In early March, Montefiore Einstein leaders, supporters, and friends left the cold behind for Palm Beach, Fla., where a series of events showcased some of the organization’s most eminent experts and offered a glimpse into the institution’s ambitious plans for the future.
That future shone even brighter in light of the news just a week earlier that the chair of Einstein’s Board, Ruth L. Gottesman, Ed.D., had made a transformational gift that will provide free tuition in perpetuity for all medical students. Indeed, the excitement was palpable as donors and friends gathered for the week’s largest event, a 200-person luncheon at the Palm Beach Country Club hosted by Einstein Trustees Marilyn and Stanley Katz. The topic of the event was “maintaining a healthy mind as you age.”
“We’ve been celebrating the remarkable leadership and contribution our chair, Ruth Gottesman, has bestowed upon us,” said Dan Tishman, chair of the Montefiore Einstein Board, in his opening remarks.
Several minutes of clapping followed.
Clockwise from top left: Einstein Trustee Melissa Ceriale, Einstein Board Chair Ruth Gottesman, Ed.D., Einstein Vice President of Development Suzanne M. Murphy, Ed.D., and Trudy Schlachter, co-president of Einstein’s Women’s Division; Dr. Ruth Gottesman addresses luncheon attendees at the Palm Beach Country Club; and a panel of Einstein experts discuss brain health, from left: Jonathan E. Alpert, M.D., Ph.D.; Jessica L. Zwerling, M.D., M.S.; Helena M. Blumen, Ph.D., M.S.; and moderator Victor L. Schuster, M.D.
Ruth has eliminated the last barrier of access to medical school, so now it can be about talent and ability and not ability to pay. This gift has the power to unlock a million new Einsteins.
— Dr. Philip O. Ozuah
Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Einstein, spoke passionately about the far-reaching impact of Dr. Gottesman’s generosity. “Ruth has eliminated the last barrier of access to medical school, so now it can be about talent and ability, and not the ability to pay. This gift has the power to unlock a million new Einsteins.”
Dr. Gottesman acknowledged that although this is a special moment in Einstein’s history, the institution still needs philanthropic support for faculty members and capital improvements. The College of Medicine also aims to secure funding to help bridge the more than $30,000 gap between tuition and the full cost of attendance.
Guests at the luncheon received practical tips about ways to keep the brain healthy—think cutting a rug on the dance floor or taking a moment to practice gratitude—from experts Jonathan E. Alpert, M.D., Ph.D.; Helena M. Blumen, Ph.D., M.S.; Jessica L. Zwerling, M.D., M.S.; and moderator Victor L. Schuster, M.D.
The next day, at an intimate gathering hosted by Einstein Trustee Melissa Ceriale billed as “Tea with Tomer,” Yaron Tomer, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, shared his vision for “making Albert Einstein College of Medicine even better.”
A critical aspect of becoming “better” also involves pushing the boundaries of what Einstein can do for patients through research. At a private event hosted by Einstein Trustee Nathan Gantcher and his wife, Alice, Edward Chu, M.D., M.M.S., director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared insights into the remarkable work underway there. Presenter Lindsay M. LaFave, Ph.D., assistant professor of cell biology, described her latest advances in lung cancer research and the impact those discoveries have had on the field.
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