They may not be scantily clad, but they are "Calendar Boys" nonetheless, these 12 stem cell researchers who are shown in the new "CELLebrity Doctors 2011" calendar. The calendar goes on sale this week to raise money for stem cell research.
The calendar proceeds, which is the brainchild of Miami Beach resident Sabrina Cohen, will benefit the Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research, which funds research towards finding cures for a number of deadly diseases.
The calendar will be featured at a kick-off event on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Bar 721 in South Beach. In attendance will be three doctors featured on the calendar, including Joshua Hare, M.D. He will accept a $25,000 grant from the foundation for his work in heart disease research. Dr. Hare is director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami.
The calendar, which features stem cell researchers around the country and can be ordered online is the foundation's first national project.
"We wanted to show the doctors in a different light from the way they are usually portrayed," says Cohen. "At first, some of them were a little reluctant, but when I explained to them that they didn't have to strip down to their Speedos, they jumped on board," she said.
The calendar features stem cell researchers focusing on heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyolotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), Alzheimer's disease, degenerative eye diseases, Huntington's disease, cancer, spinal cord injuries and diabetes.
"At first, some of the reactions were a little comical. A handful of the doctors asked, 'do I have to wear Speedos?' and, when I assured them they didn't, they were relieved. But I did tell them that they had to be willing to be photographed outside their labs, so people could get a little idea about the other kinds of things they do, and get to know them better," she said, adding, "It's a fun project, it's unique, and it had never been done before, so the doctors embraced it."
This year's calendar features only male doctors, but Cohen's foundation plans to publish two different calendars in 2011; one devoted to male and the other to female stem cell researchers.
The kickoff party takes place Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Bar 721 on Lincoln Lane in South Beach, just off Lincoln Road and behind Macy's. The $35 cost includes drinks, food, a copy of the calendar.
For more info: 2011 CELLebrity Calendar, Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research
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