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The Alzheimer’s Association San Diego / Imperial Chapter
Announces Changes to Board of Directors Effective July 1, 2020

For Immediate Release – July 1, 2020
For More Information Contact Doug Friedman 619.340.1261

For many corporations and businesses in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds, the first of July brings a new fiscal year and, in many cases, a changing of the guard at the Board of Director’s level.
 
For the Alzheimer’s Association’s San Diego / Imperial Chapter, this year’s incoming board features a dynamic new Chair, an internationally respected Vice Chair, and new board members with sparkling resumes and bold ideas who bring vision and gravitas to the chapter.
 
Taking the Chair position is David Crean Ph.D, Managing Director at Objective Capital Partners, LLC. Dr. Crean, with more than 25 years in mergers & acquisitions and as a financial advisory specialist with a core focus on the healthcare sector, is well suited to the task at hand. 
 
“I was attracted to the Alzheimer’s Association given their focus on policy, advocacy and research.  My personal connection to the disease is what motivates me to being involved and making a difference,” Dr. Crean says. 
 
The chapter’s Vice Chair is Dr. Rema Raman Ph.D, tenured Professor of Neurology and the Director of Biostatistics at the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.  A Board Member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s San Diego / Imperial Chapter since 2016, Dr. Raman also has served as its Diversity & Inclusion Chair.
 
“Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association have become a critical component in the search for treatments and eventually a cure through local, national and global collaborations,” Raman notes.
 
Joining the Board on July 1 will be Edward Cox, Executive Vice President Strategic Alliances & Global Head of Digital Medicine at EVERSANA, Shelley Ram-Saban, CEO, Alan Ram’s Proactive Training Solutions, and Socorro De La Torre, MSW, MPA, who holds multiple positions with the Imperial County Department of Social Services. These three industry leaders have long histories of dedication to nonprofits.

Rounding out the distinguished Board are James Brewer MD, Director of the UCSD Alzheimer’sResearch Center, Mark McDonald, Executive Director at LegalShield Business Solutions, Andrew Newman, COO at Vivreon BioSciences, Scott Patterson, Financial Advisor at Edward Jones, Lisa Delano Wood, Associate Professor at UCSD Department of Psychiatry, Dawn Barry, Co-Founder and President at Luna DNA, Doral Fredericks, Senior Consultant for Scientific Commercialization LLC, and Yolanda Rogers, Ed.D., Executive Leadership Coach at the San Diego County Office of Education. 
 
Outgoing Board Chair Charlie Deem, Partner at DLA Piper, will take the position of Chair Emeritus, remaining on the board where he served as Chair since 2015.  He has great respect for, and is looking forward to, the Board’s new composition.
 
“I am very excited about our Board’s new leadership.  David is very well connected in the biotech sector, which includes research efforts to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia.  And I have always been impressed by Rema’s brilliance as well as her efforts to bring the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia to our diverse community, especially including those in underserved populations.” 
 
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.  Its mission is three-fold: to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
 
Alzheimer’s disease is prevalent in more than 5.8 million Americans, is the 6th leading cause of death in the US (2nd in California and 3rd in San Diego County), and kills more people than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined.  Currently, more than $12 million in active research is taking place in the region.
 
“The role of the Board has never been more critical,” says the chapter’s Executive Director, Katie Croskrey.  “In this time of financial uncertainty, solid board leadership is a key to securing the financial security any organization needs to continue operating at the highest possible level.  It’s going to be an amazing, productive time ahead for the Alzheimer’s Association with such an outstanding group of leaders and visionaries who help guide us in our mission and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”
 
Dr. Crean echoes that sentiment. 
 
“I have the opportunity to work with many talented colleagues in helping to shape and frame the organization’s strategy to drive sustainability and effectiveness,” he says.  “Each Board member is a key opinion leader in their respective disciplines and invests their limited time and resources in helping our management team drive for success.”
 
The Alzheimer’s Association has a number of fundraising drives throughout the year.  It’s biggest, and coming up next, is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s® this fall, which last year raised $98 million throughout the country to fund the association’s mission including programs, support, advocacy and research

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