Pharma POOL

Herm Cukier
Terrence Moore

Organon Adds Staff

Organon, the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel, Arnhem, the Netherlands, has appointed Herm Cukier as executive VP of global marketing. Based in Organon’s Roseland, N.J., headquarters, Mr. Cukier leads worldwide marketing activities and has direct responsibility for all late-stage, new product development teams. Mr. Cukier joins the Organon management team with extensive pharmaceutical marketing experience. He was most recently an executive with Bristol-Myers Squibb. He holds a MBA from the Columbia Business School and a B.S.E. in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Organon has named Terrence Moore as VP of the central nervous system (CNS) therapeutic area. In this newly created position, Mr. Moore is responsible for all CNS products. He also has joined the executive leadership team. He most recently served as VP of global strategy for the depression portfolio at Wyeth. He has a B.A. in chemistry and a B.S. in pharmacy. Peter G. Edwards Andrew T. Foster Solvay Adds VPs Peter G. Edwards has been appointed as senior VP and general counsel for Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Solvay is a research-driven pharmaceutical company based in Marietta, Ga. In this role, Mr. Edwards directs all legal matters for the company. Additionally, he oversees the activities of the government and public-affairs departments. He most recently served as VP, general counsel and secretary, at Global Home Products. Mr. Edwards has a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University. Additionally, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has appointed Andrew T. Foster as VP, human resources. Mr. Foster is responsible for recruitment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, and development programs. Mr. Foster joins the company from McKesson, where he served as VP of human resources for the company’s pharmaceutical distribution division. He has a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California-Irvine and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Brad E. Fackler Sucampo Names VP of Marketing and Sales Brad E. Fackler has been named VP of marketing and sales at Sucampo Pharmaceuticals. Sucampo is a pharmaceutical company that develops compounds from its proprietary functional fatty acid technology platform. He is responsible for overseeing all marketing and sales functions, including strategic marketing planning for pipeline products, for the Bethesda, Md.-based company. Mr. Fackler, a 25-year pharmaceutical industry veteran, most recently served as VP of The Collaborative Group. Dr. John A. Germak Novo Nordisk Appoints Clinical Director Novo Nordisk has appointed John A. Germak, M.D., to the role of clinical director of growth hormone in the company’s clinical research, medical, and regulatory affairs department. Novo Nordisk, with U.S. headquarters in Princeton, N.J., is a healthcare company with a broad diabetes portfolio. He leads U.S. clinical trials in the areas of growth problems, growth hormone deficiency, and growth hormone treatment of children and adults. Dr. Germak joins Novo Nordisk from Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health and Columbus Children’s Hospital, where he was chief of pediatric endocrinology and associate professor of clinical pediatrics. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed his residency in pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Jeffrey E. Keisling Wyeth Names Chief Information Officer Jeffrey E. Keisling has been named VP of corporate information services and chief information officer of Wyeth, a research-driven pharmaceutical and healthcare-products company based in Madison, N.J. He succeeds Bruce Fadem, who has retired after 10 years at Wyeth and more than 25 years in the field of information technology. Mr. Keisling, 48, originally joined the company in 2000 and was responsible for information services for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He completed his undergraduate education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Louise Mehrotra J&J Appoints VP, Investor Relations Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J., an international broad-based manufacturer of healthcare products, has appointed Louise Mehrotra as VP of investor relations. She replaces Helen Short, who has retired. Since joining J&J in 1980, Ms. Mehrotra has held positions of increasing responsibility in the United States as well as global assignments. Most recently, she served as VP of worldwide healthcare compliance. Ms. Mehrotra holds a degree in business administration, finance, from Sir Sandford Fleming College and is a certified management accountant. Dr. Cynthia Rask OneWorld Health Makes Executive Appointment The Institute for OneWorld Health, San Francisco, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company that develops new, affordable medicines for infectious diseases, has appointed Cynthia Rask, M.D., as VP of clinical development. In this role, she is a member of the senior management team. She is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the infrastructure necessary to support both early and advanced clinical trials. Dr. Rask most recently was director of the Division of Clinical Evaluation and Pharmacology/Toxicology in the Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Dr. Rask has an A.B. from Cornell University and a M.D. from the University of Minnesota. Daniel Wechsler Schering-Plough Adds Staff in Global Pharma Business Schering-Plough, a global, science-based healthcare company in Kenilworth, N.J., has appointed Daniel Wechsler VP of global planning and services. Mr. Wechsler is responsible for providing strategic leadership for planning and field-force operations. Before joining Schering-Plough in June 2005, Mr. Wechsler was VP of sales, specialty, at Pfizer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, with a minor in chemistry, from the State University of New York at Brockport. He also has a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Rochester. Biotech POOL Dr. Naseem Amin Biogen Idec Names Senior VP, Business Development Biogen Idec has appointed Naseem Amin, M.D., as senior VP of business development. Dr. Amin is responsible for identifying, executing, and integrating transactions derived from external growth opportunities for the global biotechnology company. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Biogen Idec has products and capabilities in oncology, neurology, and immunology. He joins Biogen Idec from Genzyme, where he most recently served as head of international commercial development. Dr. Amin has a B.Sc. in biochemistry and a M.D. from the Royal Free and University College Medical School at the University of London. Additionally, he holds a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Steve Bollinger Pervasis Expands Management Team Pervasis Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass., has appointed Steve Bollinger as president and chief operating officer. Pervasis is a biotechnology company that is developing the next generation of medical therapies that integrate biomaterials with cells and drugs. Mr. Bollinger was previously chief operating officer of Angiolink. Ted Danse Neurotech Appoints President and CEO Neurotech, Lincoln, R.I., a biotechnology company that specializes in developing therapeutic products for the treatment of chronic retinal diseases, has appointed Ted Danse as president and CEO. Mr. Danse has more than 20 years of experience in the ophthalmic industry, most recently he served as president and CEO of ISTA Pharmaceuticals. He earned his B.A. at the University of the Pacific and his MBA at Thunderbird, The Garvin Graduate School of International Management. Dr. Mark R. Hurtt Boston Life Sciences Appoints Chief Medical Officer Boston Life Sciences, Hopkinton, Mass., a biotechnology company focused on diagnostic and therapeutic products for central nervous system diseases, has named Mark R. Hurtt, M.D., chief medical officer. During his career, Dr. Hurtt has overseen CNS development programs in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, pain, anxiety, and depression. He most recently was senior director of clinical research at Neurogen. Dr. Hurtt is board certified in neurology and neuropathology. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and served as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy. Dr. Denise Manker Dr. Jonathan Margolis AgraQuest Hires R&D Lead Jonathan Margolis, Ph.D., has been named senior VP of research and development for AgraQuest, a biotechnology company based in Davis, Calif. He has more than 19 years of management, business development, and research experience. Most recently, he was senior director of chemical genetics at Exelixes. Dr. Margolis has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.S. in biology from Swarthmore College. Dr. Margolis succeeds Denise Manker, Ph.D., who led AgraQuest’s research and development efforts for 10 years. She has assumed the role of VP of global product development. Dr. Karl Mettinger Oncolytics Appoints Chief Medical Officer Oncolytics Biotech, a biotechnology company based in Calgary, Alberta, has appointed Karl Mettinger, M.D., Ph.D., as chief medical officer. Most recently, Dr. Mettinger was senior VP and chief medical officer with SuperGen. He holds a M.D. from the University of Lund and a Ph.D. in hematology/stroke from the Karolinska Institute, both in Sweden. Dr. Myra L. Patchen Biothera Builds Development Team Myra L. Patchen, Ph.D., has joined Biothera as VP of pharmaceutical development. Biothera, Eagan, Minn., is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health. A renowned beta glucan researcher, Dr. Patchen most recently served as a consultant to drug-development companies. She has continued her consulting practice, MLP Consulting, in nonbeta glucan technologies. Previously, she was CEO of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals. She has B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Texas, Houston. She completed postdoctoral research at the Defense Nuclear Agency, the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, and the Experimental Hematology Department. Biopharmaceutical POOL John Bedard Todd Easley Dr. Juergen Martens Dr. Peter Richardson MannKind Appoints Four Executives MannKind, Valencia, Calif., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes and cancer, has added key executives to its management team. John Bedard has been named senior VP of worldwide regulatory affairs. He previously spent more than 10 years with Bristol-Myers Squibb as VP, FDA liaison and global strategy. Todd Easley has joined the company as senior director of marketing. He previously was senior director of global marketing at Sanofi-Aventis, where his recent responsibilities included global marketing for Exubera. Juergen Martens, Ph.D., has joined MannKind as senior VP of operations. He is responsible for manufacturing activities, including the commercial build-out of the Technosphere insulin manufacturing facilities. Dr. Martens has more than 18 years of experience in technology and operations management, most recently as VP of pharmaceutical technology development at Nektar Therapeutics. Peter Richardson, B.Med. Sci., BM., BS, MRCP, has been named corporate VP and chief scientific officer. He has overall responsibility for MannKind’s clinical, regulatory, research, and development activities. For the past 14 years, Dr. Richardson was at Novartis, where he most recently served as senior VP and global head of development alliances. He holds a B.Med.Sci. (Hons.) and a BM.BS (Hons.) from the University of Nottingham Medical School; an MRCP (UK) from the Royal College of Physicians; a certificate in pharmaceutical medicine from Universities of Freibourg, Strasbourg, and Basel; and a diploma in pharmaceutical medicine from the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine. David L. Clark Prolexys Appoints CEO Prolexys Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Salt Lake City, has appointed David L. Clark as president and CEO. He previously spent nine years at NPS Pharmaceuticals, where he most recently served as VP of corporate affairs. Mr. Clark, who is a founding trustee of the Utah Life Science Association, holds a M.S. in agronomy, with an emphasis in plant genetics, from the University of Illinois. He also has a MBA from the University of Utah. Dan D’Agostino Callisto Appoints Chief Business Officer Dan D’Agostino has been named chief business officer at Callisto Pharmaceuticals, New York, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs to treat cancer and osteolytic bone disease. Mr. D’Agostino leads the company’s M&A and corporate development activities to expand its technology and product portfolio. He brings to Callisto 15 years of investment banking experience, including an extensive background in the healthcare and biotech sectors. Most recently, he was cohead of healthcare investment banking at Punk, Ziegel. He holds a MBA in finance and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University. He has a B.S. in accounting from Tulane University. Dr. Steven M. Lyons Indevus Names Senior VP, Program Management Indevus Pharmaceuticals has named Steven M. Lyons, Ph.D., to the newly created position of senior VP of program management. Indevus, Lexington, Mass., is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the acquisition, development, and commercialization of products targeting certain medical specialty areas, including urology and gynecology. Dr. Lyons is responsible for implementing a multidisciplinary program-management system to increase