A valued member of Mount Sinai’s faculty for more than 30 years, Waxman currently holds a variety of positions, including, Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Honorary Professor and Co-Director of the Center of Differentiation Therapy at Shanghai Jiao Tong Medical University. He is the Founder and CEO of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.
Waxman has authored more than 300 scientific papers and was among the first to study differentiation as a cancer therapy. He has also written chapters in textbooks on hematology, chemotherapy and nutrition, a series of books entitled Differentiation Therapy, and another called The Leukemia Cell. Waxman helped found the International Conference on the Differentiation Therapy of Cancer, which brings together researchers from around the globe every two years.
Waxman is an authority on nutritional factors that are involved in normal DNA synthesis such as vitamins B12, folic acid and vitamin A. He discovered proteins that are required for the normal use of these vitamins and methods to measure and define their deficiencies. He designed chemotherapeutic agents for the purpose of blocking normal function of these vitamins as anti cancer treatments. His work on understanding abnormal differentiation of blood cells resulting in leukemia has formed the basis of differentiation therapy so successfully used in curing acute promyelocytic leukemia. He continues to apply these concepts to other forms of leukemia and cancer in general.
His research program is devoted to expanding differentiation therapy to other forms of cancer. We continue to uncover new compounds that alone or in combination correct abnormal gene function by targeting regulatory proteins that cause abnormal differentiation resulting in cancer. Specifically, he and his lab are uncovering ways to extend the clinical use of arsenic trioxide to degrade cancer producing proteins that block differentiation. They are able to produce an anti-tumor effect associated with inducing differentiation with a decoy compound that blocks a protein known to shut down important gene information which leads to breast cancer. This decoy molecule has the possibility of becoming a drug that will be useful in the treatment and perhaps prevention of breast cancer.
Distinguished Service Professor and Professor of Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Honorary Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
SCIENCE LEADERSHIP
Prior to joining the University of Florida Health Cancer Center as director, Dr. Licht was the Johanna Dobe Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Licht's laboratory studies aberrant gene regulation repression as a cause of hematologic malignancy, including acute promyelocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and developing small molecules and peptides strategies to revert abnormal gene regulation and treat disease.
Licht has held a Leukemia Society Scholar award and Buroughs Wellcome Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research. He is currently the Principal Investigator of a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Specialized Center of Research Excellence grant, studying epigenetic mechanisms in hematological malignancy. He is a Senior Editor of Clinical Cancer Research and serves on the editorial board of Oncogene, Cancer Biology and Therapy and Clinical Epigenetics.
Licht was a Counselor of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is a member of the Association of American Physicians. He currently serves on the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Counselors.
Deputy Editor, Hematology, UpToDate.com
Alan G. Rosmarin, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is the Deputy Editor covering hematology at UpToDate, an evidence-based, physician-authored clinical decision support resource which clinicians trust to make the right point-of-care decisions. More than 6,300 world-renowned physician authors, editors, and peer reviewers use a rigorous editorial process to synthesize the most recent medical information into trusted, evidence-based recommendations that are proven to improve patient care and quality.
Dr. Rosmarin is expert in the clinical management of hematologic malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood disorders. His laboratory-based research is focused on the control of gene expression and growth properties of blood stem cells and leukemia. He serves as a reviewer of manuscripts and grant applications, and he is a member of the editorial boards of Stem Cells, Experimental Hematology, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Information Database.
Dr. Rosmarin has served significant national roles in the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Society of Hematology.
FOUNDATION STAFF
William T. Sullivan
Executive Director
William T. Sullivan is executive director of Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate cancer by funding collaborative cross-institutional research to identify and correct abnormal gene functions that cause cancer.
Mr. Sullivan directs the long-term strategy of the organization and is involved in setting the vision with the board of directors and staff. He is in the process of leading an institutional transition, which includes planning its first-ever comprehensive fundraising and development program, transitioning senior staff, and enhancing its board of directors.
Before joining the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, Mr. Sullivan served as the director of campaign fundraising for New York City Mayoral Candidate Paul J. Massey, Jr. He created and established a fundraising platform for the candidate from the ground up. With no political fundraising experience, he hired a novice staff and recruited a volunteer committee of over 300 fundraising volunteers that raised more than $5 million in (17) months (the highest amount raised by any mayoral candidate in the history of New York City other than Michael Bloomberg who self-funded his campaign).
Mr. Sullivan was also the president and chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House New York. During his ten-year tenure, the annual operating budget tripled to $20 million with net assets rising from $27 million to $112 million. In addition, he grew the endowment to an all-time high of $84 million, personally secured significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations as well as designed and implemented multi-faceted fundraising campaigns that have dramatically grown revenue.
Before joining Ronald McDonald House New York, Mr. Sullivan served as the chief operating officer of the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America in a career that spanned 23 years. During his tenure, Mr. Sullivan was in charge of the finance division, and also oversaw the membership of more than 120,000 youths throughout the five boroughs of New York City. His responsibilities included overseeing all fundraising efforts for the Boy Scouts of Greater New York in support of a $16 million budget. A highlight of his time with Boy Scouts of America included the completion of a $7 million capital campaign that built Cub World in Alpine, New Jersey.
