Intellectually, Dr. Alex Robles understood that he was graduating from Weill Cornell Medical College, the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication. But the accomplishment didn't truly hit him until he heard his name called and his family cheering as he walked across the stage at the iconic Carnegie Hall to receive his diploma.

Dr. Robles, who will soon begin a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, recalled a quote often attributed to the great scientist, Sir Isaac Newton — "I am only where I am because I stood on the shoulders of giants" — to sum up how grateful he feels for his degree, awarded on May 28.

"I have to thank my family and all my closest friends and every single person whose helped me along the journey — all of the faculty, all of the teachers I had in high school and college," he said. "Everyone has made a contribution to where I am today."

Dr. Robles joined 279 of his classmates — 138 fellow medical doctors, 69 Ph.D.s, 40 physician assistants, and 33 with master of science degrees —to celebrate graduation. Bouquets of red and white flowers lined the Perelman Stage as Cornell University President David Skorton joined with Deans Laurie H. Glimcher and Gary Koretzky, and Dr. Stephen Scott, associate dean for student affairs from Qatar, in conferring degrees on students graduating from Weill Cornell Medical College, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

=With their education behind them, the graduates, including 42 doctors from Qatar, will begin their residencies, postdocs, fellowships and other phases of their careers. But no matter where they go or what they do, Dr. Glimcher said, they need to remember what inspired them to pursue a career in medicine in the first place — making a difference in another human being's life.

"Regardless of whether we're a clinician, a scientist, a health professional, a patient or someone else, we're all engaged in writing the stories of our lives," said Dr. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell. "And ultimately, these are stories of discovery — stories of scientific breakthroughs, stories of courage in the face of adversity, stories about ourselves and the kind of people we want to be. The one message I hope you take with you from your time at Weill Cornell is to keep the patient at the center of everything you do. Make that the driving force in your story."

The stories these new Weill Cornell Medical College graduates tell will undoubtedly detail their passion for medicine, loyalty to patients and devotion to service. These are the students who will lead healthcare's transformation, drive national dialogue and realize public policy changes, Dr. David Skorton said in his final commencement address as president of Cornell University.

"Just as your Weill Cornell degrees will open countless doors to professional opportunities now and throughout your professional lives," President Skorton said, "your status as Weill Cornell graduates will give you credibility and influence in the public sector... We know that you can make a difference — in the lives of your patients, in increasing the store of biomedical knowledge and in educating the public in ways that can change the world. We're counting on you!"

And these stories should be filled with ingenuity and reflect the courage to take scientific risks—even with the possibility of failure.

"Graduate education emphasizes learning a process that allows you to unleash your unique, creative potential," said Dr. Koretzky, dean of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. "Your thesis work is a reflection of that creativity. Each of you has accomplished a body of scholarship that has taught the world things we would not have otherwise appreciated. I hope that along the way your mentors have inspired you so that you will continue to aspire to meet that creative potential as you embark on a career of lifelong learning and discovery."

But discovery can't happen in a vacuum, said Dr. Igor Dikiy, the graduate school's commencement speaker. The next chapters he and his classmates write will illustrate the power of teamwork, and how new scientific insights, no matter how small they seem, impact the greater whole.

Dr. Igor Dikiy addresses the Class of 2015 during commencement on May28. Photo credit: Amelia Panico

"Now that we've received our degrees, I urge you, fellow graduates, to look back at the broader implications of your work," Dr. Dikiy said. "Each of us has contributed to the sum total of scientific knowledge. And that's pretty amazing."

While all the discoveries, patients and experiences these new physicians and scientists encounter will add to their stories, the body of work will always be unfinished. There is always something more to achieve, medical college commencement speaker Dr. Alec Swinburne said. Physicians must continue to strive for an ideal that has no finite end.

