For nearly two decades, the Nalibotsky family has helped to advance cardiac care at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, contributing nearly $500,000 to the Nalibotsky Family Heart Transplant Fund. The fund, which was established in 2003 following Philip Nalibotsky’s lifesaving heart transplant, recognizes the exceptional care he received from Dr. Theodore Frank, medical director of the Heart Failure and Transplant program at Sanger.
Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute has been on the leading edge of cardiac care for over fifty years, providing the region’s only heart transplant program. The Nalibotsky Family Heart Transplant Fund is dedicated to supporting this world-class program by sustaining transplant research, continuing education, family support services, and patient care advancements.
In addition to supporting the heart transplant program, Philip and his wife Myra were instrumental in establishing the annual Cupid’s Cup 5K event, which has raised over $1 million to benefit Atrium Health’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program. This year’s event was different than in years past as it took place virtually. Rachel Field, an exercise specialist at Atrium Health Pineville, shared, “While we could not hold an in-person event this year, we were amazed to see such strong participation from hundreds of patients, teammates, and community supporters who donated and completed their own race. During challenging times like this, our patients still rely on the Cardiac Rehabilitation program, and we’re grateful for the long-standing support of families like the Nalibotskys who are sustaining this vital program.”
Pictured: Atrium Health teammates and patients who participated in the 2021 Cupid’s Cup 5K.
Pictured: Albert, Nathan, Janice, and Evan Nalibotsky
With Philip and Myra’s passing, their oldest son Albert Nalibotsky now carries on the family’s legacy of giving, along with his wife Janice, sons Nathan and Evan, his aunt Linda Saltz, and his brothers Abram and Ivan. Together, they continue to work closely with Dr. Frank – the transplant cardiologist who gave their father a second chance at life – to impact the lives of other families across the region. Throughout the years, one thing has remained certain – the Nalibotsky family has a heart for giving back.