WASHINGTON, July 23 The Council for American Medical Innovation has named Debra R. Lappin, a nationally recognized strategist in public health and science policy, as its president.
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Lappin, an attorney, has more than two decades of experience in health and science policy, leading a major patient advocacy organization and serving as a senior advisor to the Directors of both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to her role with the Council, Lappin will continue to serve as a Senior Vice President at B&D Consulting in Washington, D.C.
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"Debra Lappin has outstanding credentials and we look forward to her direction and ideas," said Richard Gephardt, Chairman of the Council for American Medical Innovation. "America's future prosperity and health will largely depend on maintaining a lead role in scientific, technological and medical innovation, and Ms. Lappin's experience generating support for federal policies to improve health and science in the U.S. will help the Council meet its important goals."
The former National Chair of the Arthritis Foundation, Lappin has served on or led multiple high-profile projects focused on health policy, including the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on the Organizational Structure of the NIH and the CDC's National Partners Task Force on the agency's Health Protection Goals. She also serves on the board of Research!America.
"I look forward to working with the members of the Council for American Medical Innovation to inform important audiences and lawmakers about the need for policies that are more supportive of research discovery, translation, and innovation" said Lappin. "America benefits tremendously from its leadership position in medical innovation and the life sciences, but we are at risk of losing our edge to countries that have made innovation a priority. If we are to compete in the future, we must create an environment that supports medical innovation today. I am eager to work with some of the country's best and brightest minds as we seek the smartest ways to move forward."
The Council for American Medical Innovation released its policy platform last month, which calls for increasing incentives for investment in research, development and its application, enhancing investment in the life sciences, and ensuring the growth of highly skilled and trained work force in the United States. The complete policy platform can be viewed online at: www.americanmedicalinnovation.org.
About the Council for American Medical Innovation
The United States faces serious challenges to maintaining its leadership position in innovation. The Council for American Medical Innovation is bringing together leaders in research, medicine, public health, academia, education, labor, and business, who are working in partnership toward a national policy agenda aimed at preserving U.S. leadership in medical innovation. American medical innovators create millions of high-paying jobs, and their discoveries are integral in the fight to cure cancer and other illnesses. The Council for American Medical Innovation views leadership in medical innovation as a key part of America's economic recovery, future prosperity and health.
For more information on the Council for American Medical Innovation, visit www.americanmedicalinnovation.org.
Follow us on Twitter @Med_Innovation.
SOURCE Council for American Medical Innovation