A native of Boston, Mr. Sullivan holds a BS in Marketing from Boston College and a Master in Business Administration from Fordham University. Mr. Sullivan himself beat prostate cancer, and he resides in New York City.
Jesse Dean
Director of Marketing and Communications
Jesse Dean is director of marketing and communications at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF), where he oversees communications, digital marketing, messaging, creative assets and public affairs. He works with SWCRF staff, executive leadership, research investigators, and the board of director’s marketing committee to develop and execute initiatives that support the SWCRF brand and fundraising priorities.
Jesse brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit communications and marketing primarily in the aging and healthcare spaces with a particular focus and interest in branding, messaging, integrated communications, digital marketing/SEO, and strategic planning. Before joining the SWCRF, Jesse had leadership roles at VNA Health Group, Coro New York Leadership Center, and ReServe Elder Service/Fedcap.
Jesse holds a BA in Sociology (Hons) from Columbia University’s School of General Studies and an AA (Hons) in Writing and Literature from Borough of Manhattan Community College. He currently serves as co-chair of the Columbia University School of General Studies Alumni Association and co-leads a board of five committees and more than 25 alumni members.
Suzanna C. Houston
Director of Special Projects
Suzanna Houston is director of special projects at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF). In this role, she oversees a range of functions including community outreach, operations and HR, information technology, fundraising programs, stakeholder engagement as well as providing administrative support to the executive director. She also directs the SWCRF endurance sports fundraising initiatives including the Foundation’s charity teams for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour and TCS New York City Marathon.
Before joining the SWCRF, Suzanna was special projects and community services director at the Ronald McDonald House and prior to that was the assistant to the president and director of external affairs. In these roles, Suzanna served as a key thought partner and advisor to the president and CEO and collaborated with the executive team and board of directors. She also led major-gift initiatives and cultivated relationships with various local, state and federal agencies in support of the work of the Ronald McDonald House. In sum, she spent more than 27 years at the Ronald McDonald House and held several positions.
Prior to joining the Ronald McDonald House, Suzanna was the major grants writer at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s world headquarters.
Suzanna earned a Master of Science in Leadership and Business Ethics and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations from Duquesne University. She is also a licensed Notary Public in New York State. Suzanna is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Women in Development (WiD).
Rachel Kramer
Development & Donor Relations Manager
Rachel Kramer is the development & donor relations manager at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF). In this role she works closely with the executive director to oversee and execute all aspects of major fundraising events for the foundation including The Hamptons Happening, The Ladies Lunch for a Cure, The Annual Golf Tournament and other fashion & cause-marketing related fundraisers. She also trains and manages the foundation’s fundraising interns & event volunteers. Rachel is also the staff liaison between the organization and the Associate Board, a group of young professionals looking to make a difference in the fight against cancer. She works with them to organize fundraising initiatives and to raise awareness of the organization.
Prior to joining SWCRF, Rachel worked for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer as the events and communications coordinator. In her role, she was responsible for logistics of multiple fundraising efforts, including the inaugural Family Fun Day Holiday Fundraiser, and producing the organization’s social media and monthly newsletters. She also previously worked at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Western NY in the special events department assisting with fundraising for the annual Type None Gala and coordinating event volunteers.
Rachel graduated from University at Buffalo with a Bachelor’s in Communication and a minor in Business. She currently serves on the Junior Board of Statement Arts, is the VP of Sponsorship on the Board of Directors for Young Event Professionals and is a member of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), COPE and Women in Development (WiD). Rachel volunteers her time for multiple organizations such as the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Blanton-Peale Institute, Birthday Wishes, and more, where she assists with special events.
Walter L. Larkin III
Walter Larkin is finance director for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) and is responsible for all financial matters including the Foundation’s finance and accounting systems. He collaborates with the SWCRF Board of Directors, Treasurer and finance committee, and with the organization’s independent auditor.
He began his career in real estate finance, working as a banker for Chase Manhattan and Fuji Bank, Ltd. He moved onto the real estate lending world, serving as Director of Mortgage Lending for the Manhattan Life Insurance Company.
More recently, Walter was vice president at one of the largest real estate brokerage houses in New York City.
Walter attended Pace University, earning a BA in Real Estate and a MBA in Marketing.
Erica Linden-Fineberg
Development Coordinator
Erica Linden-Fineberg is a development coordinator at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SCWRF) serving in a volunteer capacity. In this role, Erica supports the Foundation’s strategic fundraising initiatives.
Erica ran Fineberg Publicity, a public relations firm for 35 years before retiring in 2013. While leading her firm, Erica provided visibility and marketing functions for women’s and men's apparel and accessory companies. Included in the mix were companies such as Jockey International, Vanity Fair, Haggar, Botany 500, New Man/New Woman, Tourneau, Wempe, Pratesi, Montenapoleone, and others.
Prior to opening the doors to Fineberg Publicity, Inc., Erica was an editor at Vogue, Butterick Patterns, and Good Housekeeping.
Currently, Erica serves on the Advisory Board of The High School of Fashion Industries; volunteers at the Women's Auxiliary of Temple Emanuel; and serves as a member of the Chairman's Council at the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.