FOCUSED ON GREAT MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI Dr. · PDF fileFOCUSED ON GREAT MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI Our Doctors ... orbit and spine. After ... invasive neurosurgery and image-guided

FOCUSED ON GREAT MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI

Our Doctors

S U M M I T F E B R U A R Y 2 011

Dr. Allen Bernard Kantrowitz became

chief of the Division of Neurosurgery

in August 2010. Prior to joining Mount

Sinai’s medical staff, he was the associate

chief of Neurosurgery at New York Methodist

Hospital. He previously was an attending

neurosurgeon at Berkshire Medical Center

in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A graduate of

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr.

Kantrowitz received his medical degree at

the University of Michigan in Ann

Arbor. He completed his training

in neurosurgery at Mount

Sinai Medical Center in New

York, one of the pioneering

centers of microneurosurgery

of the brain, pituitary

gland, orbit and spine. After

completing his residency, Dr. Kantrowitz

was named attending neurosurgeon and co-

director of the New York Center for Cranial

Base Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center

in New York. Board-certified in neurosurgery,

Dr. Kantrowitz holds several U.S. patents for

developing medical devices for minimally

invasive neurosurgery and image-guided

neurosurgery, hospital patient safety,

percutaneous skin access and infection

control, and other specialties.

Dr. Kantrowitz’s new position

marks his return to South

Florida. He previously was

an attending neurosurgeon

at Mount Sinai, as well as

the Miami Heart Institute.

S U M M I T

MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATIONEstablished as the fundraising arm of Mount Sinai Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation is supported by a donor base of more than 13,500 individuals and corporations. It is the umbrella organization for the Society of Mount Sinai, the Founders, Young Founders, Young Presidents Club, The Cancer Lifeline, Cardiac Lifeline and Ambassadors of the Wien Center. For more information, please call 305-674-2777.

MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTERMount Sinai Medical Center is South Florida’s largest, private, independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital. Quality, comprehensive care is provided in a wide array of medical specialties, including cardiology, cardiac surgery, geriatric medicine, oncology, diagnostic imaging, Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders, pulmonary medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and bariatric surgery. For physician referral, call 305-674-CARE (2273).

4300 Alton Road • Miami Beach, FL 33140msmcfoundation.org

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAIDMIAMI, FL

PERMIT NO. 161

@We’re Updating Our E-mail Address Contact List!In today’s digital world, we are relying more and more on communicating via e-mail. Invitations to Foundation events and updates from the medical center will be coming to your inbox, so please add our e-mail address ([email protected]) to your list of accepted e-mail addresses or your address book. That way, you’ll always be in touch with your Foundation family!

Call 305.674.2777 or email [email protected] to give us your current e-mail address.

Let Us Know Your E-mail Address Today!


Our Doctors

Candace Ruskin and Linda Zilber trying on jewelry at the President’s Council Luncheon

SATURDAY, MARCH 5YPC / YF Sexy Saturday Night

MOKAI Nightclub9 – 11:30 p.m.

YPC & Young Founders

SUNDAY, APRIL 10Foundation Family Day

Jungle Island10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Open to all

Mark Your Calendar

For more information, please call the Foundation at 305-674-2777.

FOUNDATION 2011

Nancy Lifter-Wolin and Shayna Sirkin at the Founders dinner at STK

CELEBRATIONThe Founders

FEATURING THE MUSIC OF MOTOWN

DID YOU REMEMBER TO RSVP?

Don’t Miss This Opportunity to Enjoy the Groovy Vibes, Fab Food and All the Fun

of a Wonderful Night to Remember!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 7 P.M.

FONTAINEBLEAU RESORT MIAMI BEACH

For more information, please call the Foundation at 305-674-2777

or visit www.msmcfoundation.org to RSVP online.

Harold Menowitz (seated) with (left to right) Fred Menowitz and Dr. Stuart Kaplan, section chief of breast imaging at the newly named Menowitz Comprehensive Breast Center.

Jason Loeb, Leslie Wolfson and Scott Wagner at the Young Presidents Club Season Opener at ICON Brickell

Lila & Harold Menowitz moments before the start of the reception in their honor

THURSDAY, MARCH 10Founders Supper BuffetGeorge and Marla Bergmann

Founders Dining Room6 p.m.

Founders & Young Founders

Mount Sinai Names Comprehensive Breast Center in Honor of Lila & Harold Menowitz

MOUNT SINAI

A newsletter for the friends of Mount Sinai Medical Center

msmcfoundation.org FEBRUARY 2011

S U M M I T

Steven D. SonenreichPresident & Chief Executive Officer

Michael M. AdlerChairman, Board of Trustees

Mark H. HildebrandtPresident, Foundation

Making Great Advancements With Your Continued Support

Philanthropy has always been an important part of the history of Mount Sinai Medical Center. We are here today because of the foresight and

generosity of our original Founders and we remain strong because of the continued support of the many donors and lay leaders who embrace our mission today.

In this issue of Summit, we feature two events that illustrate the impact of your philanthropy. The first appears on the cover and in the magazine’s center spread, where we pay tribute to Lila and Harold Menowitz by naming our Comprehensive Breast Center in their honor. The second event pays tribute to Sheila and the late Alfred Wohl, whose commitment to community health is evident by their family’s support of the hospital.

At the heart of everything we accomplish is the awareness that our donors play a significant role in our success. With your support, we are beginning this New Year on solid financial footing and with a string

of significant milestones, including:

patients at our Mount Sinai Key Biscayne satellite center and residents of north Miami-Dade and southeast Broward counties have the benefit of our freestanding emergency room, as well as our physician office and diagnostic center.

• Focusing on our mission and managing our resources to maintain financial stability. Increases in inpatient admissions and emergency department visits, as well as cardiac and other services have helped us achieve a positive financial margin that we expect will continue to improve in the months ahead.

• Embarking on a multiyear effort to implement an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system throughout our medical center, satellite facilities and physician practices. The EHR will further enhance patient care and patient safety.

As you can see great things are happening at Mount Sinai. We hope you join us in looking forward to an exciting year, as we move ahead with more initiatives that reflect our mission provide high quality health care to our diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care and financial responsibility.

• Being named one of America’s Best Hospitals for geriatric care for the fourth consecutive year by U.S.News & World Report.

• Receiving Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide.

• Providing more than $90 million in charitable and uncompensated care for our community’s uninsured and under insured in 2010.

• Continuing to invest in tomorrow’s doctors today by training 160 residents and fellows in 18 medical specialties at a cost of more than $20 million.

• Conducting ground-breaking research to gain a better understanding of the causes of human disease and give our patients access to new treatment options before they become available to the public.

• Expanding into Coral Gables and Hialeah to serve more communities. Mount Sinai cardiologists are available at our new Hialeah satellite, while the Coral Gables satellite features a diagnostic cardiac catheterization lab and a sleep studies center. In addition, we are continuing to serve

Steven D. Sonenreich, Michael M. Adler and Mark H. Hildebrandt

Mount Sinai Receives Private Grant to Support Special Needs Dentistry

Our cover celebrates Harold and Lila Menowitz and their generosity in supporting our comprehensive breast center, which recently was named in their honor. Pages 10 and 11 in this issue of Summit feature the dedication of the Lila and Harold Menowitz Comprehensive Breast Center and the state-of-the-art SPECT-CT that will help in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

2 | S U M M I T F E B R U A R Y 2 011 w w w . m s m c f o u n d a t i o n . o r gSupporting Mount Sinai Medical Center in its mission: To provide high quality health care to our diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care and financial responsibility.

A Sarasota, Florida-based foundation has awarded Mount Sinai Medical Center a $100,000 grant to support its special needs dentistry program for developmentally disabled patients. The Special Day Foundation grant will enable Mount Sinai to continue providing a much-needed service that most hospitals forgo because of the expense.

