The company’s long history of supporting research that advances public health stood out to me, as well as the staff’s passion and great sense of pride in the important work they do to address some of the biggest challenges to human health. Emmes’ mission and values are so closely aligned with my own. That’s truly important to me and such a motivating force.

My mother was a nurse and my father an engineer, so majoring in bioengineering seemed natural. My college senior project centered on hemodynamics and related to heart valve replacement surgery. I was given the chance to be in the operating room for an open heart surgery, and I remember thinking it was nothing short of a miracle. That inspiring experience is what led me from engineering to medicine and then ultimately to clinical research.

I’ve worked for a biotech company, two CROs, and a large, global biopharmaceutical company. The biotech was MedImmune-Astrazeneca, and I led late-stage monoclonal antibody and vaccine clinical trials and guided the products through the regulatory process so they could be available for use by healthcare providers. The influenza vaccine, FluMist®, is one example. It gives me a great sense of pride every time I see it in a doctor’s office, along with guidance on the severity of the flu and ways to prevent it, including vaccination.

Being a doctor has a big impact on how I think and continues to motivate me to try to make a positive impact in global health. I’m also a very curious person. I enjoy learning and experiencing new things, places and people, so traveling has always been a passion of mine.

I’m honored to be the company’s third CEO in its 43-year history. My prior experience included serving as the senior vice president of clinical research and operations for MedImmune-AstraZeneca; chief medical officer of PPD; and both global head of portfolio strategy and innovation and global head of data and digital for Novartis Global Drug Development in Basel, Switzerland. All this widened my clinical research and drug development experience across a range of therapeutic areas and was great preparation for my role at Emmes. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as an advisor and on the board of directors for several private equity and venture-backed companies in the biopharma, clinical research and genomics fields.

My family and friends are so important to me, and I’m blessed to be able to spend time and share my life with them. I’d characterize myself as a do-er, constantly in motion, and I love the combination of adventure and travel in my free time. I’ve been to all the continents except one (Antarctica), and that’s on the list! I work out every day and love to spend time outdoors. I’ve taken up yoga recently, an excellent addition to my overall health and wellness. Another priority is to give back to the community where I live. I’m on the board of directors for the Kennedy Center National Symphony Orchestra, and I’m also a founding board member of Young Women Lead, a non-profit providing leadership and educational experiences to high school girls.

General surgery, Northwestern Medical School, Department of Surgery
M.D., Dartmouth Medical School
B.S., bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania