T

summer2009–Vol.24,No.2

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation

F o u n d e d J u n e 2 1 , 1 9 7 2

Caroline Monti Saladino, president

Tita and Joseph Monti

Caroline Monti Saladino, PresidentThe Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation

Dear Friends,This is a most exciting time for The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation. On the following pages you will see how diverse our focus has become and the height of the goals to which we aspire.

When I think back to 1972, when my dear brother passed away, I remember clearly the vision that my parents, Tita and Joseph Monti, had when they began this founda-tion. Their primary focus areas were: 1) patient care, to ease the journey; 2) education, to increase awareness; and 3) research, to ultimately find a cure. Now, nearly 38 years later, their vision remains relevant and our path remains clear. We have come a long way in all of these areas, but there is still much to be done. Your constant support will enable us to continue on this important mission.

Please enjoy reading this publication. It is because of you that we are able to be involved in so many exciting programs. Our 2009 Giving Campaign is well under way and has been most successful. And it is because of you that The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation is alive and well and more committed than ever to making a difference.

May God bless you all.Gratefully,

The Convocation for the Endowed Chair of the Tita and Joseph Monti-Vincent Vinciguerra Professorship in Oncology (see page 2). Back row, L-R: Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO, North Shore-LIJ Health System; Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, chief, Don Monti Division of Oncology/Hematology; Saul B. Katz, chairman, North Shore LIJ-Health System; David Battinelli, MD, chief academic officer and senior vice president of academic affairs, North Shore-LIJ Health System. Front row: Richard Monti, co-chair; and Caroline Monti Saladino, president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation.

Left to right: Edward Travaglianti, executive vice president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Bruce Stillman, PhD, president, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL); Scott Lowe, PhD, deputy director, CSHL Cancer Center; Caroline Monti Saladino, president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Richard Monti, co-chair, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Anna Travaglia, vice president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Arthur Saladino, co-chair, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; at the CSHL check presentation. See story on page 2.

2

T

T

North Shore-LIJ Creates Tita and Joseph Monti-Vincent Vinciguerra Professorship in Medical OncologyTo help ensure that the important work we do in cancer research continues, The North Shore-LIJ Health System and The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation have created the Tita and Joseph Monti-Vincent Vinciguerra Professorship in Oncology. The foundation has donated $500,000 for this endowed chair, honoring the memories of Tita and Joseph Monti and the lifelong work of Vincent Vinciguerra, MD. The health system has started a campaign to raise the balance of the funds needed for the endowed professorship.

“Thirty-eight years ago, my brother Don was diagnosed with cancer and began receiving treatment,” explains Caroline Monti Saladino, president of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation. “The Oncology Department consisted of one room in the basement of North Shore University Hospital. After Don’s death, my parents vowed to take a small, unrecognized department and turn it into something great and hopeful. Now, nearly 38 years and $35 million later, our foundation continues my parents’ and brother’s legacy. By endowing this chair, it will continue in my family for generations to come, until we finally reach our ultimate goal of eradicating cancer.”

A Joint EndEAvorSome time ago, Ralph Nappi, president, North Shore-LIJ Health System Foundation, approached Mrs. Monti Saladino about supporting the creation of the endowment. “He said that no one should hold this chair but Joseph and Tita Monti,” said Mrs. Monti Saladino. “I completely agreed with him and with the choice to name Dr. Vinciguerra, who has been such a prominent partner in our efforts, part of the endowment.”

Dr. Vinciguerra, chief of North Shore University Hospital’s Don Monti Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, has delivered expert and compassionate care to patients and their families for more than 30 years, establishing a standard of excellence for North Shore-LIJ and the healthcare industry

as a whole. Soon after becoming a medical resident in the 1970s, Dr. Vinciguerra was both a doctor and friend of Tita and Joseph Monti, who died in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Dr. Vinciguerra has also worked closely with Mrs. Monti Saladino for three decades, furthering our foundation’s efforts on behalf of cancer patients and their families.

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation Donates Half Million to Cancer Research at CSHL

The Foundation recently donated $500,000 in support of research that is the basis for the development of more effective cancer therapies.