“Special needs patients have medical, physical, psychological or social disorders that leave them unable or unwilling to practice proper oral hygiene,” said Rafael Urbino, D.M.D., whose practice includes special needs dentistry. “They cannot brush their own

teeth and, therefore, have an extremely high rate of oral disease and they frequently will not allow you to treat them.”

While most people might consider a trip to the dentist for a cleaning and X-rays little more than a small inconvenience, it’s a greater challenge for the developmentally disabled. Many require treatment in an operating room while under sedation or general anesthesia – often for more than two hours at a time. Patients may require an exam and X-rays, followed by as many as 20 fillings and extraction of wisdom teeth – all in one procedure.

Compounding the problem is that most special needs patients receive Medicaid because they are unable to support themselves – and Medicaid reimbursements are not enough to cover the cost of the general anesthesia and hospitalization.

“Every case we perform is a loss to the hospital,” Dr. Urbino said. “None of what we do can be accomplished without our amazing

anesthesiology and OR staff – and our chief of Dentistry, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and chief of Oral Surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Blum, have been very supportive. The Special Day Foundation grant will help keep the doors of access open to special needs patients.”

Representatives of the Special Day Foundation visited the hospital and met with key players involved in the program before awarding the grant. The funding will enable Mount Sinai to continue providing in-hospital care to 125 patients.

“Our mission is to enrich the lives of special needs children and adults through nature-based opportunities in recreation/social experiences and specialized dental services, one special day at a time, and the special needs dentistry program at Mount Sinai falls within our mission,” said Reilly Campbell, the foundation’s program and community relations coordinator. “We are proud and thankful to be associated with these wonderful, caring people.”

ABOUT THE COVER

Dr. Rafael Urbino with Sheila Galera and her daughter, Marissa, shortly before Marissa goes into the operating room for dental care.

More than three decades ago, Sheila Wohl

became a Founder of Mount Sinai Medical Center.Through the years, her commitment to Mount Sinai has never wavered – she remains a dedicated member of the hospital’s philanthropic family.

Like many donors, Wohl’s association with Mount Sinai began out of gratitude for the care and support she received from the hospital. She credits Jamie Barkin, M.D., chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, with helping her to have a very positive experience at Mount Sinai.

“Dr. Barkin did a lot to help me,” she said. “Once in the middle of the night I was experiencing terrible pain, and he came to my rescue.”

Wohl joined the Founders Club in 1992 and she became a Member in the Society of Mount Sinai in 2003. Her most recent gift in July of 2010 elevated her to the level of Humanitarian in the Society of Mount Sinai. She also has reached out to friends and neighbors and encouraged them to follow her lead. Dr. Donald L. Golden, whose family made a major gift to the hospital in 2009, is among those who have been motivated by Wohl’s enthusiasm.

“Sheila’s record of support for Mount Sinai is truly commendable,” said Steven D. Sonenreich, Mount Sinai’s president and chief executive officer. “We are deeply honored that she trusts Mount Sinai with her health care needs and that she embraces our mission to give everyone access to health care when they need it most, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The medical center recently paid tribute to Wohl and her late husband, Alfred, by recognizing them at the entrance of the Mount Sinai campus. They were honored during a special dedication on Tuesday, November 23 (see story, page 15). In addition, the Wohl’s photo is displayed on the Legacy Circle wall in the lobby of the de Hirsch Meyer Tower, in honor of their planned gift to Mount Sinai.

Although Wohl appreciates the recognition, she explained that her support of the hospital stems from a desire to give back to a community that has given so much to her.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have a wonderful husband who left me in a position that I could live a very good life, and I can’t believe that you could have so much and not support worthy causes in our community,” she said.

Summit ProfileSHEILA WOHL Shares from the Heart

Sheila WohlAt a Glance

Society of Mount Sinai Humanitarian Founders Club

The Cancer Lifeline

A graduate of Syracuse University and Brooklyn Law School, Alfred Wohl was an attorney and a real estate developer. The Brickell Townhouse – the very first high-rise built on Brickell Avenue – was among his numerous projects. “He was an impressive man – a wonderful person,” Wohl said of her husband, who passed away in 1986.

The Wohls began their lives together after meeting through mutual friends – Sheila was in her second year at Syracuse University at the time and Alfred had recently left the military. Married for 38 years, the couple had three children: Michael, a partner in Pinnacle Housing Group in Miami, Sunshine, who works in holistic health care in Vermont, and John, a gifted ballet dancer who passed away in 1986.

The Wohl children and grandchildren follow the same tradition of giving that their parents extolled, and all have embraced their parents’ legacy of philanthropy and service. Sunshine and her son, Josh Rubin, Michael and his wife, Betty, along with their children, Allan and Heather, are members of the Founders Club.

“You give whatever you can afford to give,” Wohl said, reflecting on the lessons she learned as a child and continues to hold as guiding principles. “Whether it’s toys for underprivileged children or money for the poor, you give to support those who are less fortunate.”

w w w . m s m c f o u n d a t i o n . o r g F E B R U A R Y 2 011 S U M M I T | 3Supporting Mount Sinai Medical Center in its mission: To provide high quality health care to our diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care and financial responsibility.

Children

Sunshine WohlFounders Club

Michael & Betty Wohl

Founders Club

Grandchildren

Josh RubinFounders Club

Allan WohlFounders Club

Heather Wohl Founders Club

WANT TO SEE MORE PHOTOS? VISIT OUR PHOTO GALLERY AT WWW.MSMCFOUNDATION.ORG.


The opening supper buffet of the season gave Founders the opportunity to meet Allen Kantrowitz, M.D., Mount Sinai’s new chief of neurosurgery. Dr. Kantrowitz,

the evening’s guest speaker, shared the latest news and advances in neurosurgery during the gathering, which took place on Tuesday, November 9, in the George and Marla Bergmann Founders Dining Room. The evening included a surprise announcement from Founders Co-Chair Jay Parker, whose twin sons, Shilo and Kaden, were born one day earlier at Mount Sinai. Special thanks to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for providing the evening’s wonderful refreshments.

Founders Supper Buffet Spotlights Neurosurgery

Michael Milberg, Foundation executive director, Jay Parker and Jonathan Beloff, Founders co-chairs, and Mark H. Hildebrandt, Foundation president Stephen Riemer & Laurie Novick Marisue Beloff, Richard & Meme Alhadeff

Leonard A. Wien Jr., Dr. Robert Goldszer, senior vice president and chief medical officer, and Barbara Wien Isabel May with Herbert & Madeline Hillsberg and Roslyn Richelson Marilyn & David Zinn

Steven D. Sonenreich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Kantrowitz, Chief of Neurosurgery, Jonathan Beloff, Erin & Michael Yavner

Arthur Unger, Barry Gould, Joan & Leonard Hayet Shirley Schiff with Dr. Philip and Carole Samet and Rabbi Solomon Schiff

Dr. Allen Krantrowitz demonstrates the principles of treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus, a treatable cause of dementia.

Dr. Laurie Blach and Melissa Rubin Kevin Gerhardstein, Dr. David Lang and Dr. John Burger Lana Zhuk, Josephine Percy and Larisa Elenskaya



Ted & Rosalie Pincus with Dr. Jodi Stoner

Wendy & A. Jeffrey Barash Jacopo Biasion, Federica Boccalari and Jay Parker Norma & Morton Steele

Trudy Herdocia, Howard Scott, Maria Pacheco Ethel and Honorable Seymour Roth Betty Madigan-Brandt, Shirley Harris, Martha Mishcon and Josephine Baker

Toby Levin and Arlene Schnell Hildine & Jerome Potashnick Joy & Judge J. Fred Malakoff

Marjorie Lipsky and Warren Liebman

Dr. Allen Kantrowitz during his presentation on advances in neurosurgery

Elizabeth Tur & Terry Franzen Anne Louise Harms and Maria Paulsen



Jamie Barkin, M.D., is Keynote Speaker During President’s Council LuncheonMembers of the newly established President’s Council enjoyed a delightful luncheon on Friday,

November 12, in the George and Marla Bergmann Founders Meeting Room. The council, whose membership includes representatives from The Cancer Lifeline (TCL), Cardiac Lifeline and the

Ambassadors of the Wien Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders, dined on a lovely buffet and celebrated their longstanding support of Mount Sinai. Linda Zilber, a past TCL president and the current president of the Ambassadors, introduced the luncheon’s guest speaker, Jamie Barkin, M.D., chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology. Steven D. Sonenreich, president and chief executive officer, also addressed the group. The afternoon also included a fun-filled raffle and a colorful marketplace, where vendors sold beautiful jewelry, wraps, make-up and more. Special thanks to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for providing the champagne to create fabulous mimosas that flowed throughout the event.

