| TO: | Alpha-1 Community |
| FROM: | Alpha-1 Foundation Board of Directors |
| RE: | Leadership Transition Announcement |
| DATE: | 5/21/2021 |
We are writing to announce that Miriam O’Day has stepped down as President and CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation as of May 12, 2021. Although Miriam will be leaving her current position, she has signed on to lead Advocacy and Public Affairs for the Foundation, where her scope of work will be centered around one of her greatest skills which is government relations and patient advocacy.
Miriam has been a part of the Alpha-1 community for over 20 years and has contributed in innumerable ways. During Miriam’s leadership, she had many noteworthy accomplishments. Miriam enhanced the Scientific Infrastructure by updating and streamlining programs, moved the Alpha-1 Foundation Research Registry in house and rebalanced the grant portfolio to highlight the need for translational research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched the important patient education webinar series, virtual education days and the virtual National Conference. Miriam continued to advocate for patient’s access to care and priorities of importance to the rare and chronic disease population. The five Gordon L. Snider workshops that occurred during this time brought together scientific leadership from around the world to collaborate towards our mission of finding a cure. Miriam brought the organization forward and we are grateful to have her continue in her new position.
At this time, the Foundation has officially launched an executive search for the President & CEO. The President & CEO is responsible for executing on the strategic plan and mission of the organization, ensuring the implementation of policies adopted by the Board of Directors, overseeing, and optimizing operations, managing productivity and measurement of research programs, and assuring effective implementation of the organization’s goals. Click here for more information.
About the Alpha-1 Foundation
Founded in 1995 by John Walsh, Sandy Lindsey, three people diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1), the Foundation has developed a solid infrastructure to promote research and the development of new therapies for improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with Alpha-1. Through partnerships and collaborations with investigators throughout the US and Europe, the Foundation has invested $81 million to support Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency research and programs at 119 institutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. The Alpha-1 Foundation will continue to raise support and fund investigators until its mission is achieved: Find a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and improve the lives of people affected by Alpha-1 worldwide. An international focus of the Foundation is bridging patients, clinicians, investigators, government, and pharma/delivery companies to improve lives and find the ultimate cure, which many believe can be accomplished in this decade. At the Alpha-1 Foundation, we are passionate about those we serve and all we do.
