Sharsheret New York City Benefit

Elisa Port, MD, is chief of breast surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System which encompasses multiple state-of-the-art breast centers. She personally consults with thousands of patients and performs hundreds of surgeries each year. Dr. Port is the acclaimed author of The New Generation Breast Cancer Book and The Breast Advice and is a trusted voice in the media. She has been featured in The New York Times, on NPR, CBS, Today, Mornings with Maria, and Pix11. Dr. Port is also frequently invited to share her expertise on podcasts and radio programs, including SiriusXM’s Perri Peltz Show and Lipstick on the Rim. In addition to her media presence, Dr. Port regularly speaks at public events and is invited to present at conferences and panels across the country. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and their two children.

Lani Kollander has been a dedicated volunteer with Sharsheret for many years. Fourteen years ago, she ran the Philadelphia Marathon as part of Sharsheret’s first group of runners to participate in the race in support of the organization. She has remained deeply involved with Sharsheret ever since.

Lani is also a volunteer running coach and guide, working with adults and children with disabilities, as well as individuals who have experienced limb loss due to cancer. Through this work, Lani helps them build confidence, strength, and a sense of accomplishment.

Lani holds a law degree and a masters in psychology.

She lives on the Upper East Side with her husband, Jason, and their four children, Grace, Caroline, Kate, and Henry.

Leandra Medine Cohen is a pioneering voice in fashion media, shaping how people express individuality through style. A writer and stylist, she has been profiled by leading publications as an authority on entrepreneurship, fashion, and media. Today, she writes The Cereal Aisle, one of Substack’s top fashion newsletters.

Leandra is no stranger to cancer. Her mother is a BRCA mutation carrier, and her maternal grandmother died from breast cancer. At 24, Leandra learned she also carried the BRCA mutation, shaping her approach to preventative care and family planning. She and her husband pursued IVF, allowing them to select BRCA-negative embryos.

Leandra’s connection to Sharsheret is deeply personal, and she has long used her platform to raise awareness around breast cancer, BRCA, and genetic risk. Her advocacy has included partnering with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign and hosting roundtable conversations with its Global Ambassador, Elizabeth Hurley. In 2025, she partnered with Sharsheret on an exclusive auction featuring pieces from her personal collection, raising funds while highlighting the importance of genetic testing and proactive care.

Kim Kushner is a best-selling cookbook author and longtime voice in food, hospitality and modern kosher cooking. Over the past two decades, she has built a career around food and the art of gathering, with a philosophy rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, effortless entertaining and the belief that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen around the table.

The author of four cookbooks—The Modern Table, I Heart Kosher, The New Kosher, and The Modern Menu—Kim was among the original voices to bring a fresh, modern sensibility to kosher food. 

Today, Kim’s focus extends beyond the kitchen to the larger art of receiving—creating beautiful environments, gathering people with warmth and intention, and using food as a means of connection and community.

That spirit has also shaped Kim’s philanthropic work. A longtime supporter and Board Member of Sharsheret, her involvement became deeply personal after learning that she carries a BRCA mutation. Today, she is a passionate advocate for Sharsheret and its mission, bringing the same emphasis on connection, community and care that has defined her work throughout her career.