Shirley Vance, Linda Zilber, Diane Halpryn, Dr. Jamie Barkin, Dede Cohen, Martha Mishcon and Hildine Potashnick Steven D. Sonenreich and Lila Menowitz Lois Lewin, Esther Belfer and Andrea Ruskin Nitzberg

Candace Ruskin, Kimberly Mendelson and Donna Bloom Isabel May wins the Boyd’s Cosmetics prize!

Steven D. Sonenreich, president and CEO, with Dr. Jamie Barkin, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology

Former WPLG Channel 10 head news anchor Dwight Lauderdale was among the many people to lend their support to Mount Sinai’s new Text SHARE Campaign.

A respected journalist and a member of Mount Sinai’s Advisory Board of Trustees, Dwight joined members of the Foundation’s family and grateful patients to participate in television public service announcements to promote the campaign. Special thanks to Dwight, along with Jay & Laura Parker, Sam Caliri, Mark & Amanda Tamis,Taige Adderly, Kerri Reiter-Sanders, Dr. Rafael Urbino, Jon and Mari Sue Beloff, Mark H. Hildebrandt and Carlene Toney for being part of the campaign!

Have you made the call? Simply text the word SHARE to 27722 to make a $10 contribution to the hospital and the gift will be added to their cell phone bill (message and data rates may apply).

Mount Sinai Brings out the Star Power to launch its Text SHARE Campaign

Meme Alhadeff, Norma Orovitz and Darla Karlton Madeline & Herbert Hillsberg with Linda Zilber

Top row: Former WPLG Channel 10

news anchor Dwight Lauderdale, Jay & Laura Parker, Sam Caliri Middle row: Amanda & Mark Tamis, Taige Adderly, Kerri Reiter-Sanders,

Dr. Rafael Urbino, Mari Sue & Jon Beloff with their family Bottom row: Mark H. Hildebrandt, Carlene Toney

The Sh@re CampaignSTAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FOUNDATION FAMILY! VISIT WWW.MSMCFOUNDATION.ORG

It’s all about passion, persistence and believing in your causeFor the second consecutive year, Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation

family members are reaching out to friends and loved ones asking them to support the hospital through the Sh@re campaign, an online fundraising

initiative. The Sh@re Campaign provides a way to generate philanthropic support for

Charity Care, Cardiac Care, Cancer Care or the Neonatal ICU at Mount Sinai. Using online tools provided by the Foundation, participants set up their own

fundraising page on the Foundation’s Sh@re website and e-mail family, friends and business associates asking them to make a contribution.

Seventy-five donors have signed on as fundraisers and mined their e-mail contacts to find people to support their chosen cause. All hope to top last year’s effort, which generated $115,000. We asked several of the top donors from the previous campaign to share their ideas on what made them so successful. Here’s what they had to say:

Jason Loeb Cause: Neonatal Intensive Care UnitI love Mount Sinai, and I am always willing to do anything that I can to help. My kids were born at Mount Sinai, and that makes it even more personal for me. Mount Sinai gave my children excellent medical care when they truly needed it most. My goal is to let people see how good Mount Sinai is and get them to want to support it as much as I do. There are always challenges in fundraising, but if you care about the organization, you can be successful in getting people to support your cause.

Andrew R. Hirschl, D.D.S. Cause: Charity CareMount Sinai gave me my professional start when I graduated NYU dental school and was accepted into the hospital’s residency program. I believe that giving back is a most noble attribute that a person can have and giving back to Mount Sinai is a natural for me. I’m a loyal person, and I’ve always been a fundraiser for Mount Sinai. If you believe in a cause, I think others view this as the truth. When I talk about Mount Sinai, my passion comes across. My enthusiasm makes it hard for anyone to say no.

Jay Parker Cause: Cancer CareI think it’s a matter of getting the message out to good people, being responsive to their questions, and telling them why you are so passionate about Mount Sinai. Without what we do as a Foundation, Mount Sinai wouldn’t be able to offer the community the care that it needs. My wife, Laura, and I chose to support cancer care in the last campaign because we have both lost loved ones to cancer; Laura lost her father and I lost my grandmother. It’s hard to find people who have not been hurt by this disease.

David Farcy, M.D. Cause: Charity CareI believe that giving back to our community and helping Mount Sinai provide charity care is very important. People who don’t have insurance will come to the Emergency Room as a last resort and we don’t check for insurance in the ER. We treat the people based on their needs. It’s very important for a hospital like Mount Sinai to be there to provide charity care for the uninsured when they need it most. When it comes to fundraising, you have to believe in your cause and once you do, you’ll motivate yourself to reach your goal.


To learn more about the Sh@re Campaign, call the Foundation at 305-674-2777 or visit msmcfoundation.org.

Jonathan D. Beloff Cause: Cancer CareI reach out to people that I know are desirous of contributing to our cause, and then I follow up with phone calls and a second e-mail. The key is to send e-mails to people who know you and respect the charity you’re supporting. Last year, I expressed in my message that my mother and my grandmother died of cancer and that we have an opportunity through cancer research at Mount Sinai to help put an end to that disease. This year, while my message is tailored to my children and grandchildren, I am supporting cancer care.

Mark H. Hildebrandt Cause: Cancer CareI suffered a tremendous loss when my younger sister passed away. My friends and business associates were aware of this and they embraced my decision to raise money in support of cancer care and research. People truly relate to the cause. I am also privileged to have had success in my personal life and in my business and I’m passionate about the importance of giving back to the community and to people who are less fortunate. I think that comes through in my fundraising effort, and I’m happy that I’m in a position to help Mount Sinai.

David Lang, D.O. Cause: Charity CareThe people I asked had some experience with Mount Sinai. They each had a good experience and wanted to give back to the hospital, with an understanding of where the money is going. As an ER physician, I chose charity care because I realize the impact that the emergency department has on the public and the financial burden that uncompensated medical care can have on the hospital. When the donors understood they were helping to cover the cost of medical care for patients who could not afford it, they were willing to make a contribution.

Eric and Renata Aurelius Cause: Neonatal Intensive Care UnitOur twins were born prematurely and were admitted to Mount Sinai’s Neonatal ICU. Tests revealed that our son, Kristian, had Trisomy 13, a rare and terminal chromosomal disorder. Kristian lived for nine days. Throughout the time he and his sister, Nevena, were in the NICU, they received incredible care. We felt that raising money to go toward the NICU would be the best way to honor his memory. On December 3, we reached our $10,000 goal. We are so moved that everyone joined us in paying tribute to Kristian in such a meaningful way.

Young Presidents and Young Founders Show they Have an Eye for Art



Young Presidents and Young Founders from Northeast Miami-Dade County enjoyed a festive evening at Gallery Art in the Promenade Shops on Tuesday, August 17, in Aventura. Ken Hendel, owner of

Gallery Art and a member of the Founders Board, graciously welcomed guests as they browsed the works by iconic artists such as Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Peter Max, Leroy Neiman, Romero Britto, and more. In addition, the event was open to children who participated in a series of colorful arts and crafts projects. A highlight of the evening was an introduction of a new text fundraising campaign spearheaded by Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation. Guests who texted the word SHARE TO 27722 to make a $10 donation to Mount Sinai received their choice of an original lithograph by renowned artist Ferdie Pacheco. Special thanks to Ken for hosting the event and to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for their generous support. We also thank Society Member Jason Starkman and events guru Caron Cole of Epicure for supplying the evening’s delectable delights.

Liron Offir texting to 27722 to Share while Zachary Mann looks on Marisue & Jonathan Beloff, Founders co-chair

Gallery Art Showroom

Mark Rousso, Ralph Vellocci and Michael Milberg David Metalonis, Frank Rosillo, Lion Offir and Alex Sirulnik

Gianina Ferrando, Frank Rosillo and Jocelyne Tholl

Jamie, Robin, Aliya, Mya and H Jordan Weitz Dr. Rafael Urbino, Patty Soffer and Marc Braha Michael Yavner, Shayna Sirkin and Eric Miller

D. Oliver Kelly, Sol Rabinowitsch, Michele Ross Kelly, Ken Hendel and Tiffany Hendel

Linda Stein, Sandy Segall and Cheryl Mizrahi The staff of Gallery Art: Mood Conyers, Amy Hendel and Ken Hendel Justin Angelo and David Shannon Michele Ross Kelly, Michael Shafir, Monique Goldberg, Kristy King

Linda Levy, Sandy Segall and Dawn Michelle Simon

Jacobo Biasion, Michael Love and Michele LaPierre Lisa & Alan Lips with Angie Dimoulas Maria Paulsen, Laura Cresto Parker and Dr. Corey Narson

Melissa Rubin and Jay Parker, Founders co-chair

Longtime Restaurateurs Proud to Support Mount Sinai

STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FOUNDATION FAMILY! VISIT WWW.MSMCFOUNDATION.ORG


Restaurateurs Stefano Frittella and Antonio Rizzi are part of the Community Partnership Program

* Reservations recommended for large parties

Business partners Stefano Frittella and Antonio Rizzi are supporting Mount Sinai through the Community Partnership Program. Following is a list of their restaurants that are participating in the program:

CARDOZO 1300 Ocean Drive • 305.695.2822*

Area of Support: Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment

FOX CAFÉ SEAFOOD AND GRILL834 Ocean Drive • 305.534.7100*

Area of Support: Cardiac Care and Research

CAFFÉ MILANO 850 Ocean Drive • 305.532.0707*

Area of Support: Charity Care

CANTINETTA 607 Lincoln Road • 305.532.0930*

Area of Support: Cardiac Care and Research

SIBILLA 833 Lincoln Road • 305.695.654

Area of Support: Charity Care

Community Partner Profile

Travel to Tivoli, Italy, about 20 miles northeast of Rome, and you will find Sibilla, the nation’s

oldest restaurant and a point of pride for Stefano Frittella and his family.

“I was born into the restaurant business,” said Frittella, a member of Mount Sinai’s Community Partnership Program. Three generations of his family have operated Sibilla, which is now under the direction of his brother, Simone.

Frittella worked in the family business until he turned 18 when he moved to Monte Carlo. From there, he traveled to Los Angeles, New York, and finally Miami, operating successful restaurants in each city along the way. Today, the 49-year-old restaurateur, who has been in Miami since 2002, owns more than 30 restaurants around the world, including 14 in South Beach.

His business partner Antonio Rizzi also began his career in the business at an early age, learning as much as he could as he worked his way up the ranks, from waiter to restaurateur.

“I started working when I was 14 in Lake Como in a beautiful hotel,” he said. “Then I went to England,

THE CARLYLE 1250 Ocean Drive • 305.531.3238

Area of Support: Cancer Care

then Paris and then the U.S.”The two met in New York, where Rizzi initially

worked in one of Frittella’s restaurants before becoming his business partner. Three of their South Beach establishments – Caffe Milano Restaurant & Bar, Fox Café Seafood & Grill and Cardozo Bar & Grill – have been part of the Community Partnership Program for more than a year. Three others – Cantinetta, Sibilla and The Carlyle, were added in late 2010.

The Community Partnership Program is composed of area hotel and restaurant owners who agree to contribute $5,000 annually to the hospital over a 10-year period. Partners encourage their patrons and guests to join the effort by donating 25 cents to $1 per transaction to Mount Sinai.

Each participant in the Community Partnership Program has the option of supporting cardiac, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease treatment and research, or charity care. Diners at Frittella and Rizzi’s restaurants, all of which feature Italian cuisine, contribute 50 cents per check to support Alzheimer’s, cardiac and charity care. Since initiating the program in 2009, the restaurants have generated more than $87,000 in support of Mount Sinai.

Frittella’s decision to become part of the program stems from a desire to help the community, he said. He’s also appreciative of the care his wife, Alexandra, received at Mount Sinai when she was pregnant with their second child.

“I found out that one in every four people in Miami Beach doesn’t have insurance,” he said. “I live here. My family is here, and I think Mount Sinai is a great institution, and I believe that supporting Mount Sinai is a good way to make a contribution to Miami Beach.”

Rizzi agrees.“It was new to me, but we thought the Community

Partnership Program was a very good idea,” he said. “And it’s been very well received by our customers.”

“We want to grow and expand and do great things for the community,” Frittella added. “The program gives us a way to make an impact and help a lot of people in the community.”

Mount Sinai Medical Center Dedicates the

Lila and Harold Menowitz Comprehensive Breast Center

1 0 | S U M M I T F E B R U A R Y 2 011 w w w . m s m c f o u n d a t i o n . o r gSupporting Mount Sinai Medical Center in its mission: To provide high quality health care to our diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care and financial responsibility.


In a beautiful outdoor ceremony shortly before sunset, Mount Sinai Medical Center paid tribute to Lila and Harold Menowitz by dedicating its

comprehensive breast center in their honor on Wednesday, November 10. The dedication took place on Harold Menowitz’s birthday, making it a wonderful tribute to his illustrious life as well as his immense generosity.

“For nearly 20 years, Mount Sinai Medical Center has been the beneficiary of Lila and Harold Menowitz’s generosity,” said Steven D. Sonenreich, president and chief executive officer. “Their gift of support provides the funding necessary for Mount Sinai to purchase the newest, most advanced SPECT-CT system available today, and we are extremely grateful.”

Purchasing the new GE Discovery NM/CT 670 (see story, next page) is just one example of the Menowitz’s generous support of Mount Sinai. Theirs is a multigenerational legacy of generosity. A successful real estate developer and investor, specializing in residential and commercial properties in 28 states across the country, Harold Menowitz became a Founder of Mount Sinai in 1991. He later encouraged Lila and his son, Fred, to become Founders, and he endowed his daughter, Carol Penn, granddaughter, Valerie Penn, and his grandson Todd Menowitz as Founders.

In 2007, the Menowitz’s were the honorees of the hospital’s 51st Annual Founders Ball in recognition of their generosity, and the following year, Mount Sinai named the lobby of its newest medical office building in their honor. The Menowitz’s most recent gift elevates them to the level of Visionary in the Society of Mount Sinai. In addition to naming the comprehensive breast center in their honor, Mount Sinai presented the couple with an elegant Oggetti sculpture, presented to Visionary members of the Society, as well as a lovely bouquet of flowers for Lila Menowitz.

Surrounded by family, friends and neighbors during the dedication, Harold Menowitz entrusted his son, Fred, with the honor of thanking the hospital and the couple’s well-wishers.

“My father and Lila, as you well know, have been extremely pleased with their association with Mount Sinai Medical Center here in Miami Beach, and the entire Menowitz family is honored to be able to contribute

to this wonderful facility that you have named in their honor,” he said. “We know that in partnering with the excellent physicians working at the Harold and Lila Comprehensive Breast Center, many lives will be saved, and isn’t that the reason for all the efforts made? Maybe someday we will be able to stamp out breast cancer.”

