Board of Directors

Patricia Silverstein, Board Chair

Patricia Silverstein is a licensed counseling professional with a background in Team Sales Management and Executive Coaching. 
Patricia prepares and leads activities for youths and adults, fostering meaningful relationships with community partners increasing engagement in the community through her leadership skills, encouraging individuals to achieve heightened personal and spiritual awareness and success.  
Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Organizational Communication from the University of Barcelona.

  • Patricia was born In Barcelona, where she developed her business and sales career, she also lived in Madrid and Australia, where she became very familiar with anglo Saxon culture, years later she moved to New York where she started her next professional chapter as a counselor and life coach and developed her brand Coaching X Humanity.

    During her first years in New York, her younger sister became very sick due to her acute diabetes, she felt helpless being in the US, in that moment when she realized her life was going to be dedicated to helping her sister overcome her disease and complications.

    She has created a program dedicated to teaching marginalized communities about Diabetes Prevention and Nutrition.

    Patricia started her first fundraiser Gala in August 2021, The Hamptons Garden Gala, where she has raised over $750.000, those funds were directed to pay for the first pilot trial done in the US to cure kidney disease and improve diabetes with Stem Cell Therapy infusion. Her sister was the recipient of the trial. The Hamptons Garden Gala has become one of the most successful fundraiser events in the Hamptons for Diabetes Research.

    Patricia is the founder and president of the Silverstein Dream Foundation. She is passionate about holistic approaches, incorporating nutrition, diet management, and meditation techniques to improve glucose levels and insulin resistance.

    Her efforts have earned her prestigious awards and recognitions, including:

    •⁠ ⁠First female honoree at the Empire Ball Gala (2022), hosted by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, where she received the Leadership Award.

    •⁠ ⁠The Leadership and Visionary Health Award from the Dominican Women Development Center (DWDC) for her Diabetes Prevention Program, aimed at reducing diabetes rates in underrepresented communities.

    Patricia also serves on the Board of The Cure Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to funding emergency treatments for pancreatic cancer and diabetes-related complications. Her mission is clear: to find a cure for diabetes and empower individuals to overcome health challenges by leveraging all available resources.

Roger Silverstein, Board Co-Chair

Roger Silverstein is an Executive Vice President of Silverstein Properties responsible for Tenant relations. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and a member of the Council of National Trustees of National Jewish Health and co-founder and chair emeritus of the AIR Society, a fundraising arm of National Jewish which has raised over $8 Million Dollars during its 30-year tenure.   Roger has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and has three children.

  • Roger and his wife, Patricia, have been supporters of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation since 2020, at the time when Patricia’s younger sister, who has type 1 diabetes, was diagnosed with kidney disease. Since that time, they have been deeply committed to helping find a cure for diabetes. In 2021 they founded the Hamptons Garden Gala, hosted at their home, raising over $500,000 as well as greater awareness for this disease.

Elena Ulansky, Board Member

Elena Ulansky is an executive at Gorlin Companies, significantly influencing the firm growth and strategic direction. Gorlin Companies has a storied history of developing and nurturing enterprises within the Biotechnology and Medical Technology sectors for over four decades, and Elena has been central to this success. Her role transcends traditional executive duties as she expertly fosters connections with a broad investor network, identifying and pursuing growth opportunities that align with the company's objectives. Elena’s deep industry knowledge and vast experience have positioned her as a vital contributor to the company's journey toward innovation and success, marking her as a leader within the organization.

  • Beyond her corporate achievements, Elena has an affinity for the arts, which she expresses through her founding of the Tethys Art Gallery in Southampton, NY. This gallery is not just a space but a vibrant community where emerging artists find support and a platform to exhibit their talents. Elena’s commitment to the arts is further exemplified by her educational background, holding a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art, which enriches her contributions to the art world, including her active role in the prestigious NYAA Tribeca Ball annual gala.

    Elena’s passion extends into philanthropy, where her involvement with Many Hopes reflects her dedication to making a significant difference in the lives of children facing adversity. As a board member, she applies her resources, network, and energy towards initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty for children, offering them hope and opportunities for a brighter future. Her efforts showcase a deep commitment to leveraging her position and influence to support and uplift those in need.

