LIGHTNING RELEASES 03/12/14 — Hampton, VA — The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) and National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) announced today the election of four national experts to various officer positions on its Board of Directors – F. Marc Stewart (President of PAF and NPAF), M.D., Al B. Benson III, M.D., F.A.C.P., RADM (Vice President of NPAF) Deborah Hopson, Ph.D., R.N. (VP of PAF) and Diane Mauk (Secretary of PAF and NPAF), as well as the promotion of current Chairman of the Finance Committee, John Murphy (Treasurer of PAF and NPAF). All members assume their roles of Board officers for PAF and NPAF with a wealth of experience and knowledge of healthcare and will each offer a unique and fresh perspective on dealing with the current policy landscape and the difficulties patients face today in accessing care.
“We are pleased to welcome such a distinguished group of individuals to their new roles as officers of our Board where they will enhance our Foundations’ ability to be national leaders on issues that directly impact millions of Americans’ access to care,” said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder and Chairman of the Board of PAF and NPAF. “We are dedicated to finding the most effective means to provide health care access assistance to all patients who seek our help. Each year, we are able to help more Americans gain access to the healthcare services they need.”
“As a member of PAF’s Scientific Board since 2003, I have been impressed with how these two organizations have evolved — NPAF in effectively educating policymakers about patients’ access issues so that meaningful reform can be implemented to improve access, quality and choice, and PAF where dedicated professionals are helping patients overcome barriers to access so that they can receive the care they need,” added Stewart. “I am honored to serve as the Board’s Incoming President and look forward to working with this accomplished group of leaders to build upon PAF’s and NPAF’s outstanding record.”
Alan Balch, CEO, added: “We are at such an exciting time for the future of both our organizations, especially with our recently announced goal of serving our millionth patient with direct services by our twentieth anniversary in 2016. I look forward to working with our Chair, our President, and all of our new officers to help us reach that goal during their tenure.”
F. Marc Stewart, M.D., will serve as Board President for PAF and NPAF. Since 2000, Stewart has held positions as the Medical Director of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Member of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington. His expertise is in general Hematology-Oncology where his research interests focus on stem cell biology. He is also on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry and the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine.
Al B. Benson III, M.D., F.A.C.P., will serve as Vice President for NPAF. Benson is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. He is also the Associate Director for Clinical Investigations and Chair of the Clinical Protocol Scientific Review and Monitoring System for the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, at Northwestern University. In addition, he is an Attending Physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a Staff Physician at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, and a Consultant to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
RADM Deborah Hopson, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, will serve as Vice President for PAF. Since 2002, Hopson has served as the Associate Administrator for HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). At HRSA, Hopson is responsible for managing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. In addition to her work at HRSA, Hopson holds the rank of Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS).
Diane Mauk will serve as Secretary for PAF and NPAF. Mauk has founded and operated two information technology (IT) companies, the first an IT company focused on Oracle-based technologies, and most recently Software Architects, LLC, a company that provides strategic project management and solutions architecture for large-scale identity management and health IT systems. Since 2010, Mauk has served on the Board of BrainWaves, an organization focused on raising funds in support of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTC). In addition to BrainWaves, she serves on psychosocial symposiums for pediatric cancer groups, which educate Federal constituents on the need for increased awareness and funding.
John Murphy continues his roll as Chair, Finance Committee, for both organizations — PAF and NPAF. In addition to his role at both PAF and NPAF, Murphy is a Managing Member and Chief Operating Officer of Saguenay Capital, LLC, a hedge fund and financial advisory firm in Purchase, NY. Prior to Saguenay, Murphy was one of the founding members of Cove Harbor Partners, LLC, where he was active as an investor, director, and consultant with a number of Cove Harbor’s investments. In addition, his professional experience at Bankers Trust Company contains a number of senior and executive management positions, including Corporate Banking and Finance, Private Banking and Asset Management, and the firm’s sales and trading, financing, and risk management businesses.
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability. PAF services are available to all patients, patient families, and medical professionals, offering nineteen programs and services ranging from case management to co-pay relief, as well as specialized clinical support through the MedCare Line. Additionally, PAF receives and provides information through online contacts to patients, family members and care professionals requesting access to care information and assistance. PAF serves patients from all 50 states, and has physical locations at many of the top patient referral states including Texas, Florida, California, New York and Virginia.
National Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization providing the patient voice in improving access to, and reimbursement for, high-quality healthcare through regulatory and legislative reform at the state and federal levels. NPAF translates the experience of millions of patients who have been helped by our companion, Patient Advocate Foundation, which provides professional case management services to individuals facing barriers to healthcare access for chronic and disabling disease, medical debt crisis and employment-related issues at no cost.
Contact: Rebecca Reid (410) 212-3843
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