During the fiscal year that ended June 30, the medical center supported organizations through 169 grants to address critical needs, including access to healthcare, housing stability, food security and other essential resources.

A $300,000 grant to the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will strengthen regional food access through CalFresh outreach and enrollment efforts. The funding will also support the infrastructure of local farmers markets and coordinated strategies to protect food-purchasing power and access to healthy, culturally relevant food for low-income residents.

The medical center has invested in regional food systems by backing local growers and issuing grants to programs such as FeedLA through the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles as well as YMCA Center for Community Well-Being locations.

A grant to ALMA Backyard Farms helped expand the urban agriculture infrastructure, workforce training opportunities and fresh food distribution in communities with limited access to healthy food and green space. This contribution includes aid toward the development of a new farm hub in Carson.

Shifts in public program protocols continue to reshape the social services landscape. Cedars-Sinai has pledged to expand its investments in community-based organizations.

The latest round of grants also included $250,000 to Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County to assist residents navigating programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Covered California and Medicare.

To support healthy aging and quality of life programs, Cedars-Sinai awarded two grants to expand services for seniors and their caregivers. A grant to Comprehensive Community Health Centers will help increase behavioral health engagement and ensure those in need can receive effective medical treatment.

Watts Healthcare also received a grant to aid its Healthy Aging and Wellness Program that promotes physical, emotional and social wellbeing through preventive care, fitness and nutritional support, and mental health resources.

Cedars-Sinai funded two initiatives focused on homeless prevention and long-term support to those facing housing instability. According to the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, more than 72,000 people experience homelessness on any given night across L.A. County.

A grant to the housing advocacy organization Brilliant Corners supported the Los Angeles County Homeless Prevention Unit’s efforts to provide flexible financial assistance to at-risk young adults in danger of losing housing.

A grant to local nonprofit Housing Works will fund enhanced training, professional development and wellness support for frontline staff serving those who have faced homelessness.

A Cedars-Sinai grant to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles will support care through the organization’s network of health centers, school-based wellbeing centers and its community outreach efforts.

“Cedars-Sinai is deeply compelled to continue providing support to organizational partners in their dedication to helping communities across this region,” said Andrea Iloulian, MPP, executive director of Grantmaking at Cedars-Sinai. “These organizations are on the front lines of improving access to medical care for everyone as well as providing food and housing assistance. This will help ensure vulnerable populations have the support and supplies they need to survive and thrive.”

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: $13M Gift Creates Cedars-Sinai Holoman Health Equity Center

The Holoman gift establishes the Cedars-Sinai Holoman Health Equity Center and endows the Holoman Chair in Health Equity, to be held by Christina Harris, MD, vice president and chief health equity officer at Cedars-Sinai.

“We are grateful to Eric and Terri Holoman for their civic-minded vision to help balance the scales in health equity reform,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer at Cedars-Sinai. “This gift reflects deep alignment between the Holomans’ values and Cedars-Sinai’s.” 

Health equity has been a bedrock of Cedars-Sinai’s mission to offer hope and healing to all, regardless of factors including, but not limited to, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.

Yet, evolving challenges in healthcare access and delivery, in combination with long-standing systemic barriers, make this a pivotal time that calls for re-evaluation and restructuring of processes and procedures, Harris said. Many people still face obstacles including coverage and affordability gaps that are inextricably tied to social determinants of health such as income, housing, transportation and education.

Harris said she will use her platform as the Holoman Chair in Health Equity to drive comprehensive programs and research.

“This endowed chair is, in many ways, a commitment to the profound legacy of the late Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN,” Harris said. “She became Cedars-Sinai’s first chief health equity officer after launching the Office of Health Equity in 2019. I am honored to carry this mission forward, standing on the shoulders of her esteemed leadership.”

Cedars-Sinai hosted a dinner in honor of the Holomans at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on May 27. Highly regarded nationally for their philanthropy, the Holoman family is a long-time supporter of Cedars-Sinai. Over the past decade, they have contributed to the medical center to support the Neurosurgery Scholars Program and The Brain Trust, a volunteer group that advances fundraising and awareness in support of the work of Keith Black, MD. Black is chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience.

Eric, an insurance and finance entrepreneur, sits on the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors. He is also minority owner of the Washington Commanders, managing partner of the Los Angeles Sparks and a member of the WNBA Board of Governors.

Terri, a collector of African American art, is on the board of the California African American Museum and a founding member of its foundation. She also sits on the boards of the USC Black Alumni Association and St. Anne’s Family Services, a Los Angeles nonprofit.

“I invest for a living and I feel like we’re investing in something important,” Eric said. “Terri and I are fervently dedicated to helping local communities thrive, and that is exceedingly difficult without coordinated health services and patient support delivered not only in the hospital but, just as importantly, across Los Angeles neighborhoods.”

Terri added, “This donation is one way we can effect positive change in marginalized communities across the region we call home.”

As a data and innovation engine, the Cedars-Sinai Holoman Health Equity Center will identify opportunities to accelerate solutions for combatting health equity deficiencies by meeting goals, including:

• Expanding Cedars-Sinai’s research equity infrastructure to increase inclusion in clinical research
• Deepening partnerships with local nonprofits and community resources, and advancing coordination of health services for comprehensive patient support
• Upgrading processes like data analytics to measure healthcare disparities
• Strengthening patient care and navigation through an equity dashboard interactive tool
• Equipping field teams to partner on health equity programs
• Enhancing the framework for care that links hospital affiliates across the Cedars-Sinai Health System

Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, said the medical center remains committed to upholding the highest standards of equitable care.