Cancer genetics researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) aim to gain a more complete understanding of chemotherapy resistance – how tumors “learn” to evade therapies designed to destroy them. This knowledge is expected to identify new molecular targets for anti-cancer drugs.

In the Tita Monti Cancer Research Laboratory at CSHL, Howard Hughes

Medical Investigator Dr. Scott Lowe, the CSHL Cancer Center’s deputy director, works with clinicians and researchers to understand cancer genes and the networks that they form as illness becomes manifest.

Lowe’s team has developed a new approach to identify genes that contribute to cancer development. This approach speeds up the discovery process and will be used by cancer researchers around the world as a global effort proceeds to identify all of the genes that can cause cancer in humans.

Support from the Foundation has also enabled CSHL researchers to develop an approach to identify genes that will influ-ence the response to chemotherapy. This has important implications for clinicians and is expected to be one of the bases for the development of patient-specific approaches for treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses – an approach called “personalized medicine.”

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation presented the North Shore-LIJ Health System with $500,000 to establish the Tita and Joseph Monti-Vincent Vinciguerra Professorship in Oncology. From left: Arthur Saladino, co-chairman, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Ralph Nappi, president, North Shore-LIJ Health System Foundation; Caroline Monti-Saladino, president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, chief, North Shore University Hospital’s Don Monti Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology; Richard Monti, co-chair-man, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; Cecelia Fullam, senior vice president, North Shore-LIJ Foundation; and Christina Bishop-Feeny, a director with the North Shore-LIJ Foundation.

T

www.donmontifoundation.org 3

New Research Laboratories Open at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation joined Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) to cut the ribbon on six new research buildings at a dedication ceremony on June 12. The $100 million complex represents the largest expansion in CSHL’s 119-year history and increases active research space by 40%. When fully occupied, the six Hillside Laboratory buildings will provide research space for approximately 200 new research personnel.

At the dedication ceremony, CSHL President Bruce Stillman said, “This expansion will allow Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to do more of what it has always done best: perform pioneering research at the leading edge of biological science, particularly in the areas of cancer and neuroscience.”

The science in these new facilities will focus on cancer, neurobiology, human genetics and quantitative biology, expanding upon the outstanding research programs that exist on the main campus and at the Woodbury Genome Center.

Cancer research has been a major focus at CSHL since Dr. James Watson began the program in 1968. In 1987, CSHL was designated a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center. The field has benefited from revolutionary advances in understanding the underlying genetic causes of cancer. CSHL scientists have played a major role in these developments, discovering oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and how these genes influence tumor progression and respond to therapy. Research in the Hillside Laboratories will expand this program to understand metastasis, tumor microenvironments and new approaches to therapy.

“We are so pleased to announce that the new Joseph and Tita Monti Research Center is located in the Leslie and Jean Quick Laboratory building,” said Dr. Stillman. This building will house researchers who link the genetic basis of cancer with therapeutic outcomes, with the goal of developing approaches to discover and test new therapeutic targets and strategies to combat the disease.

Thank You for Your Generosity

Edward Travaglianti, executive vice president; Caroline Monti Saladino, president; and Arthur Saladino, co-chair of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation; at the dedication ceremony.

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation wishes to thank all of you who gave so generously – and continue to give – to our Giving Campaign.

Every dollar you contributed goes directly to our efforts in patient care, research, clinical trials and education. Your kindness will be acknowledged in the next issue of this newsletter, in which we will publish the names

of our wonderful donors.

O

4

2009 Board of Directors MeetingOur dedicated Board of Directors helps determine the priorities and direct the funding and outreach of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation. This year’s annual board meeting was held on June 3 at the home of Caroline Monti Saladino, president, and Arthur Saladino, co-chairman (with Richard Monti) of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation.

Edward Travaglianti, executive vice president, detailed our “Drive for Life” event, to be held in October, and the progress of our capital giving campaign. He also introduced the other speak-ers, including Bruce Stillman, PhD, president of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, who reviewed the research being done at the labs with the financial support of the Foundation. Mike

Norman, CPA, treasurer, reported on the Foundation’s finan-cials. Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, chief of the Don Monti Division of Oncology/Hematology, North Shore University Hospital, presented on the work being done at the hospital.

