The Beat Goes On

The Lenox Hill Hospital Autumn Ball in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria.

NARSAD, the world’s leading philanthropic organization for research on mental health disorders, held its 21st annual New York gala last Friday at the Waldorf. The event celebrated progress in the battle against mental illness and raised $1.1 million in funds for research on depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and childhood mental disorders, among other conditions.

The evening’s honoree was Herbert Pardes, M.D., president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, who received a tribute from NARSAD for his career dedication to advancing psychiatric research and care. Dr. Pardes, who trained in psychiatry, headed the National Institute of Mental Health from 1978 to 1984, and later served as chair of psychiatry at Columbia University and director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He went on to become dean of Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons before taking the helm at NewYork-Presbyterian. Through these posts, and as president of NARSAD’s Scientific Council since its formation in 1986, Dr. Pardes has played an instrumental role in the expansion and acceleration of psychiatric and neuroscience research over the last four decades.


	Dr. Herbert Pardes

Constance Lieber, who served as president of NARSAD from 1988 to 2007 and who chaired the gala, called Dr. Pardes her “mentor” in guiding NARSAD’s growth and “a great advocate for research, a leader in healthcare policy and a compassionate health professional.” She presented him with a humanitarian prize that NARSAD is instituting in his name and honor.

Among the evening’s 425 guests were such luminaries as Charlotte Ford, who has been a very active member of the board of trustees of NY-Presbyterian for the past thirty years; broadcast journalist Jane Pauley, former NBC Universal chairman Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne, who together founded Autism Speaks; Philip and Donna Satow, founders of The Jed Foundation; and former First Lady of New York Donna Hanover.

Scientific and philanthropic leaders in mental health research were also in attendance, including Nobel laureate Paul Greengard, Ph.D., of Rockefeller University; Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D., chair of psychiatry at Columbia University and director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute; Jack Barchas, M.D., chair of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College; Eric J. Nestler, M.D. Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Mount Sinai Medical Center; Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of neurobiology, Yale University; William T. Carpenter, M.D., director, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center; Carol Tamminga, chair of brain science at UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas); Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; Peter Whybrow, chair of psychiatry, UCLA-Semel Institute; Judith Rapoport, M.D., chief of child psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health; and Darrel A. Regier, M.D., executive director, American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education.

Dr. Mark S. George, Dr. Eric A. Taylor, of King’s College London, Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D., Mount Sinai Medical Center, Charles L. Bowden, M.D., Irving I. Gottesman, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, and Angus W. MacDonald, III, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota

NARSAD’s New York gala was also the occasion for awarding its annual prizes for outstanding career achievements in research. As the most renowned and coveted prizes in psychiatric and neuroscience research, the prizes recognized six leaders in research for their contributions to the search for the causes, mechanisms, improved treatments and prevention of major mental illnesses. Dr. Pardes presented the prizes to:

• Irving I. Gottesman, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, recipient of the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research.

• Charles L. Bowden, M.D., of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, and Mark S. George, M.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina, who each were awarded the Falcone Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Affective Disorders Research.

• Eric A. Taylor, M.D., of the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, who received the Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research.

• Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D., of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who was awarded the Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience.

• Angus W. MacDonald, III, Ph.D., who received the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Prize for Schizophrenia Research.

Lawrence and James Pardes

Jonathan R. Cole, former provost and dean of faculties of Columbia University

Donna Hanover served as master of ceremonies for the evening. The event chairs were Ms. Lieber and her husband, Stephen Lieber, chairman of NARSAD’s board, and Sheila and Thomas Rabaut, former board members. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was honorary chair of the event, and a list of the honorary committee members follows below.

Since 1987, NARSAD has distributed more than $238 million in grants to over 2,700 scientists at 431 universities, medical centers and research institutes in the United States and 27 other countries. In 2008 alone, NARSAD awarded $19 million in new grants to nearly 300 scientists who are conducting clinical and basic research relating to depression, anxiety disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, childhood mental disorders, including autism and ADHD, and many other conditions.

For additional information on NARSAD, visit www.narsad.org [1], or call (800) 829-8289.

Constance E. Lieber, president emerita, NARSAD, and George Handran, member of NARSAD’s Board of Directors

Charlotte Ford, Bob Wright, Rosemarie Lieberman, Suzanne Wright, and Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman

Nobel laureate Dr. Paul Greengard of Rockefeller University and Dr. Catharine Duman of Yale University

Allan Schwartz, M.D., Chair of HeartWatch Medical Advisory Board
Chief, Division of Cardiology, Dept. of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, Steve Corwin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, NY Presbyterian Hospital, and Robert Kelly, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Medical Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia

Hilliard Farber, founder of Hilliard Farber & Co., Inc. Brokerage House

Dr. Dan Haupt of Washington University (St. Louis) and son Alexander, Andrew Boral, MD, wife Janina and Andrew, Jr.