“Through this amazing gift, Cedars-Sinai will cultivate and sustain a stringent system of checks and balances to optimize health equity,” said Slavin, the David and Meredith Kaplan Presidential Chair. “This will hold us accountable—as it should—across the board in clinical settings, research labs, conference rooms and local communities.”

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Inspiring Community Health by Meeting Patients Needs

La donación establece el Centro Holoman de Equidad en Salud de Cedars-Sinai y financia de manera permanente la Cátedra Holoman de Equidad en Salud, que será ocupada por Christina Harris, MD, vicepresidenta y directora de Equidad en Salud de Cedars-Sinai.

“Estamos agradecidos con Eric y Terri Holoman por su visión cívica y su compromiso de ayudar a equilibrar la balanza en la reforma de la equidad en salud”, dijo Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, vicepresidente sénior de Desarrollo Institucional y director de Desarrollo Institucional de Cedars-Sinai. “Esta donación refleja una profunda alineación entre los valores de los Holoman y los de Cedars-Sinai”.

La equidad en salud ha sido un pilar fundamental de la misión de Cedars-Sinai de ofrecer esperanza y sanación a todas las personas, independientemente de factores como la raza, la religión, la orientación sexual o la situación socioeconómica.

Sin embargo, los desafíos cambiantes en el acceso y la prestación de servicios de salud, combinados con barreras sistémicas de larga data, hacen que este sea un momento decisivo que requiere reevaluar y reestructurar procesos y procedimientos, señaló Harris. Muchas personas aún enfrentan obstáculos relacionados con la cobertura médica y la asequibilidad, estrechamente vinculados a determinantes sociales de la salud como los ingresos, la vivienda, el transporte y la educación.

Harris afirmó que utilizará su plataforma como titular de la Cátedra Holoman de Equidad en Salud para impulsar programas integrales e investigaciones innovadoras.

“Esta cátedra dotada representa, en muchos sentidos, un compromiso con el profundo legado de la fallecida Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN”, dijo Harris. “Ella se convirtió en la primera directora de Equidad en Salud de Cedars-Sinai después de fundar la Oficina de Equidad en Salud en 2019. Me honra continuar esta misión, siguiendo el camino trazado por su distinguido liderazgo”.

Cedars-Sinai organizó una cena en honor de los Holoman el 27 de mayo en el Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Reconocida a nivel nacional por su labor filantrópica, la familia Holoman ha apoyado a Cedars-Sinai durante muchos años. En la última década, ha contribuido al centro médico para respaldar el Programa de Becarios en Neurocirugía y The Brain Trust, un grupo de voluntarios que promueve la recaudación de fondos y la concientización en apoyo al trabajo de Keith Black, MD. Black es presidente del Departamento de Neurocirugía y ocupa la Cátedra Ruth y Lawrence Harvey de Neurociencia.

Eric, empresario de los sectores de seguros y finanzas, forma parte de la Junta Directiva de Cedars-Sinai. También es propietario minoritario de los Washington Commanders, socio administrador de Los Angeles Sparks y miembro de la Junta de Gobernadores de la WNBA.

Terri, coleccionista de arte afroamericano, integra la junta directiva del Museo Afroamericano de California y es miembro fundadora de su fundación. También forma parte de las juntas de la Asociación de Exalumnos Afroamericanos de la USC y de St. Anne’s Family Services, una organización sin fines de lucro de Los Ángeles.

“Invertir es mi profesión, y siento que estamos invirtiendo en algo verdaderamente importante”, dijo Eric. “Terri y yo estamos profundamente comprometidos con ayudar a que las comunidades locales prosperen, y eso es extremadamente difícil sin servicios de salud coordinados y apoyo a los pacientes, brindados no solo en el hospital, sino también, y de manera igualmente importante, en los vecindarios de Los Ángeles”.

Terri agregó: “Esta donación es una de las formas en que podemos generar un cambio positivo en las comunidades históricamente marginadas de toda la región que llamamos hogar”.

Como motor de datos e innovación, el Centro Holoman de Equidad en Salud de Cedars-Sinai identificará oportunidades para acelerar soluciones que ayuden a combatir las desigualdades en salud mediante objetivos como:

• Ampliar la infraestructura de equidad en investigación de Cedars-Sinai para aumentar la inclusión en los estudios clínicos.
• Profundizar las alianzas con organizaciones comunitarias y recursos locales, y fortalecer la coordinación de servicios de salud para brindar apoyo integral a los pacientes.
• Modernizar procesos, como el análisis de datos, para medir las disparidades en la atención médica.
• Fortalecer la atención y orientación de los pacientes mediante una herramienta interactiva de panel de equidad.
• Capacitar a los equipos de campo para colaborar en programas de equidad en salud.
• Mejorar el modelo de atención que conecta a las instituciones afiliadas dentro del Sistema de Salud Cedars-Sinai.

Peter L. Slavin, MD, presidente y director ejecutivo de Cedars-Sinai, afirmó que el centro médico mantiene su compromiso de ofrecer atención equitativa con los más altos estándares.

“Gracias a esta extraordinaria donación, Cedars-Sinai desarrollará y sostendrá un riguroso sistema de controles y mecanismos de supervisión para optimizar la equidad en salud”, dijo Slavin, titular de la Cátedra Presidencial David y Meredith Kaplan. “Esto nos permitirá rendir cuentas, como debe ser, en todos los ámbitos: la atención clínica, la investigación, las salas de reuniones y las comunidades locales”.

Lea más de Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Inspirando la Salud Comunitaria al Responder a las Necesidades de los Pacientes

Dicker, an experienced art collector, made the tough call to exclude a beloved piece from his prized collection from the décor. Rather than storing or selling the 1987 lithograph Kite on Gibson Beach by Malcolm Morley, Dicker gifted the artwork to Cedars-Sinai—a poignant nod to his history with the hospital. He was born at the former Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in 1958 and grew up in Beverly Hills.

