Zucker School of Medicine goes bald for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Dr. Battinelli (right) gets his head shaved by Richard Rubenstein (center), owner of HX Salon, in solidarity with children with childhood cancer. Battinelli was cheered on by members of the Hofstra/ Northwell community, such as Taylor Valerio (left). // Photo courtesy of Antonio Giammarino Jr.
TW: childhood cancer
On Tuesday, Mar. 1, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University/Northwell Health hosted their annual fundraiser, St. Baldrick’s Day.
For the past 10 years, the Zucker School of Medicine has partnered with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise funds for childhood cancer research and treatment and helps support families. St. Baldrick’s is also the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research in the world, according to Georgia Linaris, coordinator of student leadership and engagement from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs.
“This was something that was brought to Hofstra’s campus by the roller hockey team,” Linaris said. “For the last two years, they haven’t been hosting due to COVID-19. And we held that tradition.”
Throughout February, the school of medicine hosted numerous fundraisers including bake sales, parking spot raffles and Venmo donations. Over the past 10 years, the school has raised over $100,000. This year, through the support of staff, students, members of Northwell Health and national donations, the school raised over $42,000.
St. Baldrick’s Day provided students and staff the opportunity to either shave their heads or cut their ponytails in solidarity with children who have cancer. The event was hosted with the assistance of three employees from HX Salon, the hair salon in Hofstra’s Student Center.
“It's very important that as a business, especially with hair, [that we] give back,” said Richard Rubenstein, owner of HX Salon. “[Being included in the hair cutting ceremony was] exhilarating because you take somebody’s hair from long hair, and you buzz their hair completely and you know that person is doing it for love and for [their] devotion to help[ing] children.”
Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused donations in support of cancer research to decline, the closure of barbershops amid lockdowns did provide the time for volunteers to grow their hair. The shaved hair will be donated to the Children with Hair Loss Organization which creates wigs for pediatric patients with cancer.
Johnathan Carboni, a first-year medical student, decided to shave his head because he is interested in being a pediatrician and working with kids that have cancer.
“It was very powerful sitting there knowing that I was working for this incredible cause,” Carboni said.
Students appreciated the learning experience as it enabled them to connect with their patients and provide insight into how they can progress in the medical field as future physicians.
“It really marked me as a future physician. This is the type of event that shows how much we can do for our patients and not just in the office, but outside how we support them and how we can learn more about their struggles,” said Lisa Ramirez, a first-year medical student and chair of the community service committee who helped to arrange the event. “We’re really there for them in all aspects of their journey, whatever it is they’re going through.”
During the ceremony, Dr. David Battinelli, vice dean of the Zucker School of Medicine, and Betsey Cushing Whitney professor of medicine, was awarded a medal in honor of raising over $38,000. This year, Battinelli pledged to “go bald for St. Baldrick’s” to honor the children.
“The event lends support not only [in] the [form of] research, but also the concept [of] shaving [to show] support and empathy for kids,” Battinelli said. “No child should have to go through this more than once.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, undergraduate Hofstra students could not participate in this event, according to Linaris.
“We had other folks that were fundraising from Hofstra’s main campus,” Linaris said. “This was our opportunity to bridge all three parts of [Hofstra].”
Sergio Alarcon, a Hofstra employee who fundraised on the main campus, donated more than eight inches of his hair.
“My hair is going to give happiness to a child without hair because they lost it due to cancer, and [I have] family members [who have] died from cancer,” Alarcon said. “I want to have a purpose for letting my hair grow, and at least I’m donating it.”
The St. Baldrick’s fundraiser will continue to accept donations until Sat, Dec. 31, on the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell’s homepage, where volunteers can share the team page with family and friends to help reach the fundraising goal.
