Food Allergy Research & Education Names James Baker CEO and Chief Medical Officer
McLean, VA (PRWEB) October 30, 2014 -- Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is pleased to announce the appointment of James R. Baker, Jr., MD as chief executive officer and chief medical officer. Baker has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of FARE’s previous CEO, John Lehr, at the end of August. FARE is the leading nonprofit organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergy.
“Jim’s remarkable commitment to FARE’s mission and the food allergy community are clear through his 30-year career as an allergist, his years of service on FARE’s Research Advisory Board and his recent roles as interim CEO and interim chief medical officer,” said Todd J. Slotkin, chairman of FARE’s Board of Directors. “Under Jim’s leadership, FARE will accelerate its efforts to improve the quality of life and health of individuals with food allergies through its education and advocacy work and to provide hope by encouraging and supporting the development of new treatments.”
Prior to serving as interim CEO and interim chief medical officer, Baker was a member of FARE’s Research Advisory Board, helping set the research strategy for the organization and reviewing research proposals. A board-certified allergist and accomplished researcher with more than three decades in the field, Baker has been instrumental in the development and execution of “A Vision and Plan for Food Allergy Research,” FARE’s ambitious strategic plan for advancing the field of food allergy research published in 2013. Baker also has been a strong advocate for improving food allergy education, promoting food allergy advocacy initiatives and increasing awareness of the potentially life-threatening nature of food allergies.
“Food allergy is a serious and growing public health issue affecting 15 million Americans. FARE plays a critical role in helping individuals and families navigate this life-altering and potentially life-threatening disease, and in spurring discovery in the field of research to accelerate the development of treatments that can change lives,” said Baker. “I am proud to be joining FARE as its new CEO and look forward to leading an organization that has made a significant impact and is steadfast in its continuing commitment to serving all those affected by food allergies.”
Baker recently served as senior vice president and global vaccine head at Merck Corporation. Previous to that he directed the Nanotechnology Institute at the University of Michigan and was CEO of NanoBio Corporation. For over 20 years he was the Ruth Dow Doan Professor and chief of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Michigan, where he started the Food Allergy Research Center. He retains his professorship and serves in an emeritus capacity at the University.
For more information about FARE and its programs, visit http://www.foodallergy.org.
ABOUT FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. Formed in 2012 as a result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative, FARE’s mission is to find a cure for food allergies, and to keep individuals safe and included. We do this by investing in world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of the disease, providing evidence-based education and resources, undertaking advocacy at all levels of government and increasing awareness of food allergy as a serious public health issue. For more information, please visit http://www.foodallergy.org.
Nancy Gregory, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), http://www.foodallergy.org, +1 703-563-3066, [email protected]
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