The painting’s new home: the new, nine-story Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, set to open late this year. Dicker says it’s the perfect spot because of the new hospital’s ocean-inspired design elements that reflect the coastal community.

“When my wife passed away in 2019, I decided to move to the log vacation home we built, and the Morley just didn’t fit in,” Dicker said. “But it’s a piece I’ve always loved and thought it would be better to donate so that more people could enjoy it.”  

Nancy Chaikin knows exactly how Dicker feels. The art advisor and collector has given Cedars-Sinai Marina artwork from her own collection, an oil on linen piece by Sean Landers called Untitled, which exudes ripples of the ocean using a special paint application technique.

“I am thrilled to contribute to the hospital's environment,” Chaikin said. “Art can activate a space, not only by creating warmth and beauty, but by provoking thought and emotion. I feel fortunate to share Sean Landers’ work with patients, employees and visitors at Cedars-Sinai.” 

Donated works of art have already made a difference to visitors like Gianna Chaisson, whose father recovered at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after a major heart attack.

“I found myself walking through the hospital and was deeply impacted by the art collection,” Chaisson shared. “In moments when everything felt so uncertain, the artwork helped keep me grounded and, most importantly, hopeful.”

Cedars-Sinai, located in Beverly Grove, has long been known for its donated art collection and now is seeking to extend the art-as-healing philosophy to the new hospital.

“We love receiving art of all genres that enrich the healing spaces Cedars-Sinai is known for and that inspire everyone who enters,” said John T. Lange, curator of the Cedars-Sinai art collection and manager of the Cedars-Sinai Advisory Council for the Arts. “We consider it such an altruistic act to part with valued pieces that beautify, and inform our themes of hope and restoration to soothe those facing health challenges.”

Lange is busy these days, figuring out where to display the donated art. He strategically places every piece to generate and emphasize Cedars-Sinai’s healing environment. For example, a collection of handpicked images graces the walls of the surgical unit, so post-op patients are encouraged to walk a little farther every day to see the next art piece. Studies have proven that walking after surgery can speed a patient’s recovery and discharge.

Lange is also collaborating with Cedars-Sinai’s director of Urologic Oncology research, Timothy Daskivich, MD, to develop an app for patients to monitor their steps by choosing an art tour on their floor.

“Art is not only nice to see,” Lange said. “It is very powerful medicine that plays a huge role in creating a healing atmosphere for those facing health challenges, visitors and, of course, our employees.”

To participate in helping to expand the Cedars-Sinai art collection, email artcollection@cshs.org.

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: The Art of High-Impact Philanthropy

Concerned the developmental decline could be signs of a neurological disorder, the family’s pediatrician flagged the issue to Dylan’s parents, Michelle Tang and Ron Sonnenberg. Dylan was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, under the care of pediatric neurologist Jeffrey Swarz, MD, and pediatric endocrinologist Bahareh Schweiger, DO, MPH.

A battery of tests revealed two critical diagnoses: Dylan was severely hypoglycemic, and she was experiencing infantile spasms, a form of infantile epilepsy classified as a neurological emergency.

“The brain requires sufficient glucose to function, and hypoglycemia frequently leads to strokes in infants like Dylan,” said Swarz. “It was later determined that she had the ABCC8 mutation, causing congenital hyperinsulinism. The infantile spasms were likely related, but we can’t say for sure.”

Dylan is one of more than 350,000 children and adolescents affected by insulin-related illnesses, including diabetes, in the U.S. November marks National Insulin Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day.

The news from the doctors terrified Tang and Sonnenberg. “We were not very optimistic at that point,” Sonnenberg said. “We were devastated when we first learned her diagnosis.”

Hyperinsulinism occurs when the pancreas produces too much insulin, resulting in potentially life-threatening, low blood sugar levels. The condition can also signal health challenges that extend into adulthood, due to the risk of brain damage from recurrent hypoglycemia.

“If not managed adequately, there can be long-term challenges, including ongoing developmental delays and learning deficiencies,” Schweiger said. “With proper medical intervention, many children achieve reasonable metabolic control and normal functionality.”

Early on in Dylan’s treatment, she had to endure steroid injections, twice a day, to manage her symptoms. “She was in and out of the hospital,” said Tang. “We spent New Year’s Eve in the hospital that first year, because Dylan had to be monitored for adverse reactions to the steroids. But it was a small price to pay for us, as parents.”

Today, Dylan’s glucose levels are carefully managed via her gastrostomy tube feedings. Overnight, continuous feeds help maintain glucose stability. Schweiger said Dylan will still require lifelong multidisciplinary care, due to her medical history, but added, “Her prognosis is great, and her hyperinsulinism is showing signs of becoming less severe, with no recent spasms to report.”

Now, two years after Dylan’s diagnosis, the Tang-Sonnenberg family is celebrating new milestones.

“Dylan’s motor skills are improving—she’s walking with help and pulling herself up,” Tang said. “She’s very social with other children and is showing progress with speech and language skills.”

The family says it has Cedars-Sinai to thank for it all, including a new sense of hope for the future. “We are eternally grateful,” Sonnenberg said.

Read more in Cedars-Sinai Discoveries: Innovation and Collaboration in Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s

More than 1.5 million people in Los Angeles County struggle with meeting the most basic nutritional needs. Since 2020, Cedars-Sinai has donated $10 million to food equity efforts and to organizations including Food Access L.A., Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition and the Karsh Family Social Service Center. Because of the Cedars-Sinai grants, critical resources have reached more than 400 nonprofits, food pantries, soup kitchens and churches. November 16-22 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which recognizes two regional challenges Cedars-Sinai works to address through its grantmaking.