Harold Menowitz with (left to right) Lila Menowitz, Suzanne & Fred Menowitz, Karen Edelstein and David & Michelle Edelstein

Lila Menowitz receiving a beautiful bouquet as her husband looks on

Lila Menowitz and Steven D. Sonenreich

Lila & Harold Menowitz with (left to right) Steven D. Sonenreich, Michael Milberg, Wayne Chutkin, Michal M. Adler, chairman of the board of trustees, Amy Perry, Karen Moyer and Tom Gillette

Harold Menowitz with his daughter-in-law and son, Suzanne & Fred Menowitz

Lila Menowitz with Richard Braunstein and Karen Edelstien

Dr. Philip & Carole Samet with Martha & Max Harris

Harold Menowitz and Shirley Fletcher (seated), with Lila Menowitz, Bella Goldstein, Ethel Schnitt, Carole Langer, Joni Tate, Lola Jacobson and Batia Sepin

Stanley Tate with Harold Menowitz

Marilyn & David Zinn with Beverley & Bernie Friedman

Loly & Isaac Zelcer Michael Milberg, Dr. Donald Golden and Steven D. Sonenreich

Fred Menowitz and Harold Menowitz (seated) with Donald Jacobson, Joni Tate and Lila Menowitz

Mount Sinai presented this elegant Oggetti sculpture and accompanying plaque to the Menowitz’s as a gift of appreciation

“M” is for Menowitz

w w w . m s m c f o u n d a t i o n . o r g F E B R U A R Y 2 011 S U M M I T | 1 1Supporting Mount Sinai Medical Center in its mission: To provide high quality health care to our diverse community enhanced through teaching, research, charity care and financial responsibility.


Thanks to the philanthropic support of Lila and Harold Menowitz, Mount Sinai Medical Center will leap ahead

in the fight against breast cancer. Their generous gift will enable the hospital to purchase the GE Discovery NM/CT 670, the newest, most advanced SPECT-CT available. The system will improve overall image quality, patient safety and workflow.

“We are deeply honored that Lila and Harold have decided to help Mount Sinai acquire this state-of-the-art SPECT-CT scanner,” said Steven D. Sonenreich, president and chief executive officer. “This technology will make a tremendous difference in the earlier detection and more effective treatment of breast cancer, as well as many other disorders. We will be the first in the state and among only three in the nation to use this new model, which was recently launched in Europe with great success.”

SPECT-CT is an advanced molecular imaging technology that combines the anatomic detail of a high resolution CT scan with the sensitive physiologic detail of nuclear medicine in a powerful 3-D form, allowing doctors to visualize both the form and function of disease. The hybrid technology fuses a CT scan with nuclear medicine to create a single image that helps radiologists be much more confident in their diagnosis.

“In the treatment of cancer, accurate staging is critical to directing the most effective therapy,” said Chetan Rajadhyaksha, M.D., section chief of Nuclear Medicine in the Department of Radiology. “With this technology, we can help surgeons and oncologists better tailor their treatment and often minimize invasive or toxic therapies.”

Sometimes with just a CT or nuclear medicine image alone, it is difficult to tell what a finding is without an additional study or follow-up. A dense lesion in the bone on CT could be a benign bone island or metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Rajadhyaksha explained.

“Now in most cases with SPECT-CT, we’ll be able to tell the difference with a single test and in a single visit without waiting months for a follow up,” he said. “That could be the difference between metastatic cancer and an otherwise benign finding, which will radically alter treatment.”

Advanced SPECT-CT Puts Mount Sinaion the Forefront in Diagnostic Imaging

Board-certified in radiology and nuclear medicine, Dr. Rajadhyaksha also noted that 3-D SPECT-CT images reveal the location of cancerous lesions with greater precision. This enables radiologists to

be of greater help to direct-care physicians as they plan for surgery or radiation therapy.

“For example, we will be able to precisely localize the lymph nodes around lesions in the breast to give greater assistance to surgeons in their surgical approach, often minimizing the amount and extent of surgery they need to do,” he said. “It will provide a clear picture of what they are looking for so they can perform the surgery accordingly.”

SPECT-CT also helps in determining the effectiveness of a particular treatment, enabling doctors to prescribe and on some occasions change to the most effective therapy in the earliest stages. It will make planning for

radiation therapy much more precise, so doctors can more accurately target the areas at risk and minimize radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissue.

In addition, the CT component of the technology uses a very low dose of radiation and its nuclear detectors require a smaller amount of

radiopharmaceutical, reducing radiation exposure by as much as half. Moreover, because the SPECT-CT can aid in diagnosing numerous illnesses in a single scan, it is much less likely that patients will have to undergo other costly or delayed procedures that may expose them to additional radiation.

Patients also will appreciate that the new technology will make the test more comfortable. “It’s much faster so it’s better tolerated by the patients,” Dr. Rajadhyaksha said. “Because it’s quicker, patients will move less, so the image quality will be much better.”

The technology and workflow also are more efficient, allowing for the evaluation and treatment of more patients over a shorter period for overall reduced cost. “Two tests can be acquired by a single department, in a single room, by a single machine and at a faster speed,” Dr Rajadhyaksha explained. “It’s an investment in overall cost savings.”

The advanced workstation includes tools to help radiologists better identify and evaluate lesions, maintain historic perspective of each case, and provide better, more accurate results over time.

“SPECT-CT will become the future standard of imaging, not just in oncology, but in orthopedics, cardiology, endocrinology, and really all areas of medicine – the applications are just being realized,” Dr. Rajadhyaksha said. “We’re also looking forward to using this as a new research tool. There are already newer tracers about to be released to evaluate Parkinson’s disease and cardiac failure. Thanks to the Menowitz’s and their very generous gift, this really

puts us on the wave of the future of molecular imaging and patient specific directed care.”

SPECT-CT is an advanced molecular imaging technology that combines the anatomic detail of a high resolution CT scan with the sensitive physiologic detail of nuclear medicine in a powerful 3-D form, allowing doctors to visualize both the form and function of disease.

Chetan Rajadhyaksha, M.D., section chief of Nuclear Medicine in the Department of Radiology


Young Presidents Open the Season with an Evening of Sharing and Socializing


Young Presidents and Young Founders ventured across the causeway on Thursday, October 7, to kick off the season at ICON Brickell in the heart of downtown Miami. Members mixed and mingled around the Residence’s 300-foot long swimming

pool while marveling at the Miami skyline from the outdoor living room more than 100 feet above Biscayne Bay. All enjoyed the sumptuous hors d’oeuvres graciously provided by Eos Restaurant. The evening also featured an introduction to the Foundation’s Share and Text campaign – a new project to generate support for Mount Sinai. Special thanks to Edgardo Defortuna, a member of our Founders Club and president and CEO of Fortune International along with his most accommodating sales force, headed by Andrea Greenberg, vice president of marketing. Many thanks as well to Leslie Wolfson, Brandon Grant and the team at Miami Magazine for their support. And, heartfelt gratitude to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for providing the evening’s libations.