Herbert Pardes, M.D. with Betts Custer, Board Member NAMI NYS and Sherry Janowitz Grenz, President NAMI NYS

Ken Harrison and Marla Press, Bobby Pestronk, and John Hollister

Broadcast Journalist and Author Jane Pauley and Donna Satow, co-founder, The Jed Foundation

Sandy Kazlow, Columbia University

Dr. Marc Gameroff and Heidi Fitterling, Columbia University

Donna Hanover with Karen and Charles Kolster

Suzanne Hoyt, member of NARSAD’s National Leadership Council

Dr. William Carpenter of University of Maryland with Carol and Nancy Wexler

Dr. Dolores Malaspina, director of NYU Bellevue INSPIRES (Institute for Severe & Persisten Illness: Research, Education and Service) Program with Ellen and Howard Shusterman

Drs. Catherine and Ronald Duman

Robert and Susi Conley

Bernard and Rosa Meyers

Nick Shepard, Peter Conniff, Bill Haynsworth, Mike Lynch, all with Merrill Lynch

Presentation of Special Gift by Connie Lieber-pictures of grandchildren

Jane Pauley and Donna Hanover

Drs. Francis Lee and Stuart Anderson of Weill Cornell Medical College; Dr. Pasko Rakic, chairman of neurobiology at Yale University; and Dr. Jack Barchas, chairman of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College

This past Monday night in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf, Lenox Hill Hospital held its annual Autumn Ball Gala with the theme “The Beat Goes On.”

The Medal of Distinction award was given to Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, for "her personal strength and courage in promoting early breast cancer detection and treatment." The award was presented by President and CEO of Lenox Hill Hospital Gladys George, Chairman of the Board William O. Hiltz, and Roberts’ surgeon, Dr. Lauren Cassell. The elegant affair raised more than $2 million with 840 attending.


	Katherine and John McEnroe

Dr. Cassell spoke about Ms. Roberts’ journey through her diagnosis with breast cancer. “Like many women, Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to decide whether to keep her problem a private matter or share her journey with the rest of the world. It took great courage for her to choose the latter,” she said. “As a result women who might not have had a mammogram or followed-up on a possible lump were now able to face their fears because Robin was by their side.”

Ms. Roberts joins an impressive list of past Lenox Hill Hospital Medal of Distinction awardees including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Beverly Sills, Lena Horne, Neil Simon, Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Harry Belafonte, Joe Namath, Katie Couric, Whoopi Goldberg, John McEnroe, Tom Brokaw, Julie Andrews, Bette Midler, and Al Roker and Deborah Roberts.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner and dancing to the music of The Deanna Jones Orchestra and went home with eco-friendly recyclable gift bags which included copies of Robin Roberts' new book "From the Heart: Eight Simple Rules To Live By" as well as Origins Stress Reliever Serum and Black Orchid fragrance by Tom Ford.

The Benefit Co-Chairmen were Ellen and Daniel M. Crown and Karen and William
Lauder.

Guests included Bob and Nancy Downy, Terrence and Eileen O'Brien, Judy Hiltz, Dr. Sherrell and Muffie Potter Aston, Jean and Ralph Baruch, Ellen and James Marcus, Katherine and John McEnroe, Dr. Gary and Petra Roubin, Dr. Elliott and Susan Hershman, Pat and Ed Gutman, Caitlin and Jim McMullen, Richard and Francesca Stanfield Nye, KT Sullivan and Steve Downy, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Nicholas, Dr. Alfred Knapp, Dr. Ruth Oratz, Clo and Charles Cohen, Dr. Stuart Orsher, Clifford Orsher, Jacques Blinbaum, Dr. Michael Bruno, Jonathan Canno, Dr. David Edelstein, Dr. Neal Epstein, Michael Hoffman, Dr. Barton Nisonson, Dr. Vicken Pamoukian, Mark Canno, Sulavha and Dr. Nirav Patel, and Joseph Camnarosano.

Dr. Lauren Cassell, Robin Roberts, and Gladys George

Muffie Potter and Dr. Sherrell Aston

Dr. Lauren Cassell and Jacques Blinbaum

Gladys George and Dr. Stuart Orsher and Bob and Nancy Downy, KT Sullivan, and Steve Downy

Charles and Clo Cohen

Ellen Marcus with Ralph and Jean Baruch

Sulavha and Dr. Nirav Patel with Joseph Camnarosano

Bob and Nancy Downy

Richard and Francesca Stanfield Nye

Tina and Mark Canno with Melinda Velez

Caitlin and Jim McMullen with William O. Hiltz

Dr. Ruth Oratz, Dr. Albert Knapp, and Robin Roberts

Also, this past Monday night at Cipriani 42nd Street, Lighthouse International presented LIGHTYEARS; Lighthouse International Salutes the Arts, an evening honoring Iris Apfel, Mario Buatta, Michael Feinstein and Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film Theatre and Broadcasting.


	Roger Goldman and Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Bloomberg spoke at the tribute. Chuck Scarborough was emcee, Joan Rivers was auctioneer, and Brian Stokes Mitchell gave a special performance.

IBM received the Corporate Visionary Award for its work promoting accessibility for people who are visually impaired.

Proceeds support Lighthouse’s mission of fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment.

Chair of the evening was Barbara Saltzman. Gerry Byrne, Pamela Fiori, Sondra and David Mack and Hilary and Wibur Ross served as co-chairs.