Founder’s Dinner Honors Leadership and Inspires Generosity
The Annual Fundraising Event Was One of the Most Successful, Raising More Than $600,000 for Student Initiatives
The Founder’s Dinner celebration at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, New York, on October 22, was among the College’s most successful, raising approximately $620,000 in support of student initiatives. The College’s signature fundraising event drew more than 400 guests from the academic, health care, business, and civic sectors to honor New York Medical College’s (NYMC) visionary leaders and their far-reaching impact.
Funds raised during the gala will enhance scholarships, bolster innovative student programs, and advance NYMC’s ongoing commitment to training compassionate health professionals and driving pioneering biomedical discoveries.
“For 165 years, New York Medical College has been home to some of the most impressive healthcare professionals and medical researchers in the country; today we are proud to carry on that legacy as we honor leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to our school and students,” said Alan Kadish, M.D., president of NYMC and TU. “Now more than ever, educating the next generation of physicians and researchers is critical, and through the funding we received here this evening, we will continue to nourish the great minds we are proud to work with each and every day.”
The College proudly honored three distinguished members of the NYMC community. Renee Garrick, M.D., FACP, FASN, professor of medicine, was presented the Jackson E. Spears Community Service Award, named for long-time board member Jackson E. Spears (1906-2003) and honors individuals or organizations who have demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to their communities. Martin S. Katzenstein, M.D. '78, associate professor of pediatrics and assistant dean for clinical affiliations, and chair of NYMC Board of Advisors, was presented the Distinguished Service and Leadership Award for his contributions to health care, science, and the community, which have elevated the practice of medicine and brought great distinction to the College. John T. Pellicone, M.D., FACP, FCCP, FAACVPR, Phase 1 co-director for the M.D. degree program in the School of Medicine and assistant professor of medicine, was presented the Alfred B. DelBello Distinguished Service Award for advancing NYMC’s mission of education and research through service, commitment and expert ability.
The program was hosted by Vilma E. Bordonaro, M.B.A., chief of staff, and Mill Etienne, M.D. ‘02, M.P.H., vice chancellor, associate dean for student affairs, and associate professor of neurology and of medicine.
“The evening was a tremendous success,” said Stacy Velarde, chief development officer. “We are deeply grateful to our honorees for their outstanding commitment and to all who joined us in support of our students and mission. Thanks to their generosity, this year’s celebration raised approximately $620,000—an incredible achievement that will have a lasting impact on the College and the futures of our students.”
Presenting Sponsors
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Mr. Stephen Rosenberg
Terumah Foundation
Gold Sponsors
Mr. David Lichtenstein
Ayala and Gary Barnett
NYMC Board of Advisors
Martin Oliner, Esq.
Westchester Medical Center
Silver Sponsors
Boston Children's Health Physicians
Physician Affiliate Group of New York
Bronze Sponsors
California Bank and Trust
Munr Kazmir, M.D.
Sarah & Andrew Levy
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
Ronald & Peggy Poe
Saint Joseph's Medical Center, Yonkers
Webster Bank
Dessert Sponsors
Ellen & Mitchell Cairo, M.D.
Randi & Leonard J. Newman, M.D. '70
Tamar & Avi Retter, M.D.
About the Honorees
Renee Garrick, M.D., FACP, FASN
Dr. Renee Garrick has been a member of the staffs of Westchester Medical Center (WMC) and NYMC since 1985. She served as vice dean of NYMC and chief medical executive of WMC beginning in 2005, and as chief medical officer of the Westchester Health Network from 2015 until her retirement in 2025. In these roles, she oversaw graduate medical education, clinical care, academic affairs, quality and safety, and regulatory initiatives for WMCHealth, a 1,700-bed, ten-hospital health system and the only academic medical center in the Hudson Valley.
A practicing nephrologist with more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Garrick has held leadership roles at the local, state, and national level in quality and safety. She has long served on the Quality Committee of the Healthcare Association of New York State, including as chair since 2021, and is a member of the New York State Office Based Surgery Safety Committee. Nationally, she co-chaired the National Quality Forum Renal Standing Committee, advised the National Institutes of Health on Data Safety Monitoring Boards, and serves in the American Society of Nephrology/Centers for Disease Control collaborative on dialysis safety, where she chairs the Human Factors Committee. She also sits on the American Society of Nephrology Advisory Panel on Excellence in Patient Care. In 2024, she received the Renal Physicians Association Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Garrick has served on the Westchester Healthcare Corporation Board for more than 20 years, is a fellow of both the American Society of Nephrology and the American College of Physicians and has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor annually for 24 years.
Martin S. Katzenstein, M.D. '78
An alum of NYMC, Dr. Martin Katzenstein has served on the faculty at since 1984. Dr. Katzenstein has chaired the College's Board of Advisors since 2014 after years of serving as a member of the Board, which is comprised of leading professional, communal, philanthropic and business leaders, tasked with providing ongoing guidance, support and resources, for the growth and development of NYMC. Dr. Katzenstein also serves as assistant dean for clinical affiliations at NYMC, vice president for community affairs for Touro University and as a member of Touro's Board of Governors.
Dr. Katzenstein currently serves as chief of service and director of neonatology at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, and as director of community alliances for Boston Children's Health Physicians as well as an attending neonatologist at Westchester Medical Center. He previously served as chief of neonatology at Montefiore North, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center and St. Agnes Medical Center.
John T. Pellicone, M.D., FACP, FCCP, FAACVPR
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. John Pellicone earned an honors degree with distinction in chemistry from Dartmouth College. He received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons followed by an internal medicine residency at Montefiore Medical Center. He completed a pulmonary fellowship at the NYU-Bellevue Medical Center.
Dr. Pellicone opened his private practice in pulmonary medicine in 1986 and then joined the staff of Helen Hayes Hospital as director of the Special Care Unit. He was named chief medical officer of Nyack Hospital in 2001. The following year he was named the chief medical officer at Helen Hayes Hospital, making him the only chief medical officer overseeing two institutions within the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System. In 2015, he was named chief medical officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. Following his retirement from Metropolitan in May of 2025, he joined the NYMC School of Medicine as the Phase 1 Curriculum Committee co-director.
