Pheo Para Alliance Board of Directors

Timothy G. Rothwell
Chairman

Tim Rothwell has over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently serving as Chairman of sanofi-aventis U.S. in February 2007. Sanofi-aventis U.S. is the U.S. affiliate of the sanofi-aventis Group, one of the world leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Rothwell  announced his decision to step down as Chairman and his intention to retire from the company in September 2009. Between September 2004 and February 2007, Mr. Rothwell was President and CEO of sanofi-aventis U.S.

Prior to this, he served as President and CEO of Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc., which he joined in May 2003. Before joining Sanofi-Synthelabo, he served in various capacities at Pharmacia, including as President of the company's Global Prescription Business and as Executive Vice President of Pharmacia Corporation. Prior to Pharmacia, Mr. Rothwell was worldwide President of Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals (RPR) and President of RPR's Global Pharmaceutical Operations. Mr. Rothwell joined RPR in January 1995 as Executive Vice President, RPR, and President, Pharmaceutical Operations. Mr. Rothwell began his career at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in 1972 in the Legal department, subsequently moving into sales and marketing positions at Sandoz, including Chief Operating Officer. In 1989, Mr. Rothwell joined the Squibb Corporation as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the U.S.

In 1991, he moved to Burroughs Wellcome where he was appointed Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales. He then returned to Sandoz Pharmaceuticals from 1992 to 1995, and was named Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rothwell holds a Bachelor of Arts from Drew University and a law degree from Seton Hall University. In 1986, Mr. Rothwell served as President of the New Jersey Intellectual Property Association. He has also served on the PhRMA Board of Directors, the Institute of Medicine’s Evidence-Based Medicine roundtable, the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees for the Somerset Medical Center Foundation, the Board of Trustees for the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey and the Board of Visitors for Seton Hall Law School. Mr. Rothwell was a Trustee of the Corporate Council for America's Children at the Children's Health Fund.  He currently sits on a number of community foundations and other councils.

Edward J. Kauffman, DO
Board Member

A family physician for more than 40 years, Dr. Kauffman has been diagnosed and is being treated for malignant pheochromocytoma. Dr. Kauffman is past Chief of Staff at the former Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus; Co-founder and Past Chairman of the Pheochromocytoma Alliance Board; and, most recently, Consulting Medical Research Evaluator for the American Institute of Biological Sciences, U.S. Army, Department of Defense.

 

Emily B. Collins
Secretary

Emily Collins joined the PheoPara Alliance Board of Directors in 2007 to further her commitment and dedication towards achieving increased awareness and research of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma. In addition to her service on the PheoPara Alliance Board, Ms. Collins has long advocated and participated on behalf of various public interest organizations in the Washington, DC area. While Ms. Collins plays an active role in multiple community initiatives, she has made the advancement of Pheochromocytoma research a primary objective. As both the wife and mother of Pheochromocytoma patients, Ms. Collins understands the far reaching effects this disease and pledges to work with the Board toward achieving a national awareness of this disease and eventually a cure. Ms. Collins received her Bachelor's degree from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia and resides in Washington, DC. She is married and has three children.

Gisela B. Huberman
Vice-Chairman

Gisela B. Huberman is the president of GBH Radio, Inc, a Florida company, formed and managed by Ms. Huberman. Established in 1999, GBH Radio, Inc. owns telecommunication towers in Florida, North Carolina and Maryland. From 1985 to 1998 Ms. Huberman was the founder and majority partner of HVS Partners, a company that owned and operated twelve radio stations in Florida, Maryland and North Carolina. Prior to forming HVS Partners, from 1980 until 1985 Ms. Huberman practiced as an attorney in Washington, D.C. in international and communications law. She worked in Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin and Kahn, and also Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Kampelman. From 1970 to 1980, Ms Huberman was a member of the faculty at American University (AU) in Washington, DC. She served as Chair of the Department of Languages and Foreign Studies at AU in 1979-1980. From 1970 until 1980 she was an Associate Professor of Linguistics and Romance Languages at AU. In 1975 she founded and was the first head of American University Ad-hoc Committee on Women’s Affairs. She was also a member of the Faculty Senate. Ms. Huberman holds A.B. (1964), M.A, (1965), and Ph.D. (1970) degrees from The George Washington University. In 1980 she received a Juris Doctor degree from the American University. She has been a member of the District of Columbia bar since 1981 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1984. In May 2006 she was elected to the Board of Trustees of American University. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pheo-Para Alliance, a member of the Board of Directors of Moment Magazine and a member of the Arts Advisory Council of the Katzen Center of American University. The author of many articles and a book on linguistics, Ms. Huberman has published two books of fiction. Born in Mexico, she is married and has two sons.

E. Allen Wilson
Board Member

Allen Wilson is a business graduate with over 20 years experience in both the financial and manufacturing sectors. In 1998, Allen was appointed the Managing Director of the Wilson Group of Companies, based in Belfast. N. Ireland, which remains on an expansionary path within the chemical manufacturing and specialist recycling markets throughout Ireland and Europe. An avid sportsman and Hatha yoga tutor, he was diagnosed with sporadic metastatic paraganglioma in October 2006 and is truly passionate about using his experience, networking and managerial skills to increase awareness of the work of the Pheo Para Alliance. Allen's emphasis is to reach out to patients throughout the world by promoting the pursuit of earlier and better detection and diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma, whilst helping to develop improved treatments and ultimately pursue a cure for this rare and orphan group of diseases.