"I know that for many of us, we look around today in the audience and we see a number of role models — prototypes for our careers. People who are already the type of doctors we want to be," he said. "These people are the role models we look to not because they're finished products. …They continuously strive to become a more perfect doctor — to be sharper, to be kinder, and to be more efficient in their care, more generous in their teaching, and to be more human every day."

Although science continues to change, he added, "this ideal of doctoring that we've observed and shared and made our own — this ideal will last."

Dr. Patrice Cohen, who had a large family presence at the commencement, including her mother from Trinidad and others from Philadelphia and Brooklyn, was ecstatic to have reached this important milestone.

"Today feels unbelievable," Dr. Cohen said after the ceremony. "I still have goosebumps."

Asked to recall the most memorable moment of her past four years, she couldn't pinpoint just one. But her work with patients — especially those who were reaching the end of their lives — stand out, she said. She liked talking to them about their lives and their varied perspectives on the world, and always asked what traits they believed doctors need to be good at their jobs.

"One patient told me that adaptability is the most important trait for a doctor and I think that's really true," she said.

While all of the students will have to adapt to what's next, in Dr. Cohen's case that means pursuing a career in radiation oncology. She'll spend a transitional year at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx and then move on to four years at NYU Langone Medical Center in her specialty.

"I'm looking forward to putting to use the skills that we learned at Weill Cornell," she said. "I'm really, really excited."

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar made history this year as 42 students — the largest group in the program's 14-year history — graduated on May 6 and received their Cornell University medical degrees.

Student speaker Dr. Ahmen Mohsen addressed the students in the graduating class, who will go on to their respective residencies in hospitals in the United States and Qatar, or take up research positions."Class of 2015, as you look forward to the next chapter in your lives, remember this unprecedented generosity of Qatar Foundation in giving you the opportunity to become world-class physicians," said Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q. The Qatar Foundation, a non-profit that Cornell partnered with in 2001 to establish WCMC-Q, fully funds the medical school. "And consider how you can similarly enrich the lives of others, both locally and globally."

"I'd like to thank all of our educators, including our premedical and medical professors, our clinical faculty at Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medical and Research Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital," Dr. Mosehn said. "We have realized that the skills you have taught us have granted us the opportunity to serve society, provide for our families, and help steer the world into a more positive direction. Thank you for this gift, which we will cherish and promise to hold dear."

The students, their friends and family, and faculty were also joined by the Minister for Health, His Excellency Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani, who spoke to them about their plans for the future, and Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

A group of graduating students from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar have a discussion with the Minister of Health, His Excellency Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani.

"Whether you end up working at the bedside or pursuing research, working in pediatrics or geriatrics, the patient should always be the focus of your efforts — and the force propelling you forward on your path of discovery," Dr. Glimcher said.

At his last WCMC-Q commencement as president of Cornell University, Dr. David Skorton addressed the audience in a recorded video message and spoke of Cornell's pride in 2015's graduating class.

"During my nine years as president of Cornell University, one of my great joys has been to see the growth and flowering of this program and the young people of extraordinary talent and commitment who become our graduates," he said. "I congratulate all of you on your achievements and wish you great success as you move to the next stage of your medical careers."

NEW YORK (December 4, 2014) — Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it has received a $25 million gift from Gale and Ira Drukier to establish a premier, cross-disciplinary institute dedicated to understanding the underlying causes of diseases that are devastating to children. Its goal will be to rapidly translate basic research breakthroughs into the most advanced therapies for patients.

The extraordinary gift names the Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children's Health and will enable the medical college to recruit a team of leading scientists, including a renowned expert who will serve as the Gale and Ira Drukier Director, to pursue innovative research that improves treatments and therapies for the littlest patients. The Drukier Institute, a marquee program that will be headquartered on the 12th floor of Weill Cornell's new Belfer Research Building, will also expand and enhance the medical college's already-distinguished research and clinical care programs that strive to end diseases and disorders that affect children and adolescents, including asthma, autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and schizophrenia."We couldn't be more grateful to Gale and Ira, whose generous gift exemplifies their commitment to advancing human health and their steadfast support of Weill Cornell Medical College," said Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the Weill Cornell Board of Overseers. "The Drukiers' investment will better the lives of children in New York and beyond, and will leave a lasting mark on our next generation."

