Honorees

Rafael Lantigua, M.D. is the Director, Office of Community Service Programs; Associate Dean for Community Service and Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Co-Director, Community Engagement Core Resource. Since coming to Columbia in 1980, he has a distinguished record of working to improve the health of aging minorities. He was the driving force behind CALME, the Columbia Center for the Active Life of Minority Elders, which supported research to reduce health disparities affecting minority elders and established an important bridge between Columbia researchers and the neighboring community. Dr. Lantigua also helped start the Columbia Center for the Health of Urban Minorities to shift community based-research from studies for the community to studies with the community. He is currently a primary care physician and clinician educator at the Associates in Internal Medicine (AIM) Clinic at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. ...Read More

Richard P. Mayeux, MD, MSc, is a distinguished neurologist and epidemiologist holding the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Professorship in Neurology, Psychiatry, and Epidemiology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Additionally, he serves as the Chair of the Department of Neurology and Neurologist-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Mayeux is renowned for his extensive research in Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative conditions of the aging brain. He has led pioneering population-based studies, such as the Washington Heights-Inwood Community Aging Project (WHICAP), integrating genetics and epidemiology to identify markers of susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Mayeux is the author of over 350 publications and has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to the field of neurology and Alzheimer's disease research, including the Potamkin Prize and the Henry Wisniewski ...Read More

Rachael Ray, the celebrated TV host and chef, extends her boundless energy beyond the screen to engage in philanthropic endeavors. Following the conclusion of her long-running daytime talk show, Rachael Ray embarked on a mission to provide essential supplies to various institutions in Lviv, Ukraine, including the country's largest orphanage, a children's hospital, and a rehabilitation center. Whether through fundraising efforts or personal contributions, Ray's dedication shines as she plans her fifth trip to Ukraine, inspired by her deep commitment to those working to protect democracy amidst challenging circumstances.In addition to her humanitarian efforts, Rachael Ray is renowned for her relatable and accessible approach to cooking, which she shares through cookbooks, television shows, and a line of cookware. Her brand extends into various areas, from home design to pet food, with profits from her pet food line, Rachael Ray Nutrish, going to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which she ...Read More