Mark Scher
Bio
Mark Scher is a real estate investor and developer with a career spanning more than 35 years, during which he has led the development of millions of square feet of commercial space across the U.S. Even as he remains a force in the business world, he’s equally dedicated to building a better future – both through his dedication to improving the lives of people living with scleroderma and through his broader philanthropic efforts.
In 1987, Mark co-founded the Scleroderma Research Foundation alongside his late wife, Sharon Monsky, who lived with scleroderma. Together, they launched the SRF to accelerate scientific discovery and bring hope to others facing the same diagnosis. As one of the SRF’s original board members, he and Sharon helped lay the groundwork for what would become the country’s leading nonprofit funder of scleroderma research.
After stepping away from the Board in the early 2000s, Mark remained a passionate donor and advocate for the SRF. In 2025, he was inspired to rejoin the Board amid unprecedented momentum in scleroderma research, driven in part by the SRF’s CONQUER patient registry and launch of the innovative CONQUEST platform trial. He brings a deep personal commitment to advancing scleroderma research and decades of strategic leadership to the role.
Mark is also an active supporter of the arts and public service, having served on the boards of Hillel at UCSB, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and as a member of both AIPAC’s Chairman’s Council and the Showring group at the Telluride Film Festival. He resides in Santa Barbara, California.