the speed and efficiency of product-development activities. He brings to Indevus more than 20 years of related experience, most recently he served as program executive at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Brian MacDonald Zelos Appoints CEO Brian MacDonald, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., has been appointed CEO of Zelos Therapeutics, Waltham, Mass., a biopharmaceutical company that is developing breakthrough discoveries in parathyroid hormone research. Since 2003, Dr. MacDonald has consulted on R&D strategy for numerous early-stage biotech companies, most recently as head of clinical and regulatory affairs for Gentara. Previously, he held leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline and 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. He holds M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D. degrees from the University of Sheffield. He also has specialty clinical training in metabolic bone disease and rheumatology. Dr. George J. Vergis Neose Names President, Chief Operating Officer Neose Technologies has appointed George J. Vergis, Ph.D., as president and chief operating officer. Neose is a biopharmaceutical company based in Horsham, Pa. Dr. Vergis, who most recently served as executive VP of commercial and clinical development since February 2004, is now responsible for the company’s manufacturing strategy and operations, quality control, analytical, and project-management functions. He originally joined the company as VP of business and commercial development in 2001. He previously served as VP, new product development and commercialization, at Knoll Pharmaceutical. Dr. Vergis earned his B.A. in biology and history from Princeton University, his Ph.D. in physiology from the Pennsylvania State University, and his MBA from Columbia University. Specialty POOL Charles N. Blitzer Barbeau Pharma Appoints CEO Barbeau Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company located in Northfield, Ill., has appointed Charles N. Blitzer to the position of president and CEO. Mr. Blitzer has almost 30 years of experience as a pharmaceutical executive. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Fulcrum Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Blitzer has a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Toledo, a J.D. from American University, and a MBA from Rockhurst College. Dr. Jan H. Egberts NovaDel Pharma Adds Management NovaDel Pharma, a sp cialty pharmaceutical company based in Flemington, N.J., has appointed Jan H. Egberts, M.D., as president, CEO, and chief operating officer. Dr. Egberts joins NovaDel from Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, where he was the chief operating officer. Previously, he held leadership positions at Mölnlycke Health Care, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and McKinsey. Dr. Egberts earned his M.D. from Erasmus University Medical School and pursued his clinical training at Harvard Medical School. In addition, he holds a MBA from Stanford University. Dr. Egberts succeeds Gary A. Shangold, M.D., as president and CEO. Dr. Shangold served as NovaDel’s CEO and a member of its board since December 2002. Jill M. Forrest Antigenics Appoints VP, Marketing and Sales Jill M. Forrest has been appointed to the newly created position of VP of marketing and sales for Antigenics, New York, a developer of patient-specific immunotherapeutics and treatments for cancers and infectious diseases. Ms. Forrest is responsible for leading all precommercial and commercialization activities in preparation for the launch of Oncophage and other late-stage product candidates. She has more than 20 years of oncology expertise, most recently as director of global marketing at Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology. Ms. Forrest has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Kansas. David Hammond Healthpoint Hires First Director of Operations David Hammond has been named director of business operations at Healthpoint, Fort Worth, Texas, a DFB Pharmaceuticals affiliate company focused on developing therapies for tissue management, dermatology, and surgical indications. Mr. Hammond brings 17 years of experience to this newly created position. Most recently, he worked with IMS, Johnson & Johnson, and Health Products Research. He holds a B.S. in finance from Indiana University and a MBA in marketing from Seton Hall University. Carl Pelzel Depomed Promotes Chief Operating Officer Depomed, a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Menlo Park, Calif., has promoted Carl Pelzel to executive VP and chief operating officer. Mr. Pelzel has more than 28 years of experience in discovery, development, and global commercialization of pharmaceutical products. He joined the company in June 2005 as VP of marketing and commercial development. He has a B.A. from Hartwick College. James A. Schoeneck BrainCells Appoints CEO BrainCells, San Diego, a neuroscience-focused drug development and discovery company, has named James A. Schoeneck as CEO. Mr. Schoeneck, 48, is responsible for continuing to develop the strategic direction and capabilities of the company. He most recently served as CEO of ActivX Biosciences, where he led the strategic sale of the company to Kyorin Pharmaceuticals of Japan. Mr. Schoeneck has replaced Harry F. Hixson Jr., Ph.D., BrainCells’ founding chairman and CEO. Dr. Hixson has retained the position of chairman. Drug-Delivery POOL John Denny Dr. Bruce McVeety Ventaira Adds VPs John Denny has been named VP of product development for Ventaira Pharmaceuticals, Columbus, Ohio, a drug-delivery company focused on developing pharmaceutical products for inhalation. He serves as the company’s primary technical interface with strategic partners. Mr. Denny previously served as the VP of product development for Oriel Therapeutics. He holds a B.S. in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and a MBA from Columbia University. Additionally, Bruce McVeety, Ph.D., has assumed the role of VP of pharmaceutical development, focused on accelerating the company’s drug portfolio. Dr. McVeety has been with Ventaira since 2000 and most recently served as VP of research and development. He holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Indiana University and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Idaho. Device/Diagnostic POOL Thomas J. Carcel Eric G. Walters CardioTech Adds Staff CardioTech International has named Thomas J. Carcel as director of worldwide sales and marketing for its subsidiary, Gish Biomedical. In other company news, Eric G. Walters has been appointed VP and chief financial officer. CardioTech, Wilmington, Mass., is a medical-device company that develops, manufactures, and sells advanced products to surgically treat cardiovascular disease. Dr. G. Ray Martin NovoStent Names President and CEO NovoStent, a