"We are greatly appreciative of Gale and Ira Drukier, whose remarkable gift will enable Weill Cornell to expand its world-class research and clinical care programs for children, who can't be treated like little adults," said Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. "The Drukiers' generosity is critical in allowing us to attract the best and brightest minds in pediatric research, who will lead the way as we pursue innovative treatments and therapies that will ensure the health of children now and in the future."

"As parents and grandparents, Gale and I appreciate the tremendous impact medicine can have on growing children," said Dr. Ira Drukier, a member of the Weill Cornell Board of Overseers. "When you cure children, you give them their entire life back. It's with immense pride that we are able to make this investment, which will empower Weill Cornell Medical College to focus and direct all of its outstanding pediatric research under the auspices of one institute and provide vital resources to develop tomorrow's treatments and cures."

"It gives us great joy to be able to support Weill Cornell Medical College and make such a tremendous difference in children's lives," Dr. Gale Drukier said. "This gift also continues our enduring relationship with Cornell University, with which we have been connected for 40 years."

The Drukiers have a legacy of philanthropy at Cornell University, having provided generous support to its Herbert F. Johnson Art Museum and College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

"We at Cornell are immensely grateful to Gale and Ira Drukier for their extraordinary leadership and generosity, which has already been felt across the university," President David Skorton said. "With this spectacular new gift, the Drukiers are enabling us to achieve an unprecedented level of excellence in pediatric research. The bench-to-bedside approach of the Drukier Institute will have a lasting impact on children and their families, giving hope when they need it most."

"The gift from Gale and Ira Drukier establishing the Drukier Institute for Children's Health makes a powerful statement about the importance of focusing the energies of a major research institution on improving the health and wellbeing of children," said Dr. Gerald M. Loughlin, the Nancy C. Paduano Professor of Pediatrics and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College and pediatrician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "It is a wonderful legacy for these visionary philanthropists."

Caring for children is particularly challenging because their bodies are constantly changing as they grow, and their metabolisms and immune systems are vastly different than those of adults. Understanding the factors that spur growth in children can present possible lines of inquiry into other diseases, such as cancer, because tumors are also programmed to grow. There are also many genetic and developmental diseases that arise in childhood and pose serious health risks during adulthood. But treating these conditions can be arduous for pediatric patients. Many of the common treatments and therapies available to adults have toxic effects on children, making it critical to devise new and better interventions.

Using genomics and other cutting-edge research approaches, the cross-disciplinary Drukier Institute will drive excellence and innovation in pediatrics, seeking to rapidly and seamlessly catalyze research breakthroughs into the most advanced, safe and effective patient care. The Drukiers' generosity will empower the medical college to recruit five top-flight investigators — including a faculty member who conducts clinical research in pediatric genetics — to augment the distinguished team of physician-scientists already at Weill Cornell, as well as train the next generation of researchers in the field.

To help realize this vision, the Drukiers' gift will enable Weill Cornell to secure the latest research equipment, such as sequencing and informatics technology, as well as develop an infrastructure to establish a biobank. Investigators at the institute will work in close collaboration with clinicians in Weill Cornell's Department of Pediatrics to ensure that children immediately benefit from the latest research advances.

To encourage and support faculty development, research and education, the gift will endow the Drukier Lectureship, an annual lecture at Weill Cornell on a research or clinical topic in the field of children's health. It will also establish the Drukier Prize, which will be awarded once a year to a junior faculty member in the United States or abroad for excellence and achievement in advancing research on childhood diseases or disorders.

About Gale and Ira Drukier

A Cornell University graduate, Ira Drukier is co-owner of BD Hotels, LLC, a real estate development company that owns and operates more than two-dozen hotel properties in New York City, including the Mercer, Hotel Elysee and the Maritime.

