For philanthropists and unlikely friends Don Levin and Tom Gordon, giving to Cedars-Sinai is a natural expression of gratitude, respect and a shared belief in the power of medicine to advance the common good. Their recent $3 million gift to establish the Levin/Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine in honor of Joel M. Geiderman, MD, is the latest example of their dedication to the medical center and its lifesaving mission.

Their story began more than 20 years ago, when Gordon served as senior vice president of Cedars-Sinai Health System and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network Services. “We needed more space for our medical group, which was growing like crazy, and Don—a self-made man in real estate—owned a building with 100,000 square feet at the corner of Wilshire and La Cienega,” Gordon recalled. The two met up to discuss the possibility of renting the space, and ended up talking for three hours. “He was a sweet man, and we developed a close, Tuesdays with Morrie-type relationship,” Gordon said. “As it turned out, we would talk seven days a week for the next 18 years.”

As their friendship grew, so too did their mutual interest in sustaining Cedars-Sinai. Levin, who is an honorary life trustee, had been a longtime donor, making large contributions to launch the Don S. Levin Mobile Blood Collection Program and the David Scott Levin Memorial Fund, in memory of his late son.

Gordon, who is a child of Holocaust survivors and came to the United States at age 2, was intimately familiar with Cedars-Sinai’s reach in the community and wanted to do his part to extend it even further. “I don’t have survivor’s guilt; I have survivor’s gratitude,” he said. “I can’t think of a more perfect place to showcase that gratitude than Cedars-Sinai, where patient care is beyond words, quality always comes first and the caliber of research is going through the roof.”

In 2009, Gordon and his wife, Edna (also a dedicated philanthropist, whose advocacy has resulted in significant fundraising for nonprofits), and Levin and his wife, Ann, pledged $2 million to establish the DSL/Thomas D. Gordon Chair in Heart Transplantation Medicine. Eight years later, this group donated another $3 million to create the Levin/Gordon Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedics in honor of Myles Cohen, MD.

Today, age and ill health have diminished Levin's ability to stay active in philanthropic or business matters, but his giving continues with Gordon's assistance. “In the event that he should become incapacitated, Don asked me many years ago to serve as one of the trustees of his estate, which includes a charitable trust whose funds are earmarked to support healthcare, education and children,” Gordon said. “Cedars-Sinai falls into all three of those categories, which means we can continue to team up to strengthen health outcomes and improve people’s lives.”

Their latest partnership—the chair in emergency medicine, held by Sam Torbati, MD, who is also co-chair and medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Emergency Medicine—will be instrumental in helping the medical center improve the health of patients across Los Angeles. “In addition to being brilliant, Sam really gets how to connect with people and how to take care of them,” Gordon said. “He’s one of those physicians who always does the right thing.”

The new Levin/Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine acknowledges Torbati’s impressive track record while also shining a light on the important work of the Department of Emergency Medicine, as a whole. “I’m truly humbled by this incredible honor—but credit really belongs to our superb physicians and staff and the department’s growing clinical and research programs,” Torbati said.

At the same time that it recognizes Torbati’s accomplishments, the chair also honors Geiderman’s storied career. Geiderman is the longest-serving member and co-chair in the history of the Department of Emergency Medicine, having joined the staff more than 40 years ago, and has played a major role in Cedars-Sinai’s growth.

Reflecting on their most recent collaboration, Gordon said he and Levin are proud to have made another transformative gift to an organization that is truly making a difference. “I’ve seen how incredible Cedars-Sinai is from the inside, and I wouldn’t leave this community for love or money,” he said. “Cedars-Sinai promises impact, and it always delivers.”