    Elena Ulansky’s multifaceted career is a testament to her dynamic capabilities, seamlessly blending professionalism, creativity, and compassion. Through her work in the corporate world, her advocacy for the arts, and her philanthropic endeavors, Elena exemplifies the impact of dedicating one’s skills and passions to not only succeed in business but also to enrich the community and provide for those less fortunate.

Carrie Packin, Board Member

Carrie Packin, co-founder and partner of City Nights Hospitality, an award-winning trend-defining company dedicated to creating unique restaurant, event and nightlife experiences where luxury meets comfort, product meets quality and service meets kindness.

  • Carrie Packin, co-founder and partner of City Nights Hospitality, an award-winning trend-defining company dedicated to creating unique restaurant, event and nightlife experiences where luxury meets comfort, product meets quality and service meets kindness.

    Recognizing that her hospitality venues could be the perfect platform to support their personal devotion to philanthropy, Carrie Packin along with her husband and business partner, Brian Packin began supporting and partnering with foundations and charitable organizations that are not only making a difference but are changing the world. They support Foundations and charitable organizations, such as the Navy SEAL Foundation, the Diabetes Research Institute as well as the Institute For Vision Research at the University of Iowa, just to name a few. They have drawn on their resources and their network to support their greater mission. Together Carrie and Brian Packin were the 2022 recipients of the Irving Bernstein Award for their efforts in supporting the New York Air Society and National Jewish Health.

    The passion and purpose for living life to the fullest while working to support those changing our darkest futures was ignited by the loss of her mother, Joann to terminal stage four lung cancer in 2006.

    Since then, she has been devoted to supporting the organizations and foundations focused on funding and driving forward the research and medical advancements needed to alter the diagnosis process and treatment plans for the individuals suffering from our world’s most awful diseases. To her the dream of a cure is not a dream at all but a reality as we all should believe that with our individual support it is inevitable. Carrie continues every day to teach her two young daughters, Cosette and Elle, the importance of taking care of people, helping others and above all living each day to the fullest.

Advisory Board

Everett Kamin, Advisory Board

Everett is an Investment Director and Board Member at Gemini Capital Partners, a family office where he leads healthcare investments. He also serves as an Investment Partner and Board / Investment Advisor to multiple early-stage Venture Capital funds focusing on Digital Health and Medical Devices. Additionally, Everett is an Impact Investment and Board Advisor to Macmillan Cancer Support, a 100+ year charity in the UK. Outside of these roles Everett is a Senior Investment Lecturer at the London Venture Capital Network. He also is the Healthcare Sector Chair Lead and contributing author to various family office and VC/PE networks (SFO Alliance, GPFO, FOS Group, Bio-Capital Group).

  • Everett has a focused track record of 100+ direct investment transactions, totaling in excess of $50B, spanning over 25+ years, amongst 30 countries.
    His Healthcare Investment background combines Investment Banking, Private Equity, Venture Capital and Board/Strategic oversight expertise.

    He has held private and exchange listed public company board level seats and worked for some of the largest most respected healthcare investment banking teams before transitioning to buy side investing .

    During his career Everett has cultivated broad and deep relationships within the global healthcare ecosystem. Beyond sector specific legal and financial healthcare service providers, Everett has built a vast network amongst Pharma, Medtech, Hospital Systems, Insurers and key opinion leaders.

    Everett has been passionate about advancements in healthcare and specifically those within the debilitating disease areas of oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Due to their direct effects on his family from an early age, Everett has made it his life’s mission to invest in and foster the growth of those companies whose technologies can truly transform and democratize healthcare.

Devra Miller, Advisory Board

Devra is the founder of Miamica, a leading travel accessories brand. With more than two decades of design and sales experience in the fashion and travel accessories industries, Devra has built a successful network while growing her business at major retailers in the U.S. and internationally with over $50 million in sales.

  • Since selling her company in 2022, Devra has combined her strong entrepreneurial skills with her passion for New York City to help investors in the luxury real estate market in Manhattan. She is a licensed real estate agent with The Corcoran Group in New York and is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York.

    Devra is a life member of Hadassah and a strong supporter of their groundbreaking medical care and innovation. Her fundraising efforts over the past 35 years has raised over $12 million dollars for the Hadassah Hospitals and for at-risk youth at their Youth Aliyah Villages in Israel.