Dr. Drukier graduated from Cornell in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a focus on solid-state physics and in 1967 with a Master in Engineering, earning a doctorate in electrical engineering in 1973 from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Upon graduation, he joined RCA Corporation's David Sarnoff Research Center, conducting research in the field of microwave semiconductors, which culminated in his development of the first high-power compound semiconductor field effect transistor. In 1976, he joined Microwave Semiconductor Corporation (MSC) and established a division to develop and manufacture high-power microwave transistors for commercial and military use. Siemens Corporation acquired MSC in 1981, and Dr. Drukier stayed on as corporate vice president until 1983, when he ventured into a career in real estate.

Dr. Drukier has served on the Weill Cornell Board of Overseers since 2012, sat on Cornell University's Board of Trustees for eight years and was a member of the Cornell Tech Task Force to help develop the Cornell NYC Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. He is chair of the council for the Johnson Art Museum at Cornell, chair of the board of trustees building committee of the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, N.Y., and serves on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's President's Council. Dr. Drukier is vice-chair of the American Society for Yad Vashem and is a member of the Museum of Jewish Heritage's Board of Overseers. He has also published numerous papers and given lectures in the field of microwave electronics and has contributed a chapter to a book on Gallium Arsenide Field Effect Transistors.

Gale Drukier graduated from New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development in 1972 with a degree in speech pathology and audiology, later earning a Master of Science ('73) and a Doctor of Education degree ('79) in audiology from Teacher's College at Columbia University. Dr. Drukier began her career as an audiologist at Bellevue Hospital and at Veterans Affairs hospitals in metropolitan New York, later joining Trenton State University — now the College of New Jersey — as a professor. During her 17-year tenure there, Dr. Drukier conducted research, taught and developed the college's nationally accredited graduate program in audiology. She was consistently recognized by her students as the "Best Teacher." After retiring from teaching, Dr. Drukier joined her family's business, BD Hotels, and has managed and renovated properties on Manhattan's West Side for more than 12 years.

Dr. Drukier has continued to serve NYU since her graduation. She has been a member of the Steinhardt Dean's Council since 2005 as a supporter of the educational and fundraising initiatives of the school. In 2007, Dr. Drukier joined the NYU Board of Trustees and presently chairs its Academic Affairs Committee. In 2010, Dr. Drukier endowed and named the deanship of NYU's Steinhardt School of Education. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by NYU in 2013.

Dr. Drukier has also been active at Cornell University, chairing the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art's Program Committee and is a member of the Plantations Council. Dr. Drukier and her husband endowed the deanship at Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning, endowed the curator of prints and drawings at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum and created a garden at Plantations at Cornell University. The couple is also active in the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, N.Y., and serves on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's President's Council. Dr. Drukier is an animal lover, particularly of felines, and is on the board of directors of the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. The Drukiers have one daughter and four grandchildren.

Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University's medical school located in New York City, is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine, locally, nationally and globally. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research from bench to bedside aimed at unlocking mysteries of the human body in health and sickness and toward developing new treatments and prevention strategies. In its commitment to global health and education, Weill Cornell has a strong presence in places such as Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Through the historic Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University is the first in the U.S. to offer a M.D. degree overseas. Weill Cornell is the birthplace of many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer, the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, and most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. Weill Cornell Medical College is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where its faculty provides comprehensive patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Medical College is also affiliated with Houston Methodist. For more information, visit weill.cornell.edu.

This release was updated on Dec. 16, 2014.

Graduating from Weill Cornell Medical College is more than a dream come true for Peter Movilla — it's a family accomplishment. The 26-year-old from New Jersey is not only the first in his family to earn a college degree, but now he also has an M.D. at the end of his name.

"This is something I've dreamt of since sophomore year of college," Dr. Movilla said after picking up his diploma on May 29. "There were a lot of hurdles, but with the support of my family, a lot of mentors and people I look up to, it became a dream and a realization today. And I just want to say thank you to all of them — especially my mother, who had me when she was 14 years old and was my biggest supporter."