Michael Milberg with Amy Zakarin and Edgardo deFortuna Mercedes Saewitz, Kim Albanes, Lisa Goldfaden and Caroline Candib Darin Tansey & Shelly Berkovich with Federica Boccalari & Jacopo Biasion

Katie & Steven Nullman with Eric & Amy Ostroff Nicholas & Ilana de la Parte Maria Paulsen, Amy & Andrew Atkins and Drew Beinhaker

YPC Board

Drs. Todd & Corey Narson with Sebastian Banchs and Jason Loeb Genna Revitz, Brittany Revitz, Jennifer Rapp Reiz and Lisa & David Morales Yaniv Offir, Florence Rubio and Dr. Arveen Andalib

Robert Newman with Scott Weingarden Zachary Mann, Kefy Hernandez and Omar Caiola Terry Franzen, Chad Lipson and Michelle Navarro Marko Cerenko and Jenna Trueba


Jessica Alhalel, David Sacks and Vanessa Elmalen Shayna Sirkin, Kevin Gerhardstein and David Block Arlie Y. Sultan Levy, Julie Ferguson and Patrick Martin

Michelle Ressler with Ken & Jill Swartz Rob Brown, Michael Valdes, Alex Sirulnik and Michael Goldberg Marc Braha, Gail Stortz and Bruce Reiter

Allison & Marc Pacin Liron Offir, David Shannon and Dr. Arveen Andalib Jonathan Sorota & Kimberly Klevins Rochelle & Robert Arkin with Tracey Hagen

Debbie Blasberg-Sander, Beth Leeds and Dr. Rhonda Fine Downtown Miami’s Real Estate Leaders: Edgardo Defortuna (fifth from left) and the Fortune International Team

Maxine & Richard Earle Adam Greenberg, Alexis Quittner and Murray RoseMichael Shafir & Monique Goldberg with Rebecca Abrams and Mathew Sarelson



Young Presidents and Young Founders Sparkle at Gemma Networker

More than 120 Young Presidents and Young Founders enjoyed an evening of Italian fare and upscale flair on Wednesday, June 9, during a

networker at Gemma Lounge. Located at 529 Lincoln Road, one floor above Rosinella restaurant, Gemma is the latest sensation created by the Doino family – members of the Founders Club and owners of Rosinella, the evening’s host. Mount Sinai’s youngest philanthropists savored Rosinella’s signature hors d’oeuvres and sensational cocktails while mingling in Gemma’s intimate lounge area or enjoying the view of Lincoln Road from the lounge’s expansive terrace. Special thanks to General Manager Peter Saliamonas, the Doino family, their creative culinarians, and our very generous friends at Southern Wine & Spirits.YPC Board: Katie Nullman, Co-Chair Michael Shafir, Zachary Mann, Alex Sirulnik, Marko Cerenko, Eric Gilbert, Marissa Brooks,

Co-Chair Lauren Meran and Josh Gurwitz

Michael & Nikky Simkins Alex Sirulink, Marilyn Hernandez and Jorge Oviedo Laura & Jay Parker with Eric Jacobs Dr. Raphael Urbino, Yaniv Offir and David Rothstein

David & Michelle Edelstein with Jason Courtney, Haley Womack and Ken Hendel

Shoshanna & Scott Wagner, Alex Schapiro, Rachel Adler and David Adler Tracey Hagen, Melissa Rubin, Marissa Brooks and Jason Loeb

Katie & Steven Nullman with Marko Cerenko & Jenna Trueba Maria Escoto, Jeffrey & Jaleh Bast and John Gardner Mark Russo, Michelle Navarro, Chad Lipson and Kathleen Harris-Hicks

Michael Shafir, Eric Sanders and Eira Rojas & Beniot Wirz


Jeff Greene, Dr. Corey Narson and Debbie Young Lorenzo Ceroni (second from left), manager of GEMMA, with his talented team!

Marissa Brooks, Lauren Meran and Katie Phang-Mager Geoffrey Kraft, Kenny Gandi, Pamela Brumer and Joseph Conway Valerie Raskin, Michael Goldberg and Kathleen Harris-Hicks

Shannon Lazarus and Eric Gilbert


Dedication Honors Sheila and the Late Alfred Wohl For Their Generosity in Support of Charity Care


Mount Sinai Medical Center honored Sheila Wohl and her late husband, Alfred, on Tuesday, November 23, during a touching dedication ceremony at the hospital’s main entrance.

Wohl was recognized for her family’s generous gift in support of charity care at Mount Sinai. During the ceremony, she was presented with a beautiful bouquet and a lovely Oggetti sculpture, awarded to Humanitarians in the Society of Mount Sinai.

“We are honored that Sheila embraces our mission to provide excellent medical care, teaching and lifesaving research,” said Foundation President Mark H. Hildebrandt. “And we deeply admire her commitment to give back to the community that has given so much to her and her family over the years. She is a true humanitarian.”

In addition to in the Society of Mount Sinai and the Founders Club, the Wohls are part of the Legacy Circle. Their daughter, Sunshine, son, Michael, and his wife, Betty, are Founders of Mount Sinai, as are their grandchildren, Josh, Allan and Heather.

Following the dedication, friends joined the Wohls at a celebratory luncheon, where Michael Wohl spoke on his mother’s behalf. He paid tribute to his parents and described their commitment to the community and to Mount Sinai. It was a beautiful afternoon of well wishes and support for one of Mount Sinai’s most cherished donors. Sheila Wohl (seated) with her grandson Josh Rubin and her children, Sunshine Wohl,

Betty & Michal Wohl

Sheila Wohl (seated) with Steven D. Sonenreich, president and chief executive officer, Sunshine Wohl, Mark H. Hildebrandt, Foundation president, and Michael Milberg, Foundation executive director

Sheila Wohl (seated) with Josh Rubin, Sunshine Wohl, Susan & Richard Finkelstein, Beverlee Shere, and Betty & Michael Wohl

Sheila Wohl and Marion Golden Sheila Wohl with her daughter, Sunshine, and her grandson Michael

Donate any amount to Mount Sinai’s Neonatal Intensive

Care Unit (NICU) via the Sh@re Campaign, and the Abess

Family will match the total contributions up to $100,000.

Named in honor of the Abess Family, the NICU provides

state-of-the-art care for critically ill newborns.

To make a contribution, visit msmcfoundation.org and

click the “Abess Fundraising Challenge” button.

Sh@re Fundraising Challenge

Have your gift in support of Mount Sinai’s tiniest patients matched by the Abess Family


Founders of Mount Sinai sample the savory delights of STK

Albert Karram Jr. & Karen Farinella with Jay Parker, Robert Newman and Russ Krivor Juliana Scaminaci with Arthur, Josephine and Leonard Percy Rosy Lofer and Craig Edelman

South Beach’s sexiest steak house opened its doors to the Founders and Young Founders of Mount Sinai on Wednesday, October 27, during their first dinner series of the season. Located just off the lobby of the luxurious Gansevoort South Beach Hotel, STK Miami truly lived up to its reputation. It was a wonderful venue for members of Mount Sinai’s most

time-honored philanthropic group to gather and enjoy an evening of fine dining, spirited conversation and camaraderie. The menu featured STK’s signature Little Big Macs – luscious Kobe beef sliders that were the talk-about appetizer of the event – along with generous portions of beef, salmon, mushroom risotto, and a decadent chocolate goddess bar dessert. Special thanks to the entire STK team for giving their all in support of our event and heartfelt gratitude to Southern Wine & Spirits for the evening’s refreshments.

Samuel & Roni Jacobson

Dave Bernard, Terry Franzen and Bill Hansen Sandra & Jeff Hackmeier with Kimberley & Gran LeCompte Steve Cohen, Linda Weitz and John Gardiner Nina Ginatta and Dr. Raphael Urbino

Jamie & Adam Laufer with Marisue & Jonathan Beloff Michael Goldberg, Jonathan Fryd and Joel Rosenthal Melissa Rubin, David Sporn, Pamela Brumer and Joseph Conway


Michael Milberg, Foundation executive director, with Founders co-chairs Jonathan Beloff and Jay Parker

Warren Liebman, Marjorie Lipsky and Ethel Blum Dublin Debbie Blasberg-Sander, Scott Sander, George Baronov and Terry Franzen & Elizabeth Tur

Leonard and Gloria Luria The STK Team: Chef Ralph Pagano, Seth Alexander, Danielle Brown and Chef Royce Wagner

Lloyd & Candace Ruskin with Stephen & Donna Bloom Isabel May with Madeline & Herbert Hillsberg and Linda Zilber


DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE LATEST EVENT PHOTOS ON THE WEB SITE? VISIT WWW.MSMCFOUNDATION.ORG.

