A Night of Tribute and Innovation: Gary, Debbie and Brandon Mandelbaum Endowed Chair in Melanoma Research Celebration
Written by Laura Alsum
Sep 24, 2025
With heartfelt tributes and a shared sense of purpose, 54 guests gathered in the Anschutz Health Sciences Building to celebrate the establishment of the Gary, Debbie and Brandon Mandelbaum Endowed Chair in Melanoma Research. Held on August 27, the event honored Gary and Debbie Mandelbaum’s generosity and commemorated the life of their late son, Brandon; the Mandelbaums are honored that their family’s legacy will live on through this endowment. The celebration also recognized the inaugural chair holder, Martin McCarter, MD, a leader in surgical oncology and melanoma research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Dr. McCarter has been a member of the CU Department of Surgery since 2001 and is known for his work in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, an innovative treatment that uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. In addition to his expertise in melanoma, Dr. McCarter also serves as surgical director of the Esophageal and Gastric Multidisciplinary Clinic at the CU Cancer Center and collaborates with researchers to develop targeted therapies for melanoma, gastrointestinal tumors and sarcoma.
Throughout the evening, speakers highlighted not just accomplishments but also the transformative role that philanthropy has in driving progress in medicine. Wells Messersmith, MD, professor and head of the Division of Medical Oncology and chief medical officer for Oncology Services at UCHealth, talked about the power of endowed chairs in sustaining excellence in academic medicine. He then welcomed William Robinson, MD, PhD, a revered medical oncologist over many decades and a trusted caregiver to the Mandelbaum family. Dr. Robinson gave the Mandelbaums an immense amount of hope thanks to his innovative treatment plan and a personalized approach to his patients. In fact, the Mandelbaums became some of Dr. Robinson's biggest supporters and friends.
Dr. Robinson reflected on his relationship with the Mandelbaums and the family’s deep connection to CU Anschutz. He also spoke about the progression of melanoma therapies over the years, noting how far melanoma treatment has come thanks to research and the generosity of benefactors like the Mandelbaums.
Dr. McCarter then followed with words of gratitude for the Mandelbaum family, his colleagues and supporters. He spoke about the impact of the endowed chair on his research and the promise of translational studies that bring lab discoveries to the clinic. He shared his excitement for what lies ahead in melanoma care and how the chair will enable him to pursue bold new directions in immunotherapy.
When Gary Mandelbaum rose to speak, surrounded by Debbie and their friends and family, he talked about his family’s gratitude and the hope that the endowed chair holds for the future. He shared that the celebration fell on Brandon’s birthday, making the event an especially meaningful reminder of his legacy. He also expressed hope that the endowed chair will help accelerate discoveries and improve outcomes for patients facing melanoma.
The program concluded with a toast and medallion presentation by Richard Schulick, MD, director of the CU Cancer Center and chair of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Schulick honored Dr. McCarter’s leadership, thanked the Mandelbaum family for their partnership and reminded guests of the potential for philanthropy to change the trajectory of cancer research and care.
As the evening ended, guests took in the significance of the occasion: the celebration of a remarkable physician, the legacy of a beloved son and the transformative power of philanthropy in advancing cancer research and care at CU Anschutz.