Dr. Movilla joined nearly 300 of his classmates at Carnegie Hall to celebrate a milestone in their lives: graduating from the medical college and Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Bouquets of red and white flowers lined the Perelman Stage as Cornell University President David Skorton joined with Deans Laurie H. Glimcher, Gary Koretzky and Javaid Sheikh in conferring degrees of doctor of medicine, master of science and doctor of philosophy.

"With change occurring at an astronomical rate, I challenge you to be leaders in your field," said Dr. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell. "Become a person who innovates and drives medicine or biomedical science forward and shapes it for the better. It's no exaggeration to say that the health of generations to

Weill Cornell Music and Medicine students perform original music, "Iuro Per Quod," at commencement

come lies in your hands."

The commencement exercises recognized the triumphs of 291 students: 70 with Ph.D.s, 43 physician assistants with master of science in health sciences, 36 with master of science degrees and 142 medical doctors —34 of whom are from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. With their studies behind them, they will now begin their residencies, fellowships and other phases of their careers.

"There has never been a time like this before in the history of biomedical investigation, as the gulf between fundamental discovery and how that discovery can be applied to improve the care of patients has never been smaller," said Dr. Koretzky, dean of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. "You have made and you will continue to make observations, in the laboratory, at the bedside and using assembled patient data, that will inform our physician assistant and medical school graduates as they care for their patients."

But just as important as making scientific breakthroughs, whether it be at the lab bench or at the patient's bedside, it is vital for these new physicians and scientists to be able to communicate the value of their work to the public, Dr. Skorton said. That could make a difference in advancing the biomedical sciences in an era of budget austerity.

"I know you can make a difference — in the lives of your patients, in increasing the store of biomedical knowledge and in educating the public in ways that can change the world," he said. "We're counting on you to change it."

Making real impact on the world requires a sense of humility and honesty, said student commencement speaker Dr. Sandeep Kishore. He challenged his fellow graduates to work together, support each other and, above all, be vulnerable.

Graduate school commencement speaker Dr. Victoria Schulman stands with her classmates as they are honored during the ceremony

Making a difference also requires an exceptional curiosity, perseverance and not fearing the prospect of failing, said Dr. Victoria Schulman, the graduate school's commencement speaker.

"I encourage everyone in this room to be curious enough and brave enough to continue pursuing the questions that drive your work, because it doesn't stop here," she said. "Our goal as students was to earn an advanced degree. Our goal as graduating students is to exceed what's already been done, to expand on what's already known to turn that degree into a career — a career that yields amazing results."

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar graduate Dr. Danial Mir is excited about what's in store for him — a surgical residency at Johns Hopkins, followed by a residency in radiology at Emory University. But in the first few moments after receiving his medical degree, all he could think about is what it took to get to this point.

"I finally have what I've been working towards for so long," he said. "It was worth it."

York Avenue Flagship Building Will Bear Meyer Name in Honor of Gift

NEW YORK (January 8, 2014) — Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it has received a $75 million gift from Sandra and Edward Meyer and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Foundation to expand and enhance the medical college's distinguished cancer research and care programs. 

This landmark gift names the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College, led by preeminent cancer researcher Dr. Lewis Cantley, which is dedicated to using precision medicine and other cutting-edge biomedical approaches to spur and then translate research breakthroughs into the most advanced therapies for patients. In honor of the Meyer family's generous gift, Weill Cornell will name its flagship building on 1300 York Ave. as the Sandra and Edward Meyer Research and Education Building.

"We are deeply grateful to Sandra and Edward Meyer for their transformative gift, which will enable Weill Cornell to expand its world-class enterprise in cancer research and clinical care," says Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. "Cancer is a disease that touches everyone's lives, and with Ed and Sandy's generous support, we will be able to rapidly accelerate our pursuit of groundbreaking treatments and therapies for our patients."

