New York, NY (July, 2007) — The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas D. Stern as Chairman of the National Board of Directors. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the National Board and Chairman of the diabetes foundation’s Northeast Regional Board for more than three years.
Mr. Stern is a managing director and principal of Chieftain Capital Management, a New York City-based investment advisory firm. He and his wife, Dr. Denise Stern, have dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes ever since their daughter Samantha, 10, was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 22 months.
The Sterns have co-chaired the DRI Foundation’s New York Research Update for several years and are actively involved with fundraising for the diabetes foundation throughout the New York area. They have been generous contributors to the DRI Foundation and in recognition of their support, the Diabetes Research Institute’s Dr. Denise R. Stern and Thomas D. Stern Fast Track Center bears their name.
“I am honored and humbled to have been elected Chairman of the DRI Foundation. I am committed to delivering upon the hopes and dreams of all families like my own – the discovery of a universal cure for type 1 diabetes. The DRI is unparalleled in its ability to seek out and pursue every opportunity that holds the potential for a cure. I am determined to facilitate and accelerate this effort in any way I can and look forward to substantial progress on my watch,” said Mr. Stern.
Mr. Stern succeeds Marc S. Goodman, who has served as Chairman of the diabetes foundation since 2003. “It was important to select someone who will bring tremendous commitment to the DRI’s mission and that person is Tom Stern. His tireless dedication to finding a cure for Samantha and all people living with this disease makes him the obvious choice for succession,” said Mr. Goodman.
“The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is extremely fortunate to have Tom Stern serve as Chairman of the Board. Not only is he an astute businessperson and a respected leader, but he brings passion and urgency to finding a cure for this disease. We are looking forward to his service,” said Robert A. Pearlman, president and CEO of the DRI Foundation.
Mr. Stern, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Columbia Business School, is active in several other organizations. He serves as a trustee of the Horace Mann School in New York City; trustee of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and as a member of the Investment Committee for Milton Academy in Milton, MA.
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami with the funding necessary to cure diabetes through islet transplantation and other cell-based therapies.
The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet transplantation. The DRI is now harnessing the power of emerging technologies to develop new cell-based therapies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes who are looking to the world of science for answers, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure.
Contact:
Lori Weintraub, APR
954-964-4040
lweintraub@drif.org