With the support of generous donors like you, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation continues its important work, carrying forth the legacy of its late founders, Tita and Joseph Monti. The Montis established the Foundation in memory of their son, Don Monti, who died at age 16 of acute myeloblastic leukemia. They channeled their grief into a determination to find a cure for cancer.

L-R: Christopher Feeney, Christina Bishop Feeney

L-R: Bunny Burns, Caroline Monti Saladino, Colleen DeGaetano

L-R: Maureen Bertuch, Danielle Faria

L-R: Melissa Saladino; Sarah Saladino; Caroline Monti Saladino, President, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation

L-R: Edward & Pat Travaglianti, Dagnia Zeidlickis, Dr. Bruce Stillman, Caroline Monti Saladino, Arthur Saladino

L-R: Matt DeGiaimo, Donna Monti Trinko, Glen Grayson, Erin Torre, Richard Monti, co-chairman of the Board

L-R: Don Saladino, Robert & Melanie Cassandro

L-R: Ellen Barrett; Melissa Saladino; Anna Travaglia, executive vice president; Caroline Monti Saladino; Danielle Faria, executive vice president

L-R: Trudy & Tom Calabrese, Diane

Fagiola

L-R: Joseph Faria, Carl Lombardi

L-R: Wendy Rodgers, Melissa Saladino, Michelle Fitzsimmons, Maddy & Carl Lombardi

L-R: Candice Schiffer, Dr. Mona Spector

On behalf of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation, a special thanks to Rich Marchisotto and Sherwood-Triart Photography for their generous donation of time and talent in capturing images of our board meeting.

Thank You

www.donmontifoundation.org 5

Dr. Bruce Stillman, president, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and vice president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation

L-R: Edward Travaglianti, executive vice president; Monsignor Thomas Hartman; Arthur Saladino, co-chairman of the Board; Caroline Monti Saladino

L-R: Michelle Fitzsimmons, Joan Steinberg, Marylynn McDevitt, Dr. Steve Allen

L-R: Dr. Allan Gorman, Charles Drakos

L-R: Janine Dion; Michael Norman, treasurer; Jane Norman; Arthur Saladino

L-R: Karen Orzel, Dr. Mona Spector, Grace Stillman, Dagnia Zeidlickis

L-R: Karen Chivattoni, Kevin Lawlor, Caroline Monti Saladino, Richard Monti

L-R: Arthur Saladino, Chris Mitchell, Lou Cortese

L-R: Richard Monti, Anna & Steve MichailidisL-R: George & Alicia Schwertl, Anna Travaglia, Arthur Saladino

L-R: Dr. David Steinberg, vice president, DMMRF and presi-dent, Long Island University; Trudy Calabrese

L-R: Joan Steinberg, vice president, DMMRF;

Caroline Monti Saladino

L-R: Dr. Nadya Swedan, Robert McIntyre

L-R: Tricia Colón, Edward Travaglianti,

Elaine Drakos

Dr. Vincent Vinciguerra, chief, Don Monti Division of Oncology/Hematology

L-R: Colleen DeGaetano, Dr. and Mrs. Vincent Vinciguerra, Dr. Steve Allen

L-R: Arthur Saladino, Dr. Gary Wadler, Nancy Wadler

6

T

Tita Monti Award for Outstanding Community Education Among Honors Presented

at North Shore-LIJ Women’s Health ConferenceThe North Shore-LIJ Health System recently held its fourth Women’s Health Conference, which attracted more than 2,000 community resi-dents. The free conference featured a keynote address by actress Lorraine Bracco, a Long Island resident and star of the hit HBO series “The Sopranos,” who discussed her success-ful fight in overcoming depression. The conference also included

two days of medical presentations by North Shore-LIJ physicians on conditions such as depression, heart disease, arthritis, breast health, osteoporosis, incontinence, head-aches, hormone replacement and anti-aging skin care.

While North Shore-LIJ’s primary goal is to make sure that the women and their families are armed with the latest information on disease prevention and wellness, the health system also used the event as an opportunity to recognize and honor the medical achievements, accomplishments and contributions that female medical professionals have made within the health system.