"As longtime friends of Ed and Sandy, it gives Joan and me great pleasure to witness the Meyer family's exceptional investment in Weill Cornell and its preeminent cancer research enterprise," says Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the Weill Cornell Board of Overseers. "With their gift, the Meyer family has shown their steadfast dedication to enhancing human health and leaving a lasting mark on science and medicine."

"All of us at Cornell — in Ithaca, in New York and beyond — are profoundly grateful for Ed and Sandy's thoughtful support and the difference it will make for cancer patients and their families," says David J. Skorton, president of Cornell University. "As cancer research and treatment move increasingly toward therapies that are tailored to patients' individual genetic profiles and needs, the Meyer family's gift allows us to make the necessary investments to advance this groundbreaking area of medicine and realize its promise."

"We are deeply thankful to the Meyer family for such an incredible gift," says Dr. Cantley, the Meyer Director of the cancer center, the Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor in Oncology Research and professor of cancer biology in medicine at Weill Cornell. "Their generosity will enable us to realize our goal of developing cancer treatments that capitalize on precision medicine, offering targeted, individualized care based on each patient's tumor. This gift will make it possible for us to be at the forefront of cancer research, to purchase the necessary technology and recruit the very best talent to carry out this vital work."

"Sandy, our children Meg and Tony and I gave careful consideration to which New York institution was best poised to produce breakthroughs in cancer, and Weill Cornell was the obvious choice due to its exceptional roster of translational, cutting-edge scientists and commitment to building its oncology research enterprise," says Edward Meyer. "Our daughter's experience working with Dr. Cantley many years ago solidified our lifelong respect for him, and we are thrilled and humbled to have him lead the Meyer Cancer Center. We can think of no better investment that will make as big a difference in the world, and we know that together we can do great things for cancer patients and their families."

Meyer Cancer Center Breaks New Ground for Cancer Research

The Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center is dedicated to using state-of-the-art technologies for basic, clinical and translational cancer research, as well as providing support for initiating and conducting novel clinical trials.

The Meyer family. Clockwise from top left: Anthony Meyer, Margaret Meyer, Edward Meyer and Sandra Meyer. Photo credit: Lindsey Potter

The Meyer Cancer Center will also unify cancer research activities throughout Weill Cornell and enhance three core areas: a centralized biobank, cancer genomics and computational biology, which are crucial to physicians who base each patient's treatment plan or enrollment in clinical trials on his or her genetic profile. The Meyer Cancer Center will conduct activity throughout the Weill Cornell campus, including in the Weill Greenberg Center, the Meyer Education and Research Building, the Belfer Research Building, and other research and clinical facilities.It is a pivotal time for cancer research and treatment. Technological advances enabling scientists to conduct detailed molecular analyses of the damaged genes in cancer have revolutionized the field, revealing new opportunities to develop therapies that target the events driving tumor growth in individual patients. The Meyer Cancer Center champions a dramatic shift in the paradigm for translational biomedical research and clinical care. It will engage basic scientists, pathologists, bioinformaticians, surgeons, radiation oncologists and radiologists who will collaborate daily to move these discoveries from the bench to clinical trials and ultimately into therapies for patients.

In addition, the Meyer family's gift will enable Weill Cornell to continue its efforts in recruiting the world's best and brightest minds in cancer research and clinical care, while also providing seed money to realize innovative research projects. In expanding and enhancing the research activities of the cancer programs at Weill Cornell, the Meyer Cancer Center will ensure that patients can immediately benefit from the latest discoveries and treatments, especially in clinical trials, while training future researchers and recruiting scientific and clinical leaders.

In appreciation and recognition of the Meyer family's gift, Weill Cornell will name its flagship building and its eight floors as the Sandra and Edward Meyer Research and Education Building. The Meyer Building is the main artery to Weill Cornell's adjoining structures, a bridge that links the medical college's mission of medical education, biomedical research and clinical care. The Meyer Building encompasses key educational facilities for instruction, including the medical library, lecture halls and teaching laboratories. It is also home to numerous laboratories that produced many of Weill Cornell's storied biomedical research accomplishments and led to more advanced patient care.

