fichman who also delivered the commencement address, told graduates and guests about his family’s deep roots in Hartford’s Upper Albany neighborhood. He further stated he was devastated last year because the community has felt on hard times. While listening to Dr. Fichman you can hear the passion he has for the community and   despite the poverty he sees his home town neighborhood filled with sweet, kind ,loving and spiritual people. He emphasized that what he wants for the community is for individuals to have the same opportunities – nothing more, and nothing less. It is this zeal that led him to begin a scholarship program for the neighborhood youth who will have an opportunity to attend the University of  Hartford. Also he has consistently been mentoring students who shadowed him through the U Of H Micro Business Incubator program.

As an active businessman with a state -of -the- art Eye Center in the Upper Albany neighborhood , he has pushed for a state- run streetscape improvement project and a facade program to clean up some of the buildings in the neighborhood. During his closing remarks he congratulated the university in creating the Handel Performing Arts Center , which has help to change the face of the community and provided hope for the people. Although Dr. Fichman works behind the scenes he was recognized for community building by the following:

• Community Involvement Champion (2014) by Metro-Hartford Alliance and the Hartford Business Journal
• Connecticut Business Man of the Year (2013) by Connecticut Main Street Society.

To learn more about Dr. Fichman log on to Upper Albany  Main Street Website.