Over the years, women have over-come enormous obstacles to make their mark on the medical profession. The latest statistics show that 49% of students entering medical school are women. Just 30 years ago, by com-parison, women accounted for about 10% of medical students.

The Women’s Health Conference was chosen as a fitting venue to salute and award five female medical professionals, and also to honor five female trustees whose outstanding work and unwavering dedication has inspired and enabled the health system to carry on its mission.

Five awards have been established in the names of these amazing women who worked so diligently to foster the work of the health system – including Tita Monti, for which the Tita Monti Award for Outstanding Community Education was named.

The Tita Monti Award for Outstanding Community Education recognizes outstanding achievement

by a physician whose knowledge, integrity, motivation, enthusiasm and first-rate teaching skills have helped members of the community become more informed about their health and health care. The award also recognizes a woman of talent and dedication who has proven to be an exceptional educator and role model.

The 2009 Tita Monti Award was presented in Mrs. Monti’s honor by her daughter, Caroline Monti Saladino, to JoAnne Gottridge, MD, who currently serves as the division chief, General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine, at North Shore University Hospital and LIJ Medical Center.

Dr. Gottridge has been an attend-ing physician in the North Shore-LIJ Health System since completing her internal medicine residency at North Shore in 1983. She received her BA and MD at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Gottridge’s responsibilities include a large ambulatory general internal medicine practice, providing high-quality and accessible care to the local community with more than 34,000 patient visits each year, and ongoing community outreach efforts. She has also been active in medical education, recently completing service as director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at North Shore University Hospital. Dr. Gottridge is also the recipient of the first Sandra Atlas Bass Award for Clinical Excellence given in 2003.

Caroline Monti Saladino, president, The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation, presents the 2009 Tita Monti Award for Outstanding Community Education to Dr. JoAnne Gottridge, with Saul B. Katz, chairman, North Shore-LIJ Health System.

thE titA Monti AwArd for outstAnding CoMMunity EduCAtion rECognizEs

outstAnding AChiEvEMEnt by A physiCiAn whosE knowlEdgE, intEgrity,

MotivAtion, EnthusiAsM And first-rAtE tEAChing skills hAvE hElpEd MEMbErs of

thE CoMMunity bECoME MorE inforMEd About thEir hEAlth And hEAlth CArE.

A

www.donmontifoundation.org 7

Recollections … looking back to 1990

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation Sponsors Breast Cancer Symposium

Coming Soon at www.donmontifoundation.org

A presentation by North Shore-LIJ Health System experts on breast cancer was sponsored by The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation and held at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) on June 17.

“Recent Developments in the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer” was led by Lora Weiselberg, MD, chief, Breast Cancer Services, Don Monti Division of Oncology. Presenters included Loretta Lawrence, MD, director, Breast Imaging Center and chief, Breast Imaging Services, North Shore-LIJ Health System; Sharona Cohen, MS, supervisor, Cancer Genetics Program, Monter Cancer Center; Karen Kostroff, MD, chief, Breast Surgery, NSUH Long Island Jewish Medical Center; Lucille Lee, MD, attending physician, Department of Radiation Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center; and Iuliana Shapira, MD, attending physician, Medical Oncology & Hematology and director, Cancer Genetics Program, Monter Cancer Center.

More than 170 people attended the program, and the presenters graciously answered many audience questions.

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation is pleased to sponsor programs such as this one that further its mission of education and the ultimate goal of eradicating cancer.

We know your time is precious, and sometimes e-mail is the easiest way to communicate. We’re setting up a landing page on our Web site so you can easily send us your e-mail address. And don’t forget, you can make donations at www.donmontifoundation.org as well.

Thank you!

L-R: Panel members Lora Weiselberg, MD; Sharona Cohen, MS; Karen Kostroff, MD; Loretta Lawrence, MD; Lucille Lee, MD; and Iuliana Shapira, MD.