medical-device company that has developed an anchored helical stent technology for vascular therapies, has appointed G. Ray Martin, Ph.D., as president, CEO, and a member of the board of directors. Dr. Martin replaces Michael Hogendijk, NovoStent’s founder and primary inventor, who continues as chief technical officer and a member of the board of directors. Dr. Martin, who invented the stent graft, most recently was VP of business development at TriVascular. He graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University with a B.S. in chemical engineering. Additionally, he has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and bioengineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Don McMillan West Pharmaceutical Promotes Head of North America Pharmaceutical Systems Division West Pharmaceutical Services has appointed Don McMillan to the position of president, North America, pharmaceutical systems division. Mr. McMillan succeeds Herbert L. Hugill, who has retired after a seven-year tenure with the company. Based in Lionville, Pa., West Pharmaceutical is a provider of standard-setting systems and device components for parenterally adminstered medicines and systems for injectable drug delivery. Mr. McMillan has been with West for more than 21 years, most recently as VP of marketing for the Americas region. In this new role, Mr. McMillan is responsible for U.S. sales and operations for injectable packaging components and reconstitution systems. Discovery POOL Dr. Shirish Hirani Dr. John Loewy Ariad Expands Product- Development Management Team Ariad Pharmaceuticals has appointed Shirish Hirani, Ph.D., as VP, development operations and planning, and John Loewy, Ph.D., as VP of biostatistics and outcomes research. Both are newly created positions designed to enhance the company’s product-development capabilities. Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Mass., is engaged in the discovery and development of breakthrough medicines to treat disease by regulating cell signaling with small molecules. Dr. Hirani oversees Ariad’s development operations and planning functions and is responsible for leading the company’s product-development teams. Most recently, he served as VP of program management at Transkaryotic Therapies. He has Ph.D. and B.Sc. degrees in biochemistry from Queen Elizabeth College, University of London. In other company news, Dr. Loewy is providing leadership to a newly created department responsible for biostatistics, data management, and outcomes research. Before joining Ariad, Dr. Loewy held various biostatistics and research positions at Alkermes, Genetics Institute, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biometry from the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and he earned his B.A. in mathematics and statistics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Emerging POOL Dr. Christoph M. adams FoldRx Appoints Chief Business Officer FoldRx Pharmaceuticals has appointed Christoph M. Adams, Ph.D., as its first chief business officer. FoldRx, Cambridge, Mass., discovers and develops first-in-class, disease-modifying small-molecule therapeutics to treat disorders of protein misfolding and aggregation. Dr. Adams has more than 15 years of industry experience in business and commercial development. Most recently, he was senior VP of business development for ViaCell. He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Zurich, where he also completed his undergraduate work in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Dr. Adams also holds a MBA from INSEAD, the European Institute of Business Administration. Karl G. Trass Neurobiological Technologies Names VP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance Neurobiological Technologies, an emerging biotechnology company that acquires and develops central nervous system-related drug candidates, has promoted Karl G. Trass to the newly created position of VP of regulatory affairs and quality assurance. Mr. Trass, 45, joined the company in January 2005 as director of regulatory affairs. He has 12 years of regulatory affairs experience, most recently as the director of regulatory affairs at Sangamo BioSciences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Indiana University. Regulatory POOL Dr. Gerald J. Dal Pan Dr. Hsien-Ming James Hung Dr. Kooros Mahjoob FDA Appoints Directors The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed Gerald J. Dal Pan, M.D., as director of the Office of Drug Safety in the Center of Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). In this role, he leads the agency’s postmarketing drug-safety program. Based in Rockville, Md., the FDA is the U.S. government regulatory agency responsible for protecting and advancing public health. Dr. Dal Pan, who originally joined the agency in 2000, most recently served as the director of the Division of Surveillance, Research, and Communication Support, Office of Drug Safety in CDER. Hsien-Ming James Hung, Ph.D., has been appointed as director of the Division of Biometrics I, Office of Biostatistics, Office of Pharmacoepidemiology and Statistical Science, CDER, FDA. Dr. Hung originally joined CDER in 1988 as a mathematical statistician in the Division of Biometrics. Most recently, he was the first CDER mathematical statistician promoted to the Senior Biomedical Research Service. He has a Ph.D. in statistics from Iowa State University, a M.S. in statistics from the University of South Carolina, and a B.S. in mathematics from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The FDA also has appointed Kooros Mahjoob, Ph.D., as deputy director of the Division of Biometrics I, Office of Biostatistics, Office of Pharmacoepidemiology and Statistical Science, CDER, FDA. Since January 2004, Dr. Kooros has served as the acting director of the Division Biometrics I. He originally joined CDER in 1987 as a mathematical statistician. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from Tehran University in Iran, and he earned his Ph.D. in statistics from the University of California, Berkeley. Association POOL Dr. Larry S. Fields AAFP Names President Larry S. Fields, M.D., has assumed the role of president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Leawood, Kan. AAFP is a medical society devoted solely to primary care. Dr. Fields, a family physician based in Ashland, Ky., was originally elected to the position in October 2004. A member of the AAFP since 1979, he previously served three years as a member of the AAFP board of directors. Dr. Fields is senior partner at the Family Medicine Center. He also is a clinical professor at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. He earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dennis M. Flynn Pennsylvania Bio Names President Pennsylvania Bio has appointed Dennis M. “Mickey” Flynn as association president. Pennsylvania Bio, Malvern, Pa., is a statewide association dedicated to advancing the biosciences industry. Mr. Flynn has more than three decades of experience in the bioscience industry. For the past 12 years, he served as president of Puresyn. He succeeds Fritz Bittenbender, who has left the association to become senior director of corporate affairs for Cephalon. Agency POOL Donna Arey Molly McNally Abelson-Taylor Hires and Promotes Abelson-Taylor, an independent medical advertising agency based in Chicago, has hired Donna Arey as senior copywriter. In this position, she assists in the creative development and writing for several important brands. She previously served as a senior writer at Goble & Associates. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English literature from DePaul University and earned a M.S.J. from Northwestern University. Abelson-Taylor also has promoted Molly McNally to account supervisor. Ms. McNally, who was previously senior account executive, supervises the agency’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) business for two oncology products. She has 13 years of marketing experience on both the client and agency sides. Before joining Abelson-Taylor in 2003, she spent five years at Coil Counts Ford & Cheney, most recently as a senior account executive. Ms. McNally holds a B.S. in business administration from John Carroll University. Jill Balderson Lisa Hunt Ide Mills Kristin Patton HealthEd Adds Executive Leadership HealthEd, a patient-education marketing firm based in Clark, N.J., has appointed Jill Balderson as VP of strategic marketing services, with a focus on digital marketing. Ms. Balderson advises HealthEd clients on using educational initiatives across online and offline channels. She most recently served as VP of digital marketing at DVC Worldwide. Lisa Hunt has joined HealthEd as senior VP of account services. Ms. Hunt is responsible for the management and growth of leading pharmaceutical brands. She previously was a senior VP, account director, at DVC ActiveCare. Ide Mills has been named VP of strategic health education at the company. She is responsible for developing and leading a variety of patient-centered health education programs, including print, audio, and Web-based components. She previously served as the company’s director of health education. Ms. Mills is a certified social worker with 20 years of experience in clinical and administrative healthcare. Kristin Patton has joined HealthEd as VP of strategic planning. Ms. Patton is responsible for strategic planning, research analysis, insight development, trend monitoring, and program concepts for the entire company’s portfolio of clients. She has more than a decade of marketing experience, including direct-to-consumer, direct-to-professional, consumer promotion, and account-specific marketing. Most recently, she was VP of strategic services at DVC Worldwide. Celeste Cafiero Xchange Hires Managing Director Xchange, CommonHealth’s relationship-marketing unit based in Parsippany, N.J., has hired Celeste Cafiero as executive VP, managing director. In this role, Ms. Cafiero is responsible for the development and maintenance of key client relationships. A certified health-education specialist, Ms. Cafiero brings a practitioner’s perspective to her strategic and client-management role at the company. Most recently, Ms. Cafiero was employed at D2 Creative as VP of healthcare communications. Rita distefano Schuerman Vox Medica Builds Senior Staff Vox Medica, an independent healthcare communications company based in Philadelphia, has promoted Rita DiStefano Schuerman to VP, group account supervisor, in the company’s Health-care Marketing Communications Group. She has been with the company for five years. In this new role, Ms. DiStefano Scheurman directs strategic planning and programs for some of the company’s largest accounts while working to expand business. Maria Fasulo David Schemelia HealthSTAR Hires Executive Staff HealthSTAR Advertising has appointed Maria Fasulo as executive VP, director of client services. Ms. Fasulo is responsible for managing the agency’s clients and contributing to new business efforts. HealthSTAR Advertising is a division of HealthSTAR Communications, a marketing-services network based in Woodbridge, N.J. Ms. Fasulo most recently served as director of client services at Lyons Lavey Nickel Swift. In other corporate news, HealthSTAR Public Relations, New York, has appointed David Schemelia as VP, media director. HealthSTAR Public Relations is part of the HealthSTAR Communications marketing-services network. Most recently, Mr. Schemelia held senior positions with agencies, including Burson-Marsteller, Dan Klores Communications, and Rubenstein Associates. Before entering the public-relations industry in 1997, he spent 20 years as a journalist, including 10 years with the Associated Press. Jon Hussey Leanne Keough Ajay Nair Palio Adds Staff Palio Communications, a full-spectrum advertising and communications agency based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has appointed Jon Hussey as VP/account director. Mr. Hussey brings to Palio strong global pharmaceutical marketing experience, including 15 years of experience working in Japan and Asia. Most recently, he was at Pfizer, where he served as senior marketing manager for Viagra. He holds an international master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. Leanne Keough has been appointed as studio writer. She joins the adverising agency from Crane and Co., where she served as assistant manager, responsible for designing personalized stationery. She previously held positions at Crabtree & Evelyn and Franklin Covey. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Ajay Nair has joined Palio as an account director. Mr. Nair brings more than 12 years of experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring high-impact communication programs targeted to doctors, patients, and consumers. Most recently, he was an account supervisor at Euro RSCG Life. Mr. Nair holds a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a MBA and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Bombay. Christine Maikisch Joseph Maynard Adient Adds to Senior Staff Adient, a CommonHealth professional advertising and promotion agency located in Wayne, N.J., has added two senior-management personnel. Christine Maikisch has been named senior VP, operations, responsible for supervising traffic, editorial, studio, and production. Previously, Ms. Maikisch freelanced in the traffic department at Adient’s sister company, Carbon. Joseph Maynard has joined the healthcare agency as executive VP, managing director. He is responsible for developing and maintaining key client relationships. Additionally, Mr. Maynard provides input, insight, and vision for all the agency’s accounts. Most recently, he was employed at Cardinal Health as general manager for the eastern medical-education business unit. Dr. Michael K. Rock Advanced Appoints Medical Affairs Director Advanced Medical Marketing Communications has hired Michael K. Rock, Pharm.D., as director, medical affairs. Dr. Rock is responsible for supporting ongoing work for existing clients, as well as identifying and cultivating new business opportunities and consulting on clinical and marketing initiatives for clients researching new agents and Phase II and Phase III development. Advanced Medical Marketing is a Lambertville, N.J.