NYMC Dedicates The Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Medical Education Center Plaza

“My late father had a lifelong ferocious appetite for knowledge and education, and not just in business at which he excelled, but almost in any subject that even serendipitously came within a whisper of his attention,” said Dr. Alexander. “He was driven to understand it and then push the needle forward for the betterment of all.” 

Starting next year, The Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to graduating fourth-year medical students with financial need and strong academic standing who have matched in general internal medicine and demonstrate a sincere commitment to pursuing primary care/internal medicine. The scholarship aims to make primary care more accessible by reducing financial barriers for medical students.

“Occasionally, one encounters someone who truly exemplifies the idea that personal success comes with a responsibility to others, society, and the organizations that shaped them,” said Alan Kadish, M.D., third from left, president of NYMC and Touro University. “Few exemplify this better than Dr. Alexander. When I first met him, he spoke eloquently about how a series of what he called 'accidents,' but I’d call talent, put him in a position to give back. In recent years, he has generously donated to organizations that advance scientific research, serve society, and help others. In that spirit, he has made an extraordinary gift to NYMC to support scholarships for students pursuing internal medicine, which he considers a great human calling.” 

Since 2001, the plaza has been a cherished gathering place for numerous College events and celebrations. It has served as a vibrant backdrop for the annual Match Day celebration, where medical students excitedly receive their residency match results, marking the next step in their medical careers. The plaza comes alive with joy as confetti cannons and balloons fill the air, symbolizing this significant milestone. Now, it will stand as a tribute to Alexander, a graduate of Columbia University and Columbia Law School, who built a 70-year career in business, including serving as the executive chair of Sequa Corporation, a $2 billion conglomerate he led for nearly 50 years. 

Addressing Dr. Alexander, Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A.,  third from right, chancellor and chief executive officer of NYMC, said, “Dr. Alexander, the most important thing we do at NYMC is to welcome young people to the community of scholars for the generation and dissemination and conservation of knowledge about the causes of prevention of human disease and disability. The most important thing we do is try to make medical care better for our grandchildren than it is for us. The most important thing we do is try to predict the future of medicine by inventing it ourselves. We are very grateful for the gift.”

A staunch supporter of academic, Jewish, and other philanthropic causes, Alexander served as a member of the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School and of the Board of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, where his commitment to the Jewish community led to the establishment of the Alexander Program Center for Jewish Life. In recognition of his exceptional service, Alexander was awarded Columbia University’s John Jay Award in 1985. 

A lifelong advocate for Jewish culture, he was a patron and trustee of The Jewish Museum, as well as a governor and vice president of the American Jewish Committee. He was a longstanding member of the publication committee of Commentary Magazine, a founding member of the board of The Jewish Week, and a major supporter of UJA-Federation, Temple Kol Ami in White Plains, New York, and supporter of the Jewish Publication Society.

Alexander was a founding board member of the Albert Einstein Medical College and played a significant role in the health care sector, serving on the boards of Bronx Lebanon Hospital and as president of the NYMC Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1979. His legacy in business and philanthropy leaves an indelible mark on the institutions and communities he supported throughout his life. 

Influenced by his father’s leadership and service, Dr. Alexander, a physician with a successful career spanning medicine, business, and philanthropy, has been an active supporter of the Weizmann Institute of Science and numerous other causes, particularly in the sciences and the arts. A graduate of NYMC, Dr. Alexander completed his internal medicine training at Brown University before embarking on a professional career that included private practice and serving as vice president and medical director for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. 

With the establishment of The Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Scholarship, Dr. Alexander ensures that future generations of medical students will be supported to enter the field of internal medicine and become leaders in the field. The plaza’s renaming serves as a lasting tribute to his father’s values of leadership and learning, reinforcing the College’s mission to train compassionate, skilled physicians who will carry forward the legacy of service and excellence exemplified by the Alexander family.