    After being diagnosed with diabetes in 2019, Devra has been committed to advocating for a cure for diabetes. She has been a supporter of the Diabetes Research Institute and the Silverstein Dream Foundation since 2024 and is a benefit committee member of their annual Hamptons Garden Gala. She is the Co-Director of the SDF’s Diabetes Prevention Project, which is dedicated to educating about diabetes prevention and nutrition to marginalized communities. As a board member, Devra hopes to make a difference in supporting the SDF’s efforts to find a cure for diabetes.

    Devra was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at age 56. Her pivotal moment in her diabetes journey was when her doctor changed her diagnosis to Type 1.5 as the disease progressed and had to begin insulin therapy. Devra is focused on creating awareness that diabetes is more than just a set of numbers and that lifestyle contributes significantly to the healing process along with medication. She focuses her efforts on being empowered and managing her blood sugar levels with a combination of food, exercise, wellness and meditation, medications and regular sessions with her diabetes educator.

    Devra has lived in Manhattan over 15 years with her husband, Robert. Prior to living in New York, Devra lived in Puerto Rico for twelve years, where she raised her two sons, Yoni and Eitan. She enjoys spending time with her sons, two daughter-in-laws, and her four amazing grandchildren and she hopes they will grow up to know a world without diabetes.

    Since selling her company in 2022, Devra has combined her strong entrepreneurial skills with her passion for New York City to help investors in the luxury real estate market in Manhattan. She is a licensed real estate agent with The Corcoran Group in New York and is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York.

Anna Kazanchyan, Advisory Board

Anna Kazanchyan, M.D. has more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare finance industries, including marquee Wall Street firms, and as an entrepreneur. She has a unique combination of clinical medicine, equity research, business/clinical/regulatory strategy as well as business development experience and expertise.  Dr. Kazanchyan has served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee for publicly-traded biopharma companies and also serves as a Coach for the WomenInBio's BoardRoom Ready initiative

  • Dr. Kazanchyan is the Founder & CEO of Saghmos Therapeutics. Prior to this, she was SVP, Business Development and SVP, Product Development at Ovid Therapeutics. Dr. Kazanchyan was Founder and Managing Partner of Primary i-Research, where she was a strategic advisor to CEOs of biopharmaceutical companies on business development, regulatory strategy, marketing, and commercial/competitive landscape, as well as equity/debt financing. She has also provided due diligence to leading healthcare investment funds and evaluated investment prospects of biopharmaceutical companies based on the scientific, clinical, regulatory and commercial outlook for their products. Previously, Dr. Kazanchyan was Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Wells Fargo, and was a member of the Institutional-Investor ranked Biotechnology Equity Research teams at Goldman Sachs and Citi. She received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School.

Alexandra Stanton, Advisory Board

Alexandra Stanton is the CEO of Empire Global Ventures. An attorney with a proven record of executive leadership in business development, technology, manufacturing, and public-private partnerships, Stanton’s corporate focus ranges broadly, from developing large multi-nationals to launching homegrown start-ups. A former contributor to Fast Company, she is widely recognized for her experience in assisting female founders.

  • During the COVID pandemic, she co-founded Little Lives PPE with two Harvard-trained medical doctors, providing all-American made and medical grade PPE for children and adults. Ms. Stanton is also the former co-founder of BrainBody, a B2B company that uses the power of neuroscience to quantify the impact of wellness interventions on mental and cognitive health. 

    Ms. Stanton has worked in the E.U., Washington, D.C., and New York. She has held senior positions in large public enterprises, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C, the Empire State Development Corporation (New York State’s economic development agency) and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Appointments. Ms. Stanton has also worked in Paris, France for Doctors of the World. 

    Ms. Stanton currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Board of the Parrish Art Museum in Watermill, New York, and holds a gubernatorial appointment to the New York State Tourism Advisory Council. She is a Trustee of the Birch Wathen Lenox School. In 2013 Ms. Stanton was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where she led the first-ever $250m real estate expansion of the Kennedy Center since its inception. She is also the former Chair of J Street’s Board of Directors. 

    Ms. Stanton received her B.A. from Cornell University, her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, and is a member of the New York Bar. A native New Yorker, she lives in the city with her husband and two children.