-based medical marketing communications company that helps prepare the market for new compounds. A 20-year industry veteran, Dr. Rock most recently spent several years as medical scientific liaison in oncology for Chiron, Amgen, and Berlex Laboratories. Dr. Rock has a B.S. in pharmacy from Temple University School of Pharmacy. In addition, he has a Pharm.D. from Auburn University. Dr. Jonathan Sackier GSW Names Chief Strategic Medical Officer GSW Worldwide, a full-service healthcare advertising agency with headquarters in Westerville, Ohio, has appointed Jonathan Sackier, M.D., as chief strategic medical officer. Dr. Sackier is based in the Virginia/Washington, D.C., area and is responsible for driving innovative medical insights and opportunities for the agency’s clients. He previously served as a consultant to several large healthcare companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Davis & Geck, and 3M. Dr. Sackier founded the Washington Institute of Surgical Endoscopy and was a cofounder of Spotlight Health. As a practicing surgeon, he has held positions at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Sackier holds a medical degree from The University of Liverpool, Faculty of Medicine. Katherine Shosho Seidler Bernstein Builds Operations Team Seidler Bernstein, Cambridge, Mass., has appointed a member to its operations team. A full-service marketing and communications agency, Seidler Bernstein specializes in the healthcare and life-sciences fields. Katherine Shosho has been appointed communications assistant, responsible for database management, competitive analysis and reporting, and new business and client support. She comes to Seidler Bernstein from EquipNet, where she maintained the company Website and conducted marketing and advertising research. Ms. Shosho holds a B.S. in marketing from Bentley College. CRO POOL Dr. Agostino Fede William W. Richardson PPD Appoints Senior Executives PPD, a global contract research organization based in Wilmington, N.C., has appointed Agostino Fede, Ph.D., as senior VP of global central labs. With international experience in the biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical-device industries, Dr. Fede most recently served as CEO and founder of vizyo. He holds a master’s degree and doctorate in molecular biology and biophysics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He also earned a master’s in business administration from Ashridge. PPD also has appointed William W. Richardson as senior VP of global business development. Mr. Richardson has 30 years of experience leading business development efforts for pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, he served as executive VP of sales for Mylan Bertek Pharmaceuticals. He succeeds Frank Casieri, who has stepped down and is continuing as a part-time employee for an interim transition period. Contract Sales POOL Larry Ellberger Heidi Minick James Nebel Rebecca Silver PDI and Select Access Build Executive Leadership Teams PDI, Saddle River, N.J., a diversified sales and marketing services provider to the biopharmaceutical, medical devices, and diagnostics industries, has appointed Larry Ellberger as interim CEO. Mr. Ellberger succeeds Charles T. Saldarini, who has resigned as the company’s vice chairman and CEO. Mr. Ellberger previously served as executive VP and chief administrative officer. Before joining the PDI management team in August 2005, he served as a director and chairman of the company’s audit committee. He previously served as chief financial officer of W.R. Grace. Additionally, PDI has expanded the executive leadership team at its Select Access business unit. Heidi Minick has been named national account manager for Select Access. In this role, she manages the Select Access field sales teams and has responsibility for ongoing client contact. Ms. Minick originally joined PDI in 1996 and most recently served as a regional manager on the sanofi-aventis program. She previously held field sales positions with DuPont Pharmaceuticals. She earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan. James Nebel has been appointed to PDI’s business-development team, with responsibility for developing new client relationships. He has more than 25 years of business development experience, most recently as northeast regional business development manager with American Greetings. He earned a B.A. in business economics from the State University of New York, Oneonta, and a MBA in marketing management from Pace University. Rebecca Silver has been named executive director of sales operations at Select Access. She is responsible for operational effectiveness, incentive compensation planning, and business analytics. Ms. Silver has been with Select Access for 10 years, and most recently she was instrumental in implementing the salesforce automation platform. Previously, she held positions with United Health Maintenance, Maryland Medical Laboratory, and The Medix School. Julie Kelly Ventiv Names VP Ventiv Commercial Services, Somerset, N.J., has appointed Julie Kelly as VP, account management and marketing. Ventiv provides sales, marketing, analytical, and compliance solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. In this role, she ensures that the company is capitalizing on relationships within existing and new client companies. Since joining the company in 2003, Ms. Kelly has held various roles in business development and marketing, corporate communications, and public relations. Media POOL Frank Cassera Dave Kevoian Scott Wright Slack Promotes Three in Sales Division Slack, a healthcare information and education firm based in Thorofare, N.J., has appointed Frank Cassera to senior director, U.S. sales. He is responsible for managing all U.S. sales for the company’s print publications and Websites, as well as its custom publishing and meeting management groups. Mr. Cassera has spent more than 10 years in Slack’s sales division, most recently as the director of eye-care sales. Dave Kevoian has been appointed national sales representative for Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition and Primary Care Optometry News. Additionally, he is charged with assisting with sales for both print publications OSNSuperSite.com, and PCONSuperSite.com. He also supports sales for the company’s custom publishing and meeting management groups. He previously served the company as national sales representative for Orthopedics Today. In other company news, Scott Wright has been named director of eye-care sales, responsible for managing advertising sales for Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition, Primary Care Optometry News, Journal of Refractive Surgery, Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers & Imaging, OSNSuperSite.com, and PCONSuperSite.com. Mr. Wright also is responsible for overseeing eye-care sales for Slack’s custom-publishing and meeting-management groups. William Passano Ascend Media Names President of Medical-Dental Division William Passano has joined Ascend Media as president of the company’s Jamesburg, N.J.