About Sandra and Edward Meyer and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Foundation

A graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in economics with honors, Edward Meyer is the former chairman, president and CEO of Grey Global Group, one of the world's largest advertising and marketing and communications companies. He is now chairman of Ocean Road Advisors, Inc., which directs investment and related activities. Sandra Meyer is a board member of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, a preeminent summer music festival on Long Island; a major supporter of Women for Women International, an institution which helps women move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency; a member of the Group for the East End, a Long Island land conservation organization; and a member of the Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations.

While this is the Meyer family's first gift to Weill Cornell Medical College, in 2012 Edward Meyer funded the Edward H. Meyer Professorship of Economics at his alma mater, Cornell University. Through their family foundation, established in 1966, the Meyer family has an enduring dedication to philanthropy and has championed medical research and clinical care, arts and education, Jewish organizations and federated giving programs. Beneficiaries of their generosity include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYU Langone Medical Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the American Jewish Committee.

Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University's medical school located in New York City, is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine, locally, nationally and globally. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research from bench to bedside aimed at unlocking mysteries of the human body in health and sickness and toward developing new treatments and prevention strategies. In its commitment to global health and education, Weill Cornell has a strong presence in places such as Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Through the historic Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University is the first in the U.S. to offer a M.D. degree overseas. Weill Cornell is the birthplace of many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer, the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, and most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. Weill Cornell Medical College is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where its faculty provides comprehensive patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Medical College is also affiliated with Houston Methodist. For more information, visit weill.cornell.edu.

On Friday, Feb. 1, Sanford I. Weill, chairman of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College, announced that the school had reached its goal of raising $1.3 billion, thus completing the highly ambitious Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign. The announcement was made at the Medical College in the presence of Cornell University's Board of Trustees, including Chairman Robert Harrison and President Dr. David Skorton, along with the Weill Cornell Medical College Board of Overseers.

"After six years, we have completed our $1.3 billion campaign to dramatically expand our research endeavor," said Mr. Weill. "We received over $1 million from more than 130 different people and institutions, which I think really shows the broad base of support that we have. We believe in leading by example, and all of you were a great example to all of us. We thank you very much."

Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell, and Overseer Robert. J. Appel, chair of the Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign Steering Committee.

The Discoveries that Make a Difference Campaign was launched in October 2006 as part of Cornell University's comprehensive capital campaign. At the time, it was thought to be the largest campaign ever undertaken by a medical school. Remarkably, the goal was reached in just more than six years.

Guided by the leadership of former Dean and current co-Chair of the Board of Overseers Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., the cornerstone of the Discoveries Campaign was conceived to be the Belfer Research Building, which is set to open at the beginning of 2014, and will double Weill Cornell's research space.

Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the current Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College, has further energized the campaign with a focus on recruiting the leading lights who are taking on some of the most pressing medical issues of our time.

"We are all excited to have the opportunity to work with Laurie," said Mr. Weill. "We are thrilled to see what the future will bring with medicine, education and all of the things we do here with patient care."

The strategic expansion of Weill Cornell's research mission would not have been possible without the extraordinary philanthropic support of Weill Cornell's countless donors and through the leadership and commitment of the Discoveries Campaign's Steering Committee, which is chaired by Overseer Robert J. Appel. Steering Committee members include Dr. Madelyn Antoncic, Robert A. Belfer, Sanford B. Ehrenkranz, Israel A. Englander, Jeffrey J. Feil, Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Dr. David P. Hajjar, Robert S. Harrison, John A. Kanas, Peter C. Meinig, Ronay Menschel, Larry Schafer, Dr. David J. Skorton, Daisy M. Soros and Sanford I. Weill.

For physicians and biomedical scientists, a career in academic medicine can reap great rewards but such a career is also intensely competitive and pressure-filled. It's for that reason that it is vital to infuse faculty mentoring and development into the culture of academic medical centers.