Founders and Young Founders Dine at the Delightful New db Bistro ModerneMembers of Mount Sinai’s most time-honored philanthropic group spent an extraordinary

evening on Tuesday, December 7, at db Bistro Moderne – the new upscale French eatery at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. Considered the “master of haute and homey,” Daniel

Boulud and his newest bistro did not disappoint, as the new place reflected all the energy and style of its Manhattan counterpart. Founders and Young Founders enjoyed delicious drinks, an excellent dinner and exquisite service in the sophisticated new establishment. All raved about the gorgeous grapefruit blossom cocktails and the marvelous madeleines, fresh from the oven and dusted with powdered sugar. Special thanks to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for making the refreshments so memorable. Many thanks as well to Paul Pebley, director of sales and marketing at the Marriott, and to German Alverado, general manager of db Bistro, along with his wonderful team: Sergio Cacares, assistant manager, John Mayfield, sommelier, and Theresa Valiente, who gave all of our guests the trademark Boulud VIP service.

Jonathan Beloff, Founders co-chair, German Alverado, general manager of db Bistro, Paul Pebley, the Marriott’s director of sales and marketing, and Michael Milberg, Foundation executive director

Gary & Lilliam Dix with Laine & Arthur Unger Anne Louise Harms, Steve “Bubba” Cohen, Elizabeth Tur & Terry Franzen

Laura & Sebastian Banchs with Faith & Angel Ramos Linda Zilber with Paul Ruthfield

Maddie Berlin, Wendy Ryan, Barbara Goldin and Linda Potash Jim Berlin, Dr. Irwin Potash, Tom Ryan and Barry Goldin John & Dr. Natalie Gardiner Kimberly & Gran LeCompte

Julie Ferguson and Phillipe Houdard Joel Rosenthal and David Evensky David & Michelle Edelstein

Michael & Norma Orovitz, Dr. Jodi Stoner and Amy & Leonard Stolar Maria, Natalie and Dave Bernard Robert & Laura Nichols with Drs. Marianna & Michael Baum


At six foot nine, Taige Adderly was a standout on the basketball court, first in high school in the Bahamas

and later as an undergraduate in Alabama. It was during his final semester while completing the requirements for his bachelor’s degree that he noticed a change.

“I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I would get winded and tired really quickly – if I would cross the street I would want to sit down for five minutes,” he said. “I thought it was the flu or something.”

An EKG revealed that Adderley was suffering from atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid rhythm caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the heart. Found in about 2.2 Americans, atrial fibrillation – also known as A Fib – is the most common form of arrhythmia. Left untreated, it can cause blood clots to develop and potentially lead to a debilitating stroke or possibly death.

Initially, Adderley was treated in Alabama and later in California, where he enrolled in graduate school, but nothing was completely successful. Doctors told him he would need surgery to fix the problem, which by then was considered chronic.

Six months after his initial diagnosis, Adderley’s parents saw an intriguing story on the TV news back home in Nassau. It was about Dr. Angelo LaPietra, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Mount Sinai Heart Institute, and his success at treating A Fib with an innovative treatment known as the Hybrid Maze Procedure. Dr. LaPietra is a leader in the closed-chest cath lab procedure, which utilizes a combination of surgical and electrophysiological techniques to improve the prospects for chronic A Fib patients, considered the most challenging of all to treat. Mount Sinai is the first hospital in Florida to offer the Hybrid Maze Procedure and Dr. LaPietra teaches the technique to doctors from across the country.

For persistent A Fib sufferers, the Hybrid Maze Procedure has shown great promise in eliminating symptoms that medications and single ablation treatments generally cannot.

“Single ablation procedures are only effective about 50 percent to 60 percent of the time and medications often leave patients ‘feeling sick’ all the time,” Dr. LaPietra said. “Right now, Hybrid Maze is the only available treatment that truly improves their lifestyle.”

The likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Three to five percent of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation, which made Adderley, at age 24, a most unlikely candidate for the illness.

“It’s very rare that we see a 24-year-old kid with atrial fibrillation unless there is an underlying heart disorder, which he does not have, or a family history of atrial fibrillation, which he does not have,” Dr. LaPietra said.

Hybrid Maze Procedure Gives Student a ‘Second Chance’

Mount Sinai is the first hospital in Florida to offer the procedure and Dr. Angelo LaPietra teaches the technique to doctors

from across the country

Dr. LaPietra performs the Hybrid Maze Procedure in a cath lab, not an OR. There is no need to open the chest or stop the heart, as is done in open-heart surgery. During the procedure, he makes small incisions in the belly to access the heart. He then uses radiofrequency ablation to burn the heart muscle and create surgical lesions that block A Fib triggers and pathways to restore normal heart rhythms.

Following the surgical portion of the procedure, an electrophysiologist uses cardiac mapping technology to find and fill any small gaps in the surgical lesions. The electrophysiology portion of the treatment is similar to standard A Fib ablation, but takes less time because the surgeon has already eliminated the most significant problem areas.

“We are attacking the electrical circuit from inside of the heart and outside of the heart at the same time,” Dr. LaPietra said.

The combined approach typically is safer. Patients experience improved outcomes, minimal discomfort and have a shorter recovery time. According to Dr. LaPietra, initial studies have shown Hybrid Maze is effective in 85 percent to 90 percent of patients who remained in normal sinus rhythm during the first six to eight months after undergoing the procedure.

As an added benefit, the procedure eliminates the need for patients to follow a daily medication regimen. This is welcome news to A Fib patients, particularly those with large atria, which leads to persistent or chronic A Fib, as well as individuals who are not candidates for traditional single ablation.

In the months since Adderley’s procedure, the symptoms have abated and his quality of life is much improved. While he has not yet returned to the basketball court, he plans to return to school, earn his graduate degree in sports psychology, and pursue his dream of becoming a college basketball coach.

“I feel good – happy to be alive,” he said. “I feel like I got a second chance.”

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE LATEST EVENT PHOTOS ON THE WEB SITE? VISIT WWW.MSMCFOUNDATION.ORG.

Taige Adderly with Dr. Angelo LaPietra

The likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Three to five percent of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation, which made Adderley, at age 24, a most unlikely candidate for the illness.

We are proud to recognize our donors and members of their immediate family for outstanding accomplishments and for achieving special milestones.

Please share your “bragging rights” by contacting the Foundation at 305-674-2777 or

by emailing [email protected].

Congratula-tions to Laura and Jay Parker on the birth of their twins, Shilo and Kaden, on November 8. Shilo weighed 3 pounds and Kaden weighed 4.3 pounds. Their parents are part of the Society of Mount Sinai and the Founders Club, and their dad is a Founders co-chair.

Congratulations to Lisa and Robert Newman on the birth of their daughter, Olivia Kate Newman. Olivia was born on November 3, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 20.1 inches long. Her

dad is a Founder of Mount Sinai and a member of the Young Presidents Club.

Congratulations to Nicole and Joshua Wien on the birth of their son, Alexander Daniel Wien. Alexander was born on October 3, weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. His dad is a member of the Young Founders. Grandparents, Barbara and Leonard Wien Jr., are Founders and part of the Society of Mount Sinai and Leonard also is a member of the Board of

Trustees. His late great-grandparents, Marjorie and Leonard Wien, also were part of the Founders and the Society, and Leonard was an Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Congratulations to Kimberly and Eric Mendelson on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, on October 23 at Temple Beth Sholom. David, 13, is an eighth

grader at Ransom Everglades School. Kimberly and Eric are members of the Founders Club and the Society of Mount Sinai. Kimberly’s parents, Candace and Lloyd Ruskin, are also part of the Founders Club and the Society, and they are members of the hospital’s Advisory Board of Trustees. Eric’s parents, Arlene and Laurans A. Mendelson, are

part of the Founders and the Society of Mount Sinai and Laurans is the immediate past chairman of the board. His great grandparents, the late Muriel and Monroe Hattenbach, were part of the Society of Mount Sinai, and Mrs. Hatenbach was also a Founder of Mount Sinai.