“Cedars-Sinai knows that food access is not just a health issue,” said Andrea Iloulian, MPP, executive director of Grantmaking at Cedars-Sinai. “Our commitment is to health beyond hospital walls, including around dinner tables and in the connections between food security and overall wellbeing. We will keep working alongside community organizations doing the vital work to advance food equity every day.”

Grant recipients include:

• Food Access L.A. aims to build sustainable food systems and ensure that people have access to fresh, affordable, locally grown foods. Every week, eight farmers markets across Los Angeles support small-scale agriculture as well as food and beverage businesses while improving food security in local neighborhoods.
• Food Forward provides fresh surplus fruits and vegetables to those in need. Funding from Cedars-Sinai enables the organization to test and implement new, efficient methods of moving produce from the warehouse to more than 100 of Food Forward’s partnering organizations.
• Hollywood Food Coalition both prepares nightly meals for the unhoused in Hollywood, and routes surplus donations and other food throughout Los Angeles as the lead of a four-organization Collaborative Food Hub. Following the devastating January wildfires, the hub was able to mobilize to target areas with the greatest food shortages. More than 50 organizations that provide assistance to immigrant and low-income communities are on the waitlist for aid from the coalition. Cedars-Sinai has pledged support to help reduce that number.  

“Funding from Cedars-Sinai has been a lifeline for Hollywood Food Coalition,” said Arnali Ray, the organization’s executive director. “As our community faces economic uncertainty, SNAP instability and the aftermath of the wildfires, Cedars-Sinai’s flexible support has helped us expand warehouse operations, strengthen local networks and elevate our nightly meal service with our first professionally-trained chef so we can bring nutritious, culturally-relevant meals to those who need them most.”

Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, said Cedars-Sinai’s food equity initiatives will continue to follow a community-driven, two-part approach that supports both immediate relief and long-term sustainability.

“We care deeply about the people of Los Angeles and Southern California,” said Slavin, the David and Meredith Kaplan Presidential Chair. “We understand that good health and wellbeing require a variety of needs, including effective medical care and the most fundamental necessities, like food and shelter. Our initiatives reflect Cedars-Sinai’s time-honored mission to care for our community and many others around the world.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: Cedars-Sinai Supports Local Nonprofits with $21 Million in Grants

Más de 1,5 millones de personas en el condado de Los Ángeles tienen dificultades para satisfacer sus necesidades nutricionales más básicas. Desde 2020, Cedars-Sinai ha donado 10 millones de dólares a iniciativas de equidad alimentaria y a organizaciones como Food Access L.A., Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition y Karsh Family Social Service Center. Gracias a las subvenciones de Cedars-Sinai, se han destinado recursos esenciales a más de 400 organizaciones sin fines de lucro, bancos de alimentos, comedores sociales e iglesias. Del 16 al 22 de noviembre se celebra la Semana de Concienciación sobre el Hambre y la Falta de Hogar, que reconoce dos retos regionales que Cedars-Sinai se esfuerza por abordar a través de sus subvenciones.

«Cedars-Sinai sabe que el acceso a los alimentos no es solo una cuestión de salud», señaló Andrea Iloulian, MPP, directora ejecutiva de Grantmaking en Cedars-Sinai. «Nuestro compromiso es con la salud más allá de las paredes del hospital, incluyendo el entorno de una mesa y la relación entre la seguridad alimentaria y el bienestar general. Seguiremos colaborando con las organizaciones comunitarias que realizan una labor vital para promover la equidad alimentaria cada día».

Entre los beneficiarios de los fondos se incluyen:

• Food Access L.A.. tiene como objetivo crear sistemas alimentarios sostenibles y garantizar que las personas tengan acceso a alimentos frescos, asequibles y cultivados localmente. Cada semana, ocho mercados de agricultores de Los Ángeles apoyan la agricultura a pequeña escala, así como a las empresas de alimentación y bebidas, al tiempo que mejoran la seguridad alimentaria en los barrios locales.
• Food Forward proporciona frutas y verduras frescas sobrantes a las personas necesitadas. La financiación de Cedars-Sinai permite a la organización probar y aplicar nuevos métodos eficientes para transportar los productos desde el almacén a más de 100 organizaciones asociadas a Food Forward.
• Hollywood Food Coalition prepara cenas para las personas sin hogar de Hollywood y distribuye las donaciones sobrantes y otros alimentos por todo Los Ángeles como líder de un centro colaborativo de alimentos formado por cuatro organizaciones. Tras los devastadores incendios forestales de enero, el centro pudo movilizarse para ayudar a las zonas con mayor escasez de alimentos. Más de 50 organizaciones que prestan asistencia a comunidades de inmigrantes y de bajos ingresos están en lista de espera para recibir ayuda de la coalición. Cedars-Sinai se ha comprometido a ayudar a reducir ese número. 

«La financiación de Cedars-Sinai ha sido un salvavidas para Hollywood Food Coalition», afirmó Arnali Ray, directora ejecutiva de la organización. «En un momento en que nuestra comunidad se enfrenta a la incertidumbre económica, la inestabilidad del programa SNAP y las secuelas de los incendios forestales, el apoyo flexible de Cedars-Sinai nos ha ayudado a ampliar las operaciones del almacén, fortalecer las redes locales y mejorar nuestro servicio de comidas nocturnas con nuestro primer chef profesionalmente capacitado, para poder ofrecer comidas nutritivas y culturalmente relevantes a quienes más las necesitan». 

