Behind the Gift: How Alex Krawczyk is building on her parents’ legacy

Honey and Barry Sherman were among the earliest to believe in Sinai Health’s bold vision for research excellence. In 1983, they made their first gift to Mount Sinai Hospital in support of research expansion – Sinai Health Foundation’s inaugural fundraising campaign. This campaign helped establish the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute – now called the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute – a world leader in biomedical research.

Throughout the years, Honey and Barry continued to give to research. They established a Chair in Molecular Oncology, held by Dr. Frank Sicheri, whose work in protein regulation is helping improve drug targets for cancer medication. And they supported a Chair in Genomic Medicine, held by Dr. Katherine Siminovitch, who discovered more than 100 gene variants contributing to risks for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Her work is leading to new strategies to detect, treat and prevent disease.

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But beyond their philanthropy, the Shermans were also committed volunteers. Honey was a longtime member of the Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary, and both Honey and Barry sat on the Hospital’s Board of Directors.

It’s a legacy Alex hopes to continue.

“My parents believed that Sinai Health is a world-class medical centre that combines excellence in every facet of health-care delivery – research, innovation and compassionate care,” says Alex. “It’s why they were such stalwart supporters and why I am proud to continue that relationship.”

Making her first gift to Sinai Health

More than 10 years ago, Alex found herself a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, receiving care from Dr. Mark Silverberg, a gastroenterologist at Sinai Health.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have received excellent care at Mount Sinai Hospital,” says Alex. “And I have benefited from Dr. Silverberg’s laboratory and clinical research program.”

It inspired her to make her first gift to Mount Sinai in support of Dr. Silverberg’s work in 2015. Like her parents, it would support innovative research, this time into identifying biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Today, Dr. Silverberg is developing advanced tests to diagnose IBD and predict how it will progress in individual patients. This will mean more personalized treatments for patients with IBD.
 

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With Alex’s next gift, she continued to support medical innovation through Sinai Health’s surgical robotics program by contributing to the expanded use of Leo, the da Vinci Xi robot. This robot is only one of a few in Ontario and allows teams at Mount Sinai to perform more precise laparoscopic operations on patients with complicated health concerns, particularly in gynaecology and urology.

“As a registered nurse, I have seen firsthand how scientific advancements have dramatically improved patient care and outcomes,” says Alex. “The da Vinci robot is a great example of how Sinai Health is harnessing technology to help patients have less post-operative pain, smaller scars and shorter recovery periods.”
 

Looking ahead at the future of research

Alex’s commitment to supporting scientific progress reflects the philosophy which was at the core of her parents’ giving. It’s something she still holds close to her heart.

“Carrying on their unfinished work and building on their legacy are very important to me,” says Alex. “That’s why I established the Honey & Barry Sherman Legacy Foundation, which honours their 40 years of philanthropy by partnering with organizations like Sinai Health that are improving the lives of people in Canada and around the world.”

It’s their memory and legacy that makes Alex hopeful for the future of health equity and research.

“I believe this is just the beginning. We are just starting to see the huge impact that advances in gene therapy, AI and other technologies have on treating and curing many diseases, but those advances take investment in research and expertise,” says Alex. “If you are interested in supporting this important work, Sinai Health is a perfect place to start your giving journey.”

As we celebrate Sinai Health Foundation’s 50th anniversary, we are grateful to Alex and her foundations, the Honey & Barry Sherman Legacy Foundation and the Krawczyk Family Foundation, for their longstanding support of research at Sinai Health.

You can also honour the legacy of a loved one by supporting life-changing discovery. Donate today by selecting Research - Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute from the gift designation dropdown menu.