Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) honors the life and legacy of Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., a visionary leader, philanthropist, and longtime champion of science and education.
For more than 39 years, Mr. Gerstner served as a dedicated trustee on MSK’s Board, helping guide the institution through decades of growth and discovery. Throughout his tenure, he was known not only for his strategic insight and steady leadership, but also for his deep belief in the power of knowledge, collaboration, and scientific innovation to change lives.
A Champion of Education and Discovery
Mr. Gerstner’s commitment to education and scientific advancement is perhaps best exemplified by the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSK). Established in 2004 through a landmark gift, the school was created to train the next generation of cancer researchers and scientific leaders.
From its earliest days, Mr. Gerstner took great pride in the school’s students and faculty. Today, GSK stands as a cornerstone of MSK’s mission to integrate research, education, and patient care.
GSK continues to embody Mr. Gerstner’s conviction that scientific excellence is strengthened by a deep commitment to the people behind it. Today, GSK offers PhD programs in Cancer Biology and Cancer Engineering, as well as a master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Cancer Research for physicians. These programs have already graduated 142 PhD students in Cancer Biology and 16 master’s students, with 20 PhD classes matriculated to date.
For Mr. Gerstner the measure of success was never only academic achievement. He cared deeply about students’ well-being, took joy in attending commencement ceremonies each year, and remained personally invested in their journeys. In 2024, he further affirmed that commitment by establishing a Hardship Fund to support students facing unexpected emergency expenses, ensuring they could continue their training with dignity and stability. Through these acts, his legacy lives on not only in discoveries made, but in the lives supported and futures made possible.
Supporting the Next Generation of Physician-Scientists
Mr. Gerstner’s legacy also lives on through the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholarship Program. Established to support early-career physician-scientists pursuing research at MSK, the program provides critical funding at a pivotal moment in their careers, when traditional sources of support are often difficult to secure.
By investing in promising researchers across multiple clinical specialties, the program helps accelerate innovative scientific work while fostering the development of outstanding junior faculty. In doing so, it advances discoveries with the potential to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment for patients worldwide.
A Lasting Impact on MSK and Beyond
Through decades of service and philanthropy, Mr. Gerstner played a profound role in shaping MSK’s vision for the future. His belief in the enormous potential of science, and in the people who dedicate their lives to it, helped strengthen MSK’s ability to pursue bold ideas and lifesaving breakthroughs.
While his passing is deeply felt across the MSK community, his impact will endure through the students he supported, the scientists he empowered, and the countless patients who will benefit from discoveries made possible by his generosity and leadership.
MSK honors Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. for the life he led and the legacy he leaves behind, one defined by curiosity, commitment, and an unwavering belief that science can make the world a better place.