Peter L. Slavin, MD, presidente y director ejecutivo de Cedars-Sinai, afirmó que las iniciativas de equidad alimentaria de Cedars-Sinai seguirán aplicando un enfoque comunitario en dos partes que apoya tanto la ayuda inmediata como la sostenibilidad a largo plazo.

«Nos preocupamos profundamente por la población de Los Ángeles y el sur de California», afirmó Slavin, presidente de la cátedra presidencial David y Meredith Kaplan. «Entendemos que la buena salud y el bienestar requieren una variedad de necesidades, incluida una atención médica eficaz y las necesidades más básicas, como la alimentación y el alojamiento. Nuestras iniciativas reflejan la misión tradicional de Cedars-Sinai de cuidar de nuestra comunidad y de muchas otras en todo el mundo».

Lea más en la sala de prensa de Cedars-Sinai: Cedars-Sinai Apoya Organizaciones Locales con 21 Millones de Dólares en Subvenciones

Endowed chairs are faculty honors funded by donors to support the chairholder’s research or patient care programs at Cedars-Sinai. These positions further drive our medical advancements, said Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, executive vice president of Medicine and Health Sciences, dean of the Medical Faculty and the Helene A. and Philip E. Hixon Distinguished Chair in Investigative Medicine at Cedars-Sinai.

“Endowed chairs are among the highest honors a medical center can bestow,” Melmed said. “Each of these healthcare professionals is a respected leader in their field and works tirelessly to make scientific discoveries that can save lives, improve health outcomes, train the next generation of physicians and scientists, and set the standard for pioneering medical science.“

The LuEllen Margaret Edwards Chair in Otology and Neurotology is a newly established chair, with Mia Miller, MD, serving as its inaugural holder. Miller is director of the Acoustic Neuroma and Lateral Skull Base Program at Cedars-Sinai. Her research focuses on disorders of the ear, inner ear and vestibular system, which affects a person’s balance and spatial orientation. The acoustic neuroma program was created to further the expertise of Cedars-Sinai specialists who treat patients diagnosed with the non-cancerous, potentially devastating tumors. These growths can lead to hearing loss and vertigo and, progressively, can impact nerves that regulate speech, swallowing, and facial and eye movement.

Neil Bhowmick, PhD, research scientist at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, has been designated the Mark Goodson Chair in Oncology Research. The chair was formerly held by Phillip Koeffler, MD. Bhowmick, a professor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, focuses on the role of certain cells in cancer initiation, progression and therapy resistance as they relate to cancers of the lungs, bladder, pancreas and prostate.

Xue (Sean) Li, PhD, now holds the Board of Governors Chair in Cancer Research, formerly held by Leland Chung, PhD. Li is director of the Center of Sex and Gender Cancer Research at Cedars-Sinai Cancer and professor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. His research examines gender differences in bladder cancer as well as sex hormones, sex chromosomes, immunity, metabolism, microbiome and sex epigenetics—the study of certain inherited changes in gene expression.

Anjaparavanda Naren, PhD, has been named the Geri and Richard Brawerman Chair in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, formerly held by Zab Mosenifar, MD. Naren is director of Cystic Fibrosis Research at Cedars-Sinai and a professor of Medicine. He aims to develop better therapies to treat Cystic Fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. In this work, he is studying unique Cystic Fibrosis mutations in patients identified as more at risk of experiencing those rare anomalies—and who may not respond to the most traditionally effective treatments. 

Stephen Shiao, MD, PhD, now holds the Barth Family Chair in Cancer Genetics in honor of Beth Y. Karlan, MD. The chair was formerly held by Simon Gayther, PhD. Shiao is director of the Division of Radiation Biology, co-leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Program, professor of Biomedical Sciences and professor of Radiation Oncology. In his efforts, he analyzes the cells of some difficult-to-treat cancers, before and after radiation therapy combined with immunotherapy, to determine the most effective tumor-fighting immune responses prior to surgery.

“We could not make these merited distinctions without the contributions of our visionary donors,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer for Cedars-Sinai. “They are pillars of the Cedars-Sinai community whose impact can’t be measured by the value of their contributions alone. We thank them for their respective investments in the health of our community and beyond.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: Cedars-Sinai Ranks Among Top U.S. Hospitals for 10th Consecutive Year

New volunteers are always welcome and needed, said Michele Prince, director of Volunteer Services for Cedars-Sinai.

“Last year, volunteers donated more than 200,000 hours of service,” Prince said. “Along with providing emotional support to our patients, visitors, and staff, they are often an extra set of hands for our busy clinicians, saving them time to do higher-level clinical tasks.”

Jody Simon and Stuart Smith are two of the medical center’s 3,600 volunteers. They both say they receive far more than they give.

Simon began her volunteer service at the medical center’s flower delivery desk 10 years ago. During her three-hour shifts, she helped manage the intake of all manner of bouquets—flowers, fruit and balloons—that friends and family sent to patients.

“It was so busy, it would take three of us to handle the desk and deliveries to patient rooms,” said Simon.

Since then, she’s juggled a wide range of duties, alternating between the Beverlywood main campus and Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. Some days, Simon calls patients to confirm appointments. Other days, she serves as the legally mandated layperson on the Institutional Review Board to make sure patients participating in clinical trials are fully consented.

Her favorite volunteer post? The Emergency Department. There, she admittedly encounters fewer smiles than at other posts, but relishes the same patient gratitude for having offered a sympathetic ear, a status update or the occasional cup of water and blanket. Her bedside manner brings such comfort and positivity to patients that she earned a Circle of Friends pin—one of Cedars-Sinai’s highest honors--after an anonymous patient donated in her honor.