T

Don Monti October 11, 1955 – June 21, 1972

FOunDER & FORMER PRESiDEnTTita Monti, FFSC

FORMER CHAiRMAn OF THE BOARDJoseph Monti, BFSC, KM

PRESiDEnTCaroline Monti Saladino

CHAiRMEn OF THE BOARDRichard Monti Arthur Saladino

ExECuTivE viCE PRESiDEnTSDanielle Faria Anna Travaglia Edward Travaglianti

viCE PRESiDEnTSDennis Dowling Scott W. Lowe, PhD David J. Steinberg, PhD Joan Steinberg Bruce Stillman, PhD Pat Travaglianti James D. Watson, PhD

TREASuRERMichael G. Norman, CPA

LEgAL COunSELJoseph A. Faria, Esq.

MEDiCAL COnSuLTAnTSThomas J. Degnan, MD Joan Klocke, RN, MSN, OCN Lawrence Scherr, MD Nadya Swedan, MD Vincent Vinciguerra, MD Gary Wadler, MD Robert Waldbaum, MD

BOARD OF DiRECTORSSylvia & Robert Aiello Donna & Frank Andrea Christine & David Boccia Bunny Burns Melanie & Robert Cassandro Rose Cassandro Michael Cohen Tricia & Jeff ColónAline & Luciano CorteseMatthew DeGiaimo Janine Dion Marianne Doherty Marguerite Eng, RD Debora & David Feinblatt Christina & Carmine A. Fiore Michele & Robert Fitzsimmons Agnes Trill Funk John S. T. Gallagher Katy & Marc Goodrich Msgr. Thomas Hartman Joann & Alex Hatsis, MD Susan & Robert Johnson Ruth Leonard Terry Lynam Mary-Lynn & Timothy McDevitt Victoria & Edward Meagher Anna & Steve Michailidis Donald Monti Jane Norman Karen Orzel Bro. Edmond Precourt, FSC Charles Prizzi Randi Monti Puccio Wendy Rodgers Joseph & Sarah Saladino Melissa & Don Saladino Anthony Scotto Lori & Robert Soviero Ella & Bernard V. Strianese Cindy & Don TassoneErin Torre Donna Trinko George Tsunis Kenneth Villani, R.Ph. Carol Vorperian

The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation

for more information, visitwww.donmontifoundation.org8

Who's Who

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory One Bungtown Rd. Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

Save the Date

Bone Marrow Dinner Sept. 23, 2009The Crest Hollow Country Club

Drive For Life Oct. 23, 2009 Drive 495, New York City for more information, please call 516-367-5036.

Meet Dr. Stillman

Cancer Researcher and President of Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryThe accent is a giveaway. Bruce Stillman is definitely from Australia. But there is no doubt that he’s right at home at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). This year marks his 30-year anniversary at CSHL. With a PhD from the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, Stillman arrived on Long Island as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1979.

“I knew without a doubt that I had to come to CSHL to be with the best can-cer researchers in the world,” explains Stillman. “Working with leading molec-ular biologists and geneticists, I knew that I would be challenged to strive for excellence in my own research.”

Stillman’s research focuses on how DNA is copied within cells before they divide in two. His laboratory is studying the mechanism that initiates the entire process of DNA replication. Errors in DNA replication and in the intricate, multistep process by which cells dupli-cate themselves occur in cancers, notes Stillman, who is the Director of the National Cancer Institute-designated CSHL Cancer Center.

Stillman has received many awards, including the Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. Prize from the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation in 2004, the American Cancer Society Basic Science Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology in 2006 and the Curtin Medal from the Australian National University in 2007.

His accomplishments are not limited to research. In 1994, he succeeded James D. Watson as Director of CSHL

and was appointed President in 2003. Under Stillman’s leadership, CSHL has grown to more than 1,000 employees. The new Hillside Laboratories (see page 3), will bring an additional 200 high-tech jobs to Long Island.

The ability to recruit the bright-est researchers remains a hallmark of CSHL. Stillman is committed to keeping CSHL’s work on cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders at the cutting edge. Discoveries in basic sci-ence, he strongly believes, are the key to making significant diagnostic and therapeutic advances. “The power of the genomic information unlocked by the Human Genome Project is transforming biomedical research and enabling researchers at CSHL to make breakthroughs that will surely lessen the great suffering caused by cancer. With the support of Caroline, the Monti Saladino family and all of the friends of the Foundation, I know we will prevail over this terrible disease.”