-based medical-dental division. Ascend Media is a diversified business media organization with headquarters in Overland Park, Kan. Mr. Passano brings to this position more than 25 years of experience in medical and healthcare publishing. Most recently, he was president of Jobson Education Group. He holds a B.B.A. from Roanoke College and a M.S. in business administration from Columbia University. Medical-Education POOL Jodi Andrews Kim Gelnaw Aimee roca HLS Increases Staff Health Learning Systems (HLS), CommonHealth’s Wayne, N.J.-based medical-education unit has added members to its staff. Jodi Andrews and Kim Gelnaw both have joined HLS as program directors. Each will manage the planning and execution of a variety of healthcare-communications and medical-education initiatives. Before joining HLS, Ms. Andrews was a program manager for Thomson Physicians World. Ms. Gelnaw most recently served as an account manager for Cardinal Health. Additionally, HLS has hired Aimee Roca as assistant VP of professional relations. Ms. Roca is charged with maintaining and developing client relationships. She also is responsible for helping to expand the company’s client base through the successful delivery of current projects, as well as driving new business development efforts for the unit. Before joining HLS, Ms. Roca was employed at Photosound Communications as an account manager. Jane Cammarata Robert Esgro Andrea L. Gaymon Wayne B. McCourt Justin Shipp Robin Simon Vindico Adds Staff Vindico Medical Education, Thorofare, N.J., has made several key staff appointments. Vindico, which is part of the Slack Group, delivers relevant educational programs and activities to physicians and other healthcare providers, with the ultimate goal of improving patient health. Jane Cammarata has been named director of business development. In this role, she serves as the liaison to pharmaceutical industry grantors. Ms. Cammarata’s specialty areas include pediatrics, infectious diseases, cardiology, and psychiatry. Robert Esgro also has been named director of business development. Mr. Esgro serves as a liaison to pharmaceutical industry grantors in the specialty areas of endocrinology and hematology/oncology. Andrea L. Gaymon has been appointed Vindico’s director of content development. Ms. Gaymon is responsible for overseeing the development of programs, faculty relationships, and content delivery for enduring materials and meetings produced by the company. Wayne B. McCourt has been named VP, director of operations for Vindico. Mr. McCourt is responsible for directing the company’s content development, program development, and meeting services. He previously served as VP of U.S. sales for Slack. Justin Shipp has been named director of business development. Mr. Shipp serves as a liaison to surgical industry grantors, with a particular focus on the specialty areas of ophthalmology and orthopedics. In other company news, Robin Simon has been appointed as director of meeting services. Ms. Simon is responsible for overseeing symposia logistics and meeting management. Andrew Markusfeld Curry Rockefeller Appoints Program Coordinator The Curry Rockefeller Group, Tarrytown, N.Y., has hired Andrew Markusfeld as program coordinator. Curry Rockefeller is a thought-leader-focused medical-education company. Mr. Markusfeld holds a B.A. in humanities from the New College of California and a master’s degree in library and information science from the Pratt Institute. Service POOL Tom Alesi Dr. Martin S. Glogowski Lana Limpert Alexander London Elly Simmons GfK Strategic Marketing Adds Staff GfK Strategic Marketing, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., has hired Tom Alesi as a research analyst. GfK Strategic Marketing, a member of the GfK U.S Healthcare Companies, provides custom healt care marketing research. He previously served as a market research analyst with Merion Publications. He holds a degree in marketing from St. Joseph’s University. Martin S. Glogowski, Ph.D., has been named president of GfK Strategic Marketing. He brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare marketing research. He most recently served as senior VP, head of research for the company’s former parent, NOP World Health. Dr. Glogowski holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Toronto, a master’s degree in operations research from Case Western University, and a Ph.D. in operations research from the University of Pennsylvania. Lana Limpert has been appointed senior consultant. She comes to GfK Strategic Marketing from TechniClarity, where she was principal. She holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from the State University of New York. Alexander London has been appointed a research analyst. He previously served as a research analyst with SMART Marketing Group. He holds a degree in economics from I. Franko Lviv National University in the Ukraine. Elly Simmons has been hired as a consultant, bringing seven years of marketing research experience. She was formerly an associate director with GfK Martin Hamblin. Shawn P. Cavanagh Cambrex Appoints Senior VP, General Manager Cambrex Bioproducts, a division of Cambrex, has appointed Shawn P. Cavanagh as senior VP and general manager. Located in East Rutherford, N.J., Cambrex is a global, diversified, life-sciences company that provides products and services to accelerate and improve the discovery and commercialization of human therapeutics. Mr. Cavanagh succeeds N. David Eansor, who has resigned to pursue other interests. Most recently, Mr. Cavanagh served as Cambrex’s VP of bioproducts. He orginally joined the company in October 1999. Daniel Corey Brian Corvino PharmaStrat Hires and Promotes PharmaStrat, a consulting and research firm based in Flemington, N.J., has expanded its research and analytics teams. Daniel Corey has joined the firm as a recruiting analyst in the strategic services department. He is responsible for managing respondent recruiting for both market research and advisory initiatives. Mr. Corey graduated with honors in economics from Moravian College. Additionally, PharmaStrat has promoted Brian Corvino to