“It’s my most prized possession and I wear it proudly,” said Simon.

She recalls the day a simple gesture brought one emergency patient to tears. “I wrapped a blanket around her as she awaited treatment, and she started to cry,” Simon said.“ She said, ‘I’m a single mom. No one ever takes care of me. Thank you.’”  

Cedars-Sinai also holds a special place in Simon’s heart for personal reasons. Both she and her mother were born at the former Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. All three of her children were born at Cedars-Sinai, and her aunt and grandmother both have ties to the medical center, dating back the late 1970s.

Stuart Smith's history with Cedars-Sinai also could fill the pages of a book. Until this past February, and for more than 42 years before that, he worked as a Cedars-Sinai microbiologist in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. His meticulous work focused on identifying bacteria growing in clinical patient cultures, and helped determine the appropriate antibiotics to treat infections. Smith, a clinical laboratory scientist, was on the frontline in the Microbiology lab during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, often requiring 12- and 13-hour days.

Over the years, Smith volunteered to play piano every Tuesday during his lunch break—standards and show tunes, mostly—for visitors in the Plaza Lobby. His shy personality meant he appreciated any recognition, but was challenged by it.

"I never wanted to be the center of attention," said Smith. "It always made me very self-conscious when people would clap or acknowledge me because I then realized, they're actually listening to me."

Smith knows that music can offer comfort during difficult times. Once, as he played, a visitor passing through the lobby paused to listen, clearly touched by the melody. Smith later learned the song had been a favorite of the man's mother—a song he hadn't heard since before she'd passed away.  "That was really moving for me," he said.

For more information on joining the Volunteer Services program at Cedars-Sinai, click the link to complete the online application.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: A Tale of Two Cedars-Sinai Volunteers

Cedars-Sinai announced today a $10 million gift to establish the David and Meredith Kaplan Presidential Chair, building on a history of visionary impact and dedication to advancing healthcare leadership and innovation across Los Angeles.

The inaugural holder of the chair is Cedars-Sinai President and CEO Peter L. Slavin, MD. The gift supports his leadership vision to continue to advance Cedars-Sinai’s mission as a model for quality care, research, education, and community service.

Slavin is completing his first 100 days at the helm of Cedars-Sinai. Over the last year, the nonprofit academic medical institution announced the creation of the Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University, surpassed a billion-dollar milestone in its fundraising campaign, developed plans for 56 additional beds to treat inpatients, worked to expand the Emergency Department and partnered with local nonprofits to bring greater visibility to critical issues like health equity.

“Meredith and I are so passionate about the cause of healthcare, specifically as it relates to Cedars-Sinai, and the David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation fully supports the direction Dr. Slavin is taking to elevate existing healthcare enterprises and brainstorm new ones,” said David Kaplan, co-founder of global investment management company Ares Management Corporation and chair of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors.

Meredith Kaplan, who co-leads the family’s philanthropic efforts, added, “What Dr. Slavin has shared about his goals and priorities for Cedars-Sinai, including plans for expansion in crucial areas like the Emergency Department, are touchpoints for us from a philanthropic standpoint. Our reasons for giving align with Dr. Slavin’s choices for allocation of resources.”

The Kaplans are longtime supporters of Cedars-Sinai, most notably donating $5 million in 2020 to establish the David and Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health, held by Ophir Klein, MD, PhD, executive vice dean of Children’s Health and executive director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. In 2015, the family donated $1.5 million to create the David and Meredith Kaplan Endowed Care Navigator in Emergency Medicine.

 “This continuing partnership with the Kaplans is so meaningful to Cedars-Sinai and to me personally as the holder of this new leadership chair,” Slavin said. “Their contributions have fortified our efforts as an academic medical center to bring the best care, training, and scientific research to our patients, our community, and the world. We thank them for the past and present achievements that their transformative gifts and volunteer service have facilitated, and we also thank them for the impact their philanthropy will have on the future of this temple of healing.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: Celebrating the Season with Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s

Cedars-Sinai has exceeded a $1 billion benchmark in a fundraising campaign anchored by three impactful gifts that directly support innovation in medical research, clinical care and academic leadership. The campaign, launched in 2018, is an essential part of the medical center’s patient-focused mission to provide the highest-quality care while training future generations of medical professionals and pioneering scientific breakthroughs.

“This is a transformative time for Cedars-Sinai as an academic medical institution,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer for Cedars-Sinai. “Every dollar raised through this fundraising campaign solidifies our legacy and mission of healing and uplifting our patients and the community.”  

Cedars-Sinai received three major donations in as many years—each totaling $100 million or more. These major gifts reinforce the medical center’s status as a global leader among academic medical institutions. The campaign continues to be bolstered by the generosity of donors of all levels and from all over the world.

In August 2022, a $100 million gift from the Shapell Guerin Family Foundation established Cedars-Sinai’s Guerin Children’s, a major initiative in children’s health that provides a continuum of advanced care, from newborn to adolescent ages to adulthood. Physicians and scientists at Guerin Children’s deliver highly specialized multidisciplinary care, conduct pioneering research and oversee education and training programs across Cedars-Sinai’s network of hospitals and affiliates throughout the region.

A $143 million planned gift, from the estate of Susanne and Ervin Bard, became the largest in Cedars-Sinai history, in March 2023. In honor of the Bards’ generosity, Cedars-Sinai renamed the former Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion as the Susanne and Ervin Bard Pavilion—home to internationally renowned institutes, centers and research facilities, including Smidt Heart Institute and the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.

