Pictured above (l-r): Rick Ascroft, North America CEO, Sun Pharma; Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Waldman Chair, Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology and Immunology; Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, Inaugural incumbent of the Sun Professorship in Dermatology, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology; Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine and Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System.
For decades, breakthroughs in dermatology have transformed the lives of patients living with chronic, debilitating, and often highly visible skin diseases. Behind many of those advances are enduring partnerships among physician-scientists, academic medical centers, and industry leaders committed to moving the field forward. Through a $2.5 million philanthropic commitment to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Sun Pharma is making a lasting investment in that future.
This generous donation has established the Sun Pharma Professorship in Dermatology, an endowed professorship in the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology that reflects the company's commitment to advancing dermatologic care and research while supporting the next generation of leaders who will shape the field for years to come. The inaugural incumbent is one of the most influential figures in modern dermatology, Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics and Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology.
While the professorship honors Dr. Lebwohl's extraordinary contributions to advancing psoriasis research, treatment, clinical guidance, and medical education, both Mount Sinai and Sun Pharma view the gift as an investment that extends far beyond any one individual.
"This is about supporting not only the important work taking place in the field today, but also the people who will lead the work tomorrow and in the future," Dr. Ahmad B. Naim, SVP, Chief Medical Officer at Sun Pharma said in discussions surrounding the gift. “By establishing a permanent endowment, the company is helping ensure that future generations of dermatologists and researchers will have the resources and support needed to continue advancing patient care.”
The decision was rooted in a shared vision of progress, innovation, and access to care.
For Sun Pharma, a global pharmaceutical company with a longstanding presence in dermatology and innovative medicines, supporting Mount Sinai's dermatology program was a natural extension of its commitment to improving outcomes for patients. Company leaders emphasized that the gift is intended as a philanthropic investment in academic medicine and the future of the specialty.
That vision aligns closely with the career and values of Dr. Lebwohl. A globally recognized clinician, educator, and investigator, Dr. Lebwohl has spent more than four decades helping redefine the treatment landscape for patients with psoriasis and other serious skin diseases. His research has contributed to the development and evaluation of numerous therapies that have become standards of care, while his mentorship has influenced generations of dermatologists practicing around the world.
As Chair of Dermatology at Mount Sinai for more than two decades, Dr. Lebwohl helped build one of the nation's premier dermatology departments, establishing a culture of clinical innovation and scientific rigor that continues to flourish today. "Mount Sinai has been at the forefront of clinical research in dermatology for decades, and that work has only continued to grow," said Dr. Lebwohl.
Among the factors that deepened Dr. Lebwohl's relationship with Sun Pharma was observing their sustained commitment to ensuring patient access to treatment. He recalls numerous conversations with company leaders focused not only on scientific advancement, but also on making innovative therapies available to the people who need them most.
"Every conversation I've ever had with Sun Pharma leadership came back to the same principle: patients have to be able to get the treatment they need regardless of what they might be managing," said Dr. Lebwohl. "That commitment to access has always resonated with me and aligns closely with Mount Sinai's enduring mission and values."
The endowed professorship arrives at a moment of extraordinary strength for Mount Sinai Dermatology. Under the leadership of Emma Guttman, MD, PhD, the department has expanded its research enterprise and clinical impact, advancing discoveries in inflammatory skin disease, hair disorders, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and other conditions.
According to Dr. Guttman, "dermatology has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades, and continued progress depends on supporting the next generation of clinicians, investigators, and innovators. Sun Pharma's generosity will help sustain that momentum and strengthen the future of our specialty."
Dr. Lebwohl sees the professorship as both recognition of the department's achievements and an investment in its future. "We have introduced therapies that have changed patients' lives, trained leaders across the specialty, and built a department that continues to set the standard for excellence," he said. "What excites me most about this gift is what it makes possible going forward."
For Mount Sinai, endowed professorships represent one of the most meaningful forms of philanthropy.
They provide lasting support for faculty leadership, help attract and retain exceptional talent, and create a foundation for innovation that can endure for generations. In this case, the gift also reflects something more personal: the belief that great institutions are built by people whose influence extends far beyond their own work.
Sun Pharma's investment honors the legacy of a physician who has helped shape modern dermatology while ensuring that the department he helped build and the people within it will continue advancing the field long into the future.
As the inaugural incumbent of the professorship, Dr. Lebwohl views that continuity as the gift's greatest impact.
"What matters most is that Mount Sinai will continue to lead," he said. "This professorship helps ensure that future faculty members, future researchers, and future patients will benefit from the work we are doing today. That's a legacy worth investing in."
(l-r): Ahmad Naim, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, North America, Sun Pharma; Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine and Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System; Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, Inaugural incumbent of the Sun Professorship in Dermatology, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology; Rick Ascroft, North America CEO, Sun Pharma.
Sridhar Shankar, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Product and Innovation, Sun Pharma; Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School or Medicine and Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System; Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, inaugural incumbent of the Sun Professorship in Dermatology, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology; Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Waldman Chair, Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology and Immunology; Rick Ascroft, North America CEO, Sun Pharma.
About Sun Pharma
Established in 1983 by Dilip Shanghvi, Sun Pharma is a global leader in innovative and generic medicines and consumer healthcare products. In the United States, it is the second-largest provider of dermatology medicines by prescription volume, with a focus spanning dermatology, dermatologic immunology and cutaneous oncology. Earlier this year, Sun Pharma was recognized by the American Skin Association with the Corporate Leadership Award for the company’s dedication to the field of dermatology.
Sun Pharma has worked to advance care for people affected by skin disease and skin cancer for decades. In close collaboration with the dermatology community, the company seeks to address unmet needs across the disease continuum—from precancerous conditions to advanced skin cancers. Its dedicated dermatology and cutaneous oncology teams combine scientific innovation, real-world insights and a growing portfolio of specialty medicines to help improve outcomes for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. The establishment of the endowed Sun Pharma Professorship in Dermatology at Mount Sinai reflects this commitment to supporting scientific discovery, excellence and the next generation of leadership in dermatology.
Shanghvi, Sun Pharma’s Founder and Executive Chairman, has played a central role in the Company’s growth to becoming the largest pharmaceutical company base in India with a global presence in more than 100 markets. His contributions to business and society have been recognized with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, and the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year award. He has also held leadership and advisory roles across academia, government and industry, including as chair of Gujarat Biotechnology University and the former chair of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. In 2019, Tel Aviv University awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his achievements and impact.