senior manager of strategic services. His key duties include strategic consulting for a wide range of pharmaceutical clients, market monitoring, proposal preparation, and competitive analyses. Before joining PharmaStrat, Mr. Corvino held a number of positions with Janssen Pharmaceutica. He holds a B.A., with honors, in economics and political science from Moravian College. David Duplay Barry Feldman Thomas Miller MedManage Appoints Senior Executives MedManage Systems, Bothell, Wash., a provider of prescription drug-sampling solutions, has appointed David Duplay as senior VP of marketing. As the company’s chief marketing officer, Mr. Duplay oversees all aspects of development and promotion. He brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry expertise, most recently as executive VP with Thomson PDR. In other company news, Barry Feldman has been appointed VP of quality assurance. With more than 30 years of experience in computer validation, automation, and quality assurance, Mr. Feldman is responsible for advancing the company’s overall quality initiatives. He serves as a key customer interface on regulatory and compliance issues. Mr. Feldman previously held managerial, project management, and consulting roles with major pharmaceutical companies. Thomas Miller has joined MedManage as VP of information technology. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s IT group, including the expansion of its flagship drug-sampling platform, eMedSample. Mr. Miller previously held leadership positions at 3M, including chief information officer for the occupational health and environmental safety division, chief information officer for 3M Asia Pacific, and division IT manager for 3M Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Christopher D. Earl BIO Ventures for Global Health Appoints CEO BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) has appointed Christopher D. Earl, Ph.D., as president, CEO, and director. Based in Washington, D.C., BVGH works to focus the resources of the biotechnology industry on the most urgent medical challenges of the developing world. Dr. Earl has 20 years of experience in biotechnology entrepreneurship, most recently as managing director at the Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund. He has a B.A. in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in cellular and developmental biology from Harvard University. Amin Ladak Seaflower Ventures Appoints Principal Seaflower Ventures, Waltham, Mass., a venture capital group focused on early-stage life-sciences investments, has appointed Amin Ladak as a principal. Mr. Ladak previously was employed with FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for overall business management. He holds a master’s degree in management and health from Yale University and a M.S. in human genetics and a B.S. in microbiology and immunology from McGill University. Jack T. Lin Ed W. Szostak The Zitter Group Builds Management Team Jack T. Lin has been named director, analytics product development and management, for The Zitter Group, Millburn, N.J., a strategy, marketing, and research firm serving biopharmaceutical companies. Mr. Lin is based in the company’s San Francisco office. He is responsible for overseeing the development and launch of the company’s custom and syndicated analytics products and offerings. Most recently, he was with Blue Shield of California, where he developed market strategy for the commercial business unit product portfolio. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. He also has a MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. The Zitter Group also has appointed Ed W. Szostak as VP of business development. Mr. Szostak is responsible for business development and sales for the company’s biopharmaceutical clients. Mr. Szostak most recently was executive director of sales and managed markets for Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals’ branded division. He holds a B.S. in biology from Charleston Southern University and a MBA in human resource management from National University. Mr. Szostak is based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Millburn, N.J. Sally Hart Petersen HealthMedia Appoints VP of Marketing HealthMedia, Ann Arbor, Mich., a provider of tailored behavior-change programs, has appointed Sally Hart Petersen as VP of marketing. She is responsible for executing the mission of all of HealthMedia’s brands through the press, tradeshows and conferences, collateral, and client support. She has more than 10 years of experience in business-to-business marketing and consulting, most recently as first VP and manager of the customer information group at ABN AMRO Mortgage Group. She has a B.A. in psychology from Williams College and a MBA from Harvard Business School. Joseph Ripp Dendrite Appoints President and Chief Operating Officer Dendrite International, Bedminster, N.J., has appointed Joseph Ripp as president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Paul Zaffaroni, who has retired. Dendrite provides diversified sales, marketing, clinical, and compliance solutions to the global life-sciences and pharmaceutical industry. He spent 20 years with Time Warner, where he most recently served as senior VP of the company’s media and communications group. Mr. Ripp earned his B.A. from Manhattan College and his MBA from the Bernard M. Baruch College of the City University of New York. Marianne Webdell WRB Communications Expands Business Development Team WRB Communications, Chantilly, Va., a contact center serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device industries, has appointed Marianne Webdell as the national sales manager. She is responsible for establishing new business relationships and helping to expand the company’s strategic business development plans. Most recently, Ms. Webdell was the national account manager for Wolters Kluwer Health. Previously, she led the business development initiatives for a leading pharmacy software consulting firm. Technology/Web POOL Jan Wilson etrials Adds Chief Information Officer etrials Worldwide, a software and services company offering e-clinical software for the clinical-trial process, has hired Jan Wilson as VP and chief information officer. She is responsible for leading and coordinating all information technology aspects of etrials. Most recently, she served as a technical solutions manager, delivery project executive, and program manager for IBM’s global engagement and production outsourcing services. She also is a certified project management professional and previously served as president of the Austin chapter of the Project Management Institute for two years. Please send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Talent Pool January 2006 Executive Appointments and Promotions in the Healthcare Industry

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