Cornell University President Dr. David J. Skorton emphasized this point last month to 10 Weill Cornell Medical College faculty members who take part in the Department of Medicine's Faculty Development Mentoring Program, a novel peer mentoring program that was launched in 2010 to mentor faculty in the early stage of their careers.

On April 10, Dr. Skorton spoke to and exchanged ideas with the current group of assistant professors participating in the program. Their success as faculty, he said, is fundamental to achieving the Medical College's mission of developing and retaining outstanding clinicians, educators and scientists. To attain that success and facilitate career development, faculty need to reflect on the choices they've made and rely on their entrenched values to lead them in the right direction.

Cornell University President Dr. David J. Skorton Photo credit: Amelia Panico

"I think academic medicine can be dehumanizing," Dr. Skorton said. "You think about your career instead of your life and personal values."

The Department of Medicine faculty mentoring program, developed by Dr. Linda Pololi, senior scientist at Brandeis University and director of the National Initiative on Gender, Culture and Leadership in Medicine (C-Change), is designed to be collaborative, diverse and cross-specialty. About a dozen or so faculty members representing a cross-section of the Medical College in discipline — basic science, clinical research and education — take part in the 10-month course, which involves monthly eight-hour group sessions conducted offsite.

Participants learn how to align their careers and life goals with their values, enabling them to develop individualized career plans. They also learn how to improve oral presentation and writing skills and focus on team building, leadership, negotiation as well as other important skills requisite for success in academic medicine.

"My role is to provide support and guidance for each of the participants to achieve career advancement goals for themselves," said Dr. Pololi, who is facilitating two peer-group mentoring programs for early- and mid-career professors in the Department of Medicine. "I guide them through a structured process of individualized career planning using a values-based approach. The participants learn to collaborate, trust and mentor each other."

While the results of the program will only be seen as these faculty move along in their burgeoning careers, a survey taken of participants in last year's mentoring class indicates that all found the program valuable. The same seems to be true of the faculty going through the program this year.

Assistant professors at Weill Cornell who participate in the Department of Medicine's Faculty Development Mentoring Program. From front row to back, left to right: Drs. Matthew Press, Linda Pololi, Maureen Lane, Ronald Scheff; Drs. Meredith Lash, Ernie Esquivel; Drs. Xiaoyu Hu, Janey Peterson, Juliet Aizer, Tara Bishop, program Administrator Mary Elizabeth Kelser; Dr. J. Travis Gossey. Photo credit: Amelia Panico

"I think it's been fantastic," said Dr. Tara Bishop, assistant professor of medicine and assistant professor of public health. "I've never had an opportunity to have time set out to think about my career and where I want to be in the next decade and what it'll take to get there."

To build a collaborative and collegial team of junior faculty peers, program administrators in the Department of Medicine sought out those who represent the broad range of research and educational goals that engage the faculty at Weill Cornell. The participants say these efforts have been successful.

"I appreciate the opportunity to join with other faculty members to focus on such important issues," said Dr. Matthew Press, assistant professor of medicine and assistant professor of public health. "I think it really has fostered collegiality and for me, it's been a great opportunity to forge friendships with faculty members I otherwise would not have met if not for this program."

A committed believer in coaching, Dr. Skorton shared with the group an insight that he gleaned during his career as a doctor, scientist and leader: It's OK to make mistakes and it's just as important to get honest feedback. That holds true while evaluating the decisions made in life.

"It's hard to give yourself permission to make choices in life because making one choice, by definition, means you let something else go," Dr. Skorton said. He asked the faculty members if the program's emphasis on introspection made them question their chosen vocation.

"I think the reflection brought me back to my core values and even more enthusiastic about the choices I've made," responded Dr. Juliet Aizer, assistant professor of clinical medicine.

Instead of questioning her decisions, she said the program, in fact, reaffirmed them.