NYU Langone Medical Center raised more than $1.6 million at its annual Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala held Wednesday, October 21, at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
The event, attended by over 450 guests, honored H. Leon Pachter, MD, the George David Stewart Professor of Surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery at NYU Langone.
Dr. Pachter specializes in minimally invasive surgical treatments for diseases of the adrenal gland, including pancreatic cancer, one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Dr. Pachter has dedicated his life to the wellbeing of his many patients, the advancement of surgery through research, and the training of his students. By introducing innovations in minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Pachter has played a key role in making NYU Langone’s surgical service one of the finest in the country.
“Beloved by his patients and by their families, Leon Pachter is revered across NYU Langone and around the world for his skill as a surgeon,” said Robert I. Grossman, MD, the Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO of NYU Langone, in his opening remarks. “He is also a profoundly committed educator who has trained surgeons who are now leaders all over the country. His work earns him endless accolades—most recently, the 2015 fellowship award from the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, for his efforts to diversify his department and seminal contributions to surgery. And tonight we are pleased to announce that a number of Leon’s friends and grateful patients have made contributions to create the H. Leon Pachter Professorship in Surgery.”
Each year, the Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala is held to celebrate the dedication of its physicians, scientists, nurses, and other medical staff. Funds raised at the gala support the center’s continued excellence in patient care, research, education, and prevention. In addition to the flagship Manhattan location, the Perlmutter Cancer Center has numerous sites throughout New York City and Long Island.
Lori Fink, chair of both the event and of the Perlmutter Cancer Center Advisory Board, and a trustee of NYU Langone, greeted the audience and said, “As in years past, I am humbled to thank each of you for your support of the awe-inspiring Perlmutter Cancer Center. We have a ways to go, but every single day we are learning more about cancer and devising new ways to treat it. With the dedication of our doctors and scientists, and with your support, I know that—in the not too distant future—our horizons will change. Tonight, I hope that we can truly celebrate that fact.”
Patient speaker Billy Rapaport shared his story about how Dr. Pachter saved his life from Stage 4 colon cancer. “Dr. Pachter reminded me to live my life. I took his advice and took on more projects during treatment. In a way, the work that I did during that time seemed even more meaningful. And thanks to him, I’m doing as he told me and living my life each and every day.”
Those in attendance included: Belinda Badcock, Phyllis Putter Barasch, Ellen Block, Susan Block Casdin, Cassandra Butts, Elisabeth Cohen, MD, Lori and Larry Fink, Ken and Elaine Langone, Thomas H. Lee, Laurie and Ike Perlmutter, Ricardo Scofidio and Elizabeth Diller, Debora and Jes Staley, and Beatrice Welters.
Photo credit (L-R): 1) Lori Fink and Laurie Perlmutter attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NYU Langone Medical Center). 2 ) Lori Fink and Phyllis Putter Barasch attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NYU Langone Medical Center). 3 ) Kenneth Langone, Dr. Hersch Leon Pachter and Robert I. Grossman attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NYU Langone Medical Center). 4) Kenneth Langone, Dr. Hersch Leon Pachter Lori Fink and Robert I. Grossman attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NYU Langone Medical Center). 5) Dr. Ben Neel, Lori Fink and Robert I. Grossman attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NYU Langone Medical Center). 6 ) Ricardo Scofidio and Elizabeth Diller attend NYU Langone Medical Center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 21, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jay Brady Photography)
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