Beyond the Bedside: Chez and Marks Support Myeloma Doctors, Future Eye Surgeons

Chicago-based philanthropists Ronald Chez and Athena Marks ’74 MA embody the life-changing doctor-patient relationships that can lead to extraordinary giving at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Nearly a decade since the couple established the Chez Family Professorship in Myeloma Research for Chez’s cancer doctors, they have had the privilege of watching Jayesh Mehta, MD, and Seema Singhal, MD, contribute invaluable insights to myeloma research. And since 2022, thanks to outstanding eye care under Robert S. Feder, MD, the couple has broadened its focus at Feinberg to the Department of Ophthalmology, where an investment in a new laboratory is helping residents get hands-on practice performing surgeries.

Chez was diagnosed with multiple myeloma—a cancer of the plasma cells—in 2016. After meeting with several teams at leading medical centers, the couple chose Drs. Mehta and Singhal, professors in the Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), to manage Chez’s care. Right away, Chez and Marks were struck not only by the physicians’ expertise but also by their bedside manner and responsiveness, they said. That support never wavered, whether through conversations about Chez’s treatment options or daily visits during difficult periods of care.

“When we met Jayesh and Seema, we were very impressed with their approach as well as their commitment to finding innovative ways to treat and ultimately cure multiple myeloma,” Marks said. “Ten years later, they have proven every day that they are not only the best in their field but also they have made significant progress in their quest for a cure.”

After extensive consultations with Drs. Mehta and Singhal, Chez underwent a short course of bispecific immunotherapy that helped reverse relapsed disease and led to, as of summer 2026, a full year of remission. But undergoing years of treatment was challenging, taking an emotional and physical toll on both Chez and Marks, who navigated the experience alongside him.

“It’s very stressful, and you don't want to see your loved one suffering,” she said. “But that's why our relationship with Jayesh and Seema was so important, because they knew us, and we felt very supported.”

Inspired by their experience, the couple established the Chez Family Professorship in Myeloma Research, a prestigious appointment that Drs. Mehta and Singhal have co-held since 2018. For Chez, himself the beneficiary of novel medical therapies, the professorship reflects his belief in equipping the best scientists to move translational research forward.

Drs. Mehta and Singhal have served on the Feinberg faculty since 2000. The Chez Family Professorship has provided a vital foundation for their research into liquid biopsy test improvements, CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients, genetic analysis of bone marrow samples from myeloma patients, and many other projects at the forefront of cancer science.

“The Chez Family Professorship has been game-changing for our myeloma studies,” said Dr. Mehta, who also serves as director of the Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Thanks to Ron and Athena’s support, myeloma patients have more hope for better outcomes than ever before.”

Marks earned her master’s degree in radio, television, and film from Northwestern in 1974, while Chez briefly attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Marks was awarded a full-ride scholarship and recalled telling herself years ago that, if she could ever give back, the University would be a priority.

Now, Chez runs an investment firm and has served as a board member, co-founder, and director of several private and public companies, while Marks worked in media and founded a Spanish-language media company.

State-of-the-Art Eye Training

The couple’s generosity now extends to Feinberg’s Department of Ophthalmology. Both are patients of Dr. Feder, professor of Ophthalmology, vice chair of education, and director of cornea service in the department, and were deeply impressed by his clinical care as well as his futuristic vision for surgical education. After learning about plans for a wet laboratory where ophthalmology trainees could practice surgical techniques and develop confidence before operating on patients, Marks and Chez provided funds to help make the facility possible.

In the Chez Ophthalmology Microsurgery Laboratory, which opened its doors in 2022, resident physicians can practice all aspects of cataract, glaucoma, oculoplastic, retina, and strabismus surgery. “What the lab allows them to do is practice thousands of times before they actually work on a real patient,” Marks said.

Ophthalmic microsurgery is unique in that it requires the use of both arms and both legs to control the surgical microscope and the phacoemulsification unit. The lab has six workstations with state-of-the-art operating microscopes and phacoemulsification units—used to remove cataracts—with fully functional foot pedals, each with an attached video monitor and an adjustable worktable.

The department hosts more than a dozen educational programs in the lab each year, Dr. Feder said. This summer, the lab sponsored Surgery Olympics, in which residents competed virtually with trainees at the University of Iowa and University of Michigan to perform eye procedures.

“This program is a win-win, allowing trainees to practice skills through friendly competition,” Dr. Feder said. “I am profoundly grateful to Ron and Athena for their generous support in helping me to realize a dream for ophthalmology education at Northwestern.”

Chez said that he had bet on Dr. Feder’s residents to win gold this year. As he and Marks reflected on their relationships with Drs. Mehta, Singhal, and Feder, they returned often to the common theme of excellence paired with humility. “It’s so good to have doctors you can talk to and with whom you can identify—and even make bets,” Chez quipped.

For more information, please contact Terri Dillon at terri-dillon@northwestern.edu or 312-503-4837.