In June, a $100 million gift from philanthropists Jim and Eleanor Randall established the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery. The impactful gift will propel advances in surgical care, training and research. Cedars-Sinai is internationally known for its leading-edge surgical innovation across many disciplines, with surgeons performing more than 32,000 operations annually. These include lifesaving cancer, gastrointestinal, transplant, vascular, chest, trauma, otolaryngology (ENT) and reconstructive plastic surgeries.

Cedars-Sinai tied for #1 in California two years in a row and has been named to the Honor Roll for the ninth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2024-25” rankings.

President and CEO Thomas M. Priselac charted the course for this success. After 30 years at the helm, Priselac is retiring in October from the role he helped define.

“My tenure has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the millions of people we are privileged to care for and to making a difference in the lives of the physicians and staff of Cedars-Sinai,” said Priselac, the Warschaw Law Chair in Healthcare Leadership. “It’s deeply and personally profound to appreciate what this historic, billion-dollar campaign has achieved and will continue to achieve for our exceptional institution.”

James Lippman, fundraising campaign chair and immediate past chair of Cedars-Sinai’s board of directors, agreed. “Cedars-Sinai is making an indelible impact in the healthcare space on a local and global scale, and this is greatly attributed to our dedicated staff and community leadership,” said Lippman. “Part of this enduring legacy is our fundraising campaign, which has seen four record-breaking years that will benefit the collective health of our treasured Los Angeles community.”  

Read more on the Newsroom: Cedars-Sinai Secures Global Healthcare Accreditation

The gift establishes the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery and marks a milestone in the medical center’s mission to serve the specialized needs of patients in Los Angeles and beyond.

“Eleanor and I believe deeply in Cedars-Sinai’s vision and the exceptional work being performed by the Department of Surgery team,” said Jim Randall. “We wish to continue fostering lifesaving campaigns and extend this gift with that full intention.” 

Cedars-Sinai is internationally known for its leading-edge surgical innovation and research across many specialties, including major lifesaving cancer, gastrointestinal, transplant, vascular, chest, trauma, otolaryngology (ENT) and reconstructive plastic surgeries. The medical center performs more than 32,000 operations each year across all disciplines and also is well known for its clinical expertise in gastroenterology, cancer, neurology, cardiology and pulmonary care.

“This amazing gift strengthens our research and training programs and provides critical resources to push the boundaries of surgical medicine,” said Cristina R. Ferrone, MD, chair of the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery and the Linda and Jim Lippman Chair in Surgical Oncology.

The Randalls are longtime supporters of Cedars-Sinai and have partnered on several campaigns and enterprises. This gift also establishes the Jim and Eleanor Randall Chair in Surgery in honor of Edward H. Phillips, MD.

Phillips is executive vice chair of the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery and the Dolly Parton Chair in Surgical Innovation in honor of Edward H. Phillips, MD. A pioneering authority in surgical medicine, Phillips has spent more than four decades leading Cedars-Sinai’s programs and is an internationally recognized developer of novel surgical techniques and laparoscopic instrumentation used in minimally invasive procedures.

“We are inspired by the dedication and trailblazing work of Dr. Ed Phillips, whose extraordinary commitment to excellence in patient care serves as an example to the medical world at large,” Jim Randall said.

Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai and the Warschaw Law Chair in Healthcare Leadership, added, “This amazing gift from the Randall family reinforces Cedars-Sinai’s position as a leader in academic medicine. It also ensures we remain at the forefront in training future generations of surgical specialists. The Randalls’ visionary investment builds on this institution’s quest to pioneer new surgical methods and technology that will save lives.”

On Christmas Eve 1976, outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lipman, a bright-eyed 14-year-old, tagged along with her mother to the movies. On the marquee: A Star Is Born, featuring Academy Award winner Barbra Streisand.

That day marked the genesis of a lifelong Streisand admirer committed to helping others in the entertainer’s honor. Mesmerized by Streisand’s captivating performance, Lipman saved every penny from after-school and weekend babysitting and lawn mowing jobs to see the film, totaling 163 trips to the theater.

“I used to take two buses to the mall where the theater was located,” said Lipman. “Then, I would stay to see, like, four showings at a time, and get emotional every time. I’d just cry my eyes out.”

Decades later, Lipman’s biggest dream would come true. She’d been socking away every spare dollar from paychecks and birthday gifts to attend all of Streisand’s rare and coveted tours over the years—across the U.S., Europe and Israel.

One day, on a whim, Lipman wrote a message on a hotel towel: “Thank you, Barbra. We love you!” She planned to sneak away from her nosebleed seat—the only ticket she could afford—and hoist the sign near the stage in hopes that Streisand would glimpse her heartfelt message. It happened at a show in Madison Square Garden. Mid-performance, Streisand spotted the towel and gave a shout out to Lipman on the spot. On a tour stop in Amsterdam, after several towel sightings, one of Streisand’s representatives approached Lipman to extend an invitation to meet the icon.

“They escorted me backstage and all of a sudden, I look over and she’s standing right next to me,” Lipman shared. “She was the nicest, most down-to-earth person.” Lipman says Streisand asked why she set aside so much money to see her shows, to which Lipman replied, “there’s nothing I’d rather spend my money on.”   

It wasn’t long before Lipman launched her peer-to-peer fundraising effort to support the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center—both as a nod to the entertainer and a way to help end gender disparities in cardiac care. Lipman had learned that was the catalyst for the center coming to fruition in 2012. Streisand partnered with C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, the center’s director, and a nationally recognized expert in women’s cardiac care, to establish the eponymic enterprise. Streisand has long championed Cedars-Sinai’s initiatives, funding women’s heart disease research and underwriting the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program, the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, and the Women’s Heart Alliance.