Congratulations to Kimberly and Gran LeCompte on the birth of their son, Oliver Charles LeCompte. Oliver was born on August 24 weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. His mom is a member of the Young Presidents Club and his dad is a Young Founder.

Congratulations to Amanda and Matthew Adler on the birth of their son, Jaden Seth Adler. Jaden was born on August 16, weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. Jaden’s mom and dad are Founders of Mount Sinai. Dad also is a member of the YPC. His grandparents, Judy and Michael Adler, are part of the Society of Mount Sinai and the Founders Club and Michael also is chairman of the Board of Trustees. His great grandmother, Bunny Adler, a member of the hospital’s Advisory Board of Trustees, is part of the Society and the Founders Club, as was her husband, the late Samuel Adler, who also was a vice

chairman of the board.

Congratulations to Alyson and Robert Christoph Jr. on the birth of their son, Robert William Christoph III. Robert was born on July 8, weighing 9 pounds 4

ounces and measuring 22.25 inches. His mom and dad are Young Founders.

Congratulations to Marisue and Jonathan Beloff on the birth of their granddaughter, Nina Sierra Rhodes. Nina was born on July 14, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Her grandparents are Founders of Mount Sinai and Jonathan is Founders co-chair. Nina Sierra Rhodes

Robert William Christoph III

Olivia Kate Newman

PAYING YOUR PLEDGE IS CONVENIENT THROUGH OUR UPDATED WEB SITE.

Alexander Daniel Wien

SOCIETY

VISIONARY Roberta & Harvey Chaplin Lila & Harold Menowitz

HUMANITARIANSheila & Alfred* Wohl

BENEFACTORBeverly & Alfred* Green

FELLOW Lorena & Gil Dezer

MEMBERSMeme & Richard AlhadeffTania & Edward BakalarzJane & Thomas CundyPenny & Jeffrey HecktmanTerry & Fred JoveKandy & Jeffrey KramerRuss KrivorEnrique P. PazDexter Pittman

SOCIETY SIGNATURE CLUBAlan A. LipsJay P. ParkerDavid L. Sugarman

GRAND FOUNDER CIRCLE UPGRADEMichael Dezer

FOUNDERS Franklin Benson David Bercuson Don H. BercusonStephen Bercuson

Please Welcome the Newest Members of our Family…We are proud to salute the people who have joined our family of philanthropists from March 16 to November 19, 2010. By embracing our Foundation,

they are demonstrating a commitment to Mount Sinai Medical Center and its pledge to provide Great Medicine for our community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our donors – those who are new to the family and those who have been with us through the years – for their generosity.

Jane CundyStanley ErsoffRichard FinkelsteinStefano FrittellaIgal HaimovTerry S. JoveAmy K. KnappDennis A. KoltunSpencer S. KramerIgor KrivoruchkoLilliam R. LopezKaren LynnSue-Anne MayersLuz M. PazJosh RubinJodi StonerVincent J. VentoPaul WallnerAllan WohlBetty WohlHeather Wohl

CORPORATE FOUNDERS Atlantic Coast Group Rep. by Sandy S. Segall

Rhonda Fine, PhD ARNP Rep. by Dr. Rhonda Fine

Ecowastepro, Inc. Rep. by Larry Lion

EHR Systems Consultants, LLC Rep. by Howard F. Scott

Exclusively Baronoff Realty Rep. by Elena A. Baronoff

Dr. Randy B. Miller Rep. by Randy B. Miller, M.D.

Red Market Rep. by Jean-Marc Durante

Law Office of Ilya Torchinsky Rep. by Ilya Torchinsky

FOUNDERS SIGNATURE CLUBJonathan D. BeloffGerard BergerDave BernardHerman EcheveriaNorman S. EdelcupTed N. FineMark H. HildebrandtJeffrey A. KramerTerri A. NoeLinda F. SteinIlya Torchinsky

YOUNG FOUNDERSMark AlhadeffParker S. AlhadeffEdward BeinerJacopo BiasionDebbie Blasberg-SanderJustin CernitzBart H. ChepenikRobert W. Christoph, Jr.Charlotte DunaganRobert ElenskyRichard EstevezJonathan FrydJeffrey GreeneIsadore H. HavenickDaniel KatzMaria Isabelle LeonLinda LevyPascal NicolaiEdward D. Nieto

Carolyn L. NihonLisa PercyAlberto PerlmanAngel RamosMathieu RochetteDavid SacksZachary SchiffmanMichael SimkinsGinette SimonDr. Ariel D. SofferWarren StammSteve Waserstein

CORPORATE YOUNG FOUNDERS Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Rep. by Maria A. Paulsen

IGT Media Holdings Rep. by Ric Roth

Koltun Foundation, Inc. Rep. by Allan Koltun

L&E International Services Rep. by Lorena Gomez

YOUNG FOUNDERS SIGNATURE CLUB Michael M. AdlerRonald AlbertKaryl ArgamasillaAndrew AtkinsRonald BakalarzElena A. BaronoffDonna K. BloomJonathan D. BeloffBNI Miami-DadeGil DezerHerman Echeveria

Kevin GerhardsteinMichael S. GoldbergWilliam M. HansenMichele Ross KellyJason LoebZachary MannMichael MilbergMichael A. MowattJay P. ParkerArthur PercyValerie RaskenMelissa J. RubinJane SiegelDiana StaudingerDavid L. SugarmanIlya TorchinskyStacy Wein

YOUNG PRESIDENTS CLUBGerald ApplegateKarim AryehLawrence S. BassukJared BrunnabendBrian CarterBill CoffmanMaybell CohnNicholas J. de la ParteMerav EgoziStephen FerberSamantha FieldsJoshua GoldglantzMatt GrosackJonathan HassonMarilyn HernandezJon MannYaniv OffirEric Ostroff



Our DoctorsOur Donors Have Bragging Rights...

Alexis QuittnerJennifer RappJonathan RappDaniel SisiskyDarin TanseyThomas N. TaylorBenoit WirzDave Ziegelman

CORPORATE YPC Mortons, The Steakhouse Rep. by Chad Lipson

Stewart H. Lapayowker, P.A. Rep. by David C. Shannon

YPC SIGNATURE CLUBJustin AngeloBNI Miami-DadeAmy CulpepperKevin GerhardsteinMichael S. GoldbergJoshua GoldglantzKefy HernandezEric A. JacobsRosy LoferRon MannDavid MetalonisRobert NewmanKatie NullmanLiron OffirJay P. ParkerStephen L. RiemerFrank A. RosilloAdam SendzischewMichael A. ShafirAlex D. SirulnikStuart J. Sisisky

Shilo Parker

Oliver Charles LeCompte

David Mendelson

Jaden Seth Adler Kaden Parker


Our DoctorsD

r. George C. Diaz is chief of neurology

and director of the Mount Sinai’s

Comprehensive Stroke Center. As a

member of the Miami-Dade County Stroke

Coalition, Dr. Diaz has promoted improved

stroke care in South Florida since 1998. In

addition to vascular neurology, Dr. Diaz is

also board-certified in neurology, clinical

neurophysiology and neuromuscular

medicine. He has lectured on multiple

neurological issues, such as acute

ischemic stroke, neurological

emergencies, and neuromuscular

diseases. Dr. Diaz earned his

bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Florida

International University and his medical

degree at the University of Miami School of

Medicine. He interned and completed his

neurology residency at the University of

Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospitals. Dr. Diaz

also completed an electromyography-

neuromuscular fellowship at the University of

Texas Medical Center-M.D. Anderson and

Herman hospitals. His single-specialty

practice is dedicated to the

advanced treatment of

neurological disorders.

S U M M I T F E B R U A R Y 2 011

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