Wayne P. Zandbergen
Treasurer

Mr. Zandbergen has worked in the defense industry since 1985. He is currently Director of the Center for Complexity Analysis, a private research company focused on bridging the gap between the social and quantitative sciences as applied to national security issues. Mr. Zandbergen also serves as a member of the Board of Directors and CFO of Group W Inc. Mr. Zandbergen received his BS and MS in mathematics from Michigan State University and University of Utah respectively. Mr. Zandbergen has served in several executive positions including President and CEO of System Simulation Solutions, Inc., Sr. Vice-President of Emergent Information Technologies, and Vice-President of Technology Solutions with L-3 Communications Analytics.

David (Rick) Keefer
Board Member

Rick has overall responsibility for Publicis Touchpoint Solutions centers-of-excellence that include promotional and clinical message delivery as well as live and virtual channels and support solutions. Rick is a 30-year industry veteran with broad based experience in leading commercial operations. Prior to joining Publicis, he was Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations with Biovail Corporation. Previously, Rick served as Vice President, Sales for Pharmacia Corporation, as well as spending 11 years at Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, where he held a number of increasingly responsible senior positions in the company’s institutional and primary care divisions.  Rick is passionate about the vital contribution the biopharma industry makes in helping people live longer and healthier lives. He holds a deep-seated belief that our calling is upright, benevolent, and admirable. According to Rick, “Every member of the Touchpoint team can sleep well at night knowing that the work they do each day has a positive effect on the lives of people in their nation, community, and family. It's an honor and privilege we take seriously.

Daniel M. Wechsler
Board Member

Daniel W. Wechsler is corporate vice president and global president, Pharmaceuticals for Bausch + Lomb. Mr. Wechsler was most recently head of U.S. Strategy, Commercial Model Innovation and Business Development for Merck & Co., a role to which he was appointed following the company’s acquisition of Schering-Plough Corporation in 2009. From 2005 to 2009, he was group vice president, Global Business Operations and Selling Excellence, for Schering-Plough, and a member of the global management team. In 2003, Mr. Wechsler joined Pfizer Inc. as vice president for its multibillion-dollar U.S. Specialty Sales organization, with responsibility for the oncology, ophthalmics, medical/surgical, Agouron, cardiovascular, urology and gynecology, endocrine care and women’s health franchises. He began his career in 1991 with The Upjohn Company (later Pharmacia Corporation), holding a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities for sales and sales training. Mr. Wechsler holds a master’s degree from the University of Rochester and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Brockport.

Dr. Sheila E. Buchbinder
Board Member

Dr. Buchbinder joined the board of directors with extensive experience as a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist. Alongside her private practice specialized in laparoscopic surgery, she has acted as a consultant both at the state and federal level in relation to women’s healthcare issues. She has taught and published on laparoscopic surgery and participated in the design and development of innovative medical technologies. She has received the American Woman’s Medical Association and Lang Publication awards. Dr. Buchbinder is a graduate of Brown University’s Program in Medicine and completed her training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Sloane Hospital for Women.

John A. Braun
Board Member

Mr. Braun has over 20 years of experience in government and military issues, and he currently serves as the Vice President of Washington Operations for Teledyne technologies. Previously in his career, Mr. Braun served as Appropriations Associate to Congressman Bud Cramer, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and also advised the Congressman on issues relating to defense, aerospace, tax, trade, international affairs, small business, labor, federal employees, agriculture, veterans’ affairs, and technology. Mr. Braun has a long history of working with the U.S. Armed Forces including serving in the Pentagon as a Senior Policy Analyst in the National Security Policy Division of U.S. Air Force Headquarters (1995-1999) and as a Congressional Analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition(1994-1995). In recognition of his service to his country, he was awarded an honorary appointment as a Colonel in the Alabama National Guard by Governor Don Siegelman. Before moving to the Pentagon, Mr. Braun worked in campaign politics in the State of Alabama, where he worked as a Political Director for several local and state-wide political campaigns. Besides his work in business and industry, Mr. Braun is also active in many civic and charitable organizations in the Washington area, including membership on the board of the National Aviation Education Council and the Northern Virginia chapter of Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN).

Shirley R. Kullen, Ph.D.
Board Member

Known as an authority on grantsmanship, Shirley R. Kullen, Ph.D., was a groundbreaking scholar in Epidemiology and Service Review at the National Institutes of Health. During her decades in the field, she was an international source of information in community mental health and psychiatric epidemiology. She worked closely with scientists throughout the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Israel. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. from the Kogod School of Business at American University. She has taught at NIH, American University, and Howard University. Elected to the Advisory Board, Mental Health Section, of the American Public Health Association, she is also listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in Medicine and Science. Her education includes: Postdoctoral Training in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ph.D. at American University, Washington, D.C., Finance Related to Community Mental Health Dissertation: “An Evaluation of Funding Patterns of Community Mental Health Centers”; M.B.A. from American University, Washington, D.C., in Human Relations and Computer Sciences; B.S. from American University, Washington, D.C., Statistics and Economics, with Honors. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Palm Beach, Florida, and is the mother of two sons.