“Cedars-Sinai is both honored and grateful to build upon our relationship with Barbra Streisand to effect positive change in the diagnosis and treatment of women impacted by heart disease,” said Bairey Merz, who holds the Women’s Guild Endowed Chair in Women’s Health. “Robin’s efforts are so heartwarming, and reinforce our objectives to advance medical discovery and equitable treatment of women seeking cardiac care.”

Lipman’s fundraising began with a symbolic wink to the entertainer’s birthday of April 24^th. Her target goal that year was exactly $4,024.24. Lipman leveraged the power of social media, announcing her campaign to her network of friends. She would far surpass that initial target amount. This year, on Streisand’s birthday, Lipman presented a novelty check to the Streisand center for $24,424.24, with the cumulative amount raised topping $27,000.

“Robin Lipman set a goal, then worked exceptionally hard to raise more than six times that number,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer at Cedars-Sinai. “I can proudly say, on behalf of the entire Cedars-Sinai family, Robin has developed her very own fan base in the hearts of everyone benefitting from her selfless philanthropy, and every member of our healthcare community.”  

Lipman has deemed the Streisand center her forever cause and says the campaign will continue indefinitely. Ageless and evergreen.

Read more in Discoveries: Women’s Health Research Draws First Lady’s Attention 

Building on its visionary investment in Cedars-Sinai’s neurosurgery scholarship program, The Ray Charles Foundation has donated a second gift of $1 million to support critical training and research to advance the neurosciences.

The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery is overseen by highly respected neurosurgeon Keith Black, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience.

Each year, a cohort of exceptional students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities is mentored by researchers personally selected by Black. The scholars also shadow him as he treats patients and develops groundbreaking therapies in Cedars-Sinai’s neuroscience laboratories.

“The students chosen for this program are destined for greatness in the world of medicine,” Black said. “What the scholars program aims to do, as a shared mission between Cedars-Sinai and The Ray Charles Foundation, is build the students’ scientific acuity as they establish their medical careers. This valuable funding is as much a catalyst for the program’s forward momentum as the students’ steadfast work ethic and the mentors’ expertise.”

Valerie Ervin, president of The Ray Charles Foundation, said Black’s leadership drives the foundation’s commitment to help future generations of neurosurgeons. “This program trains and mentors students from historically Black institutions, providing exposure and opportunities they may not otherwise have,” Ervin said. “That’s why it was so important for The Ray Charles Foundation to make a second $1 million gift.”

The scholars fund promotes diverse representation, specifically in neurosciences, and more broadly as part of Cedars-Sinai’s continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion across all medical specialties.

“Cedars-Sinai is resolute in its mission to create pathways of success for future medical professionals,” said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai and the Warschaw Law Chair in Health Care Leadership. “We’re honored and grateful that The Ray Charles Foundation has chosen our institution to collaborate with in this important effort.”

The iconic musician first showed his support for Cedars-Sinai some 20 years ago, naming the Ray Charles Cafeteria and Conference Center. He died in 2004.

Past and current scholars say participating in the program has changed their lives, introducing them to complex lab techniques and providing the focus and discipline required to take on a rigorous workload with precision.

When asked what guidance the legendary late entertainer would have imparted to scholars chosen for the coveted program, Ervin was quick with an answer: “If Ray Charles were with us today, he would tell the NeuroScholars, ‘Do your best practice, stay focused and keep on your journey.’”

Read more in Discoveries: Women in Neurosurgery

Cedars-Sinai has received a gift of more than $140 million—the largest gift in the hospital’s 121-year history—from the estate of longtime supporters Susanne and Ervin Bard. This gift will propel clinical and research innovation in the medical campus’ newest building.

The gift will name the Susanne and Ervin Bard Pavilion, home to internationally renowned institutes, centers and research facilities, including the Smidt Heart Institute and the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.

The unprecedented gift will allow Cedars-Sinai to elevate and broaden its mission to provide unparalleled healthcare, advance biomedical discovery and educate future medical professionals for the benefit of Los Angeles and the world. The official ribbon cutting for the Susanne and Ervin Bard Pavilion takes place on March 27. 

“The generosity exhibited by the Bards was extraordinary throughout their lifetimes and now as part of their legacy,” said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, and the Warschaw Law Chair in Healthcare Leadership. “This amazing gift has cleared new pathways to continue the pioneering research and thoughtful care that Cedars-Sinai is dedicated to delivering.”

Located in the heart of Cedars-Sinai’s main campus, the Susanne and Ervin Bard Pavilion is a 450,000 square foot state-of-the-art healthcare facility that opened in 2013. In addition to offering the highest quality of treatment through outpatient clinical care, Bard Pavilion laboratories and clinical areas generate groundbreaking translational research and medical expertise through the Neurosciences Program, along with Smidt Heart Institute and Samuel Oschin Cancer Center.

“Our outstanding employees in every division of the pavilion work tirelessly to save lives every single day,” said James Lippman, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors. “With the generous support of Susanne and Ervin Bard, we will continue to build on this abiding commitment to healing.”

Natives of Hungary, the Bards were longtime supporters of Cedars-Sinai and believed deeply in the Hebrew concept of giving known as tzedakah. Mrs. Bard spent years volunteering in various Cedars-Sinai departments, even after her husband’s passing in 2006. She passed away in 2021.

“The Bards have and will continue to touch the lives of so many of our patients through their generosity,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, JD, senior vice president of Advancement and chief advancement officer at Cedars-Sinai. “Cedars-Sinai is humbled and eternally grateful for this historic gift that allows us to allocate funds where needed most in the advancement of medical science and care.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Generations Ahead