Alexandra Karen Alerte, known as “Alex” by those who loved her, is remembered for living a life of joy, generosity, and advocacy. Alex was so full of life and always willing to help others, but she also faced many challenges. Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age five, she endured many complications from her childhood treatments, including hearing loss, endometriosis, and bipolar disorder, the latter of which took her life in 2022.
Alex’s mother, Marie-Claude David, MD, and her brother, Anton Alerte ’98 MD, want to help other families avoid a similar tragedy. Together, they established the Alexandra Karen Alerte Memorial Fund to specifically support graduate students in the UConn School of Medicine with an interest in the fields of psychiatry or psychiatric research.
“We are looking for cures, treatments, and new research,” says Dr. Alerte, who is a professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine. “Bipolar disorder is incredibly difficult to treat and needs to be individualized. Some medications will work on one person but not another because their genetics are different. This is what Alex would want: scientific research that would help alleviate suffering for patients in the future.”
School of Medicine Dean Bruce T. Liang, MD, FACC says this gift will be supporting future caregivers, counselors, and innovators.
“We are thankful for this gift to the SOM in memory of Alexandra Karen Alerte,” says Dr. Liang. “The fund will inspire our students to embrace a career that is a calling, encouraged by the bravery, caring heart, and life of Alexandra.”
Dr. Alerte hopes the fund can also bring more attention to bipolar disorder, a condition that is not widely understood.
“I wanted my sister to come back,” he explains. “The cool one, the one I could talk about music with, the one who was super positive. I was mourning the loss of that person and found myself becoming resentful. But my sister’s spirit never disappeared, she just changed. We need to let people know this isn’t something that just happens to other people.”
Alex’s mother agrees about the need to lift the stigma that can sometimes surround mental illness.
“There is a huge need to help the entire family unit,” she says. “Sometimes there can be a sense of shame. No one wants to talk about it. Only after her death did I learn how many kids died of suicide. Doctors often focus on the physical aspects of health, as opposed to mental health…what makes you ‘you.’
“I don’t think of her as being gone, I believe she is still alive. This is my deep conviction, that she is alive somewhere on this side of the rainbow helping people.”
“I have a sense of urgency to start helping. The time isn’t now to do this work. The time was yesterday.”
I have a sense of urgency to start helping. The time isn’t now to do this work. The time was yesterday.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, depression, and/or suicidal thoughts, there is hope. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline. 988 is confidential and available 24/7 to connect those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis with trained counselors.
BeWell@UConn offers free and confidential mental health support 24/7/365 by calling (833) 308-3040.