Apr 8, 2021
As we spotlight this April, Sarcoidosis Awareness
Month, I am excited to welcome, Dr. Elliott Crouser, Chair of the
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research' Scientific Advisory Board,
Professor - Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at Ohio State
University & Mary McGowan CEO, Foundation for Sarcoidosis
Research.
Dr. Crouser has over 31 years of medical experience
and has been a member of FSR's SAB since 2016. He is a professor of
medicine at Ohio State University where he specializes in Pulmonary
and Critical Care Medicine with a focus on translational research
on systemic inflammatory diseases involving the lungs. In 25 years
of supported research, Dr. Crouser's laboratory has contributed to
the publication of more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts,
including the first efforts to study sarcoidosis disease mechanisms
by deeply scrutinizing genetic data (2009) and the first clinical
practice guidelines for sarcoidosis which were endorsed by the
American Thoracic Society in 2020.
In addition to his research, Dr. Crouser served as
the President of the American Association of Sarcoidosis and Other
Granulomatous Disorders (AASOG) from 2017-2019 and has advocated
for the sarcoidosis community through engagement with the National
Institutes of Health.
Mary joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
as the organization’s first-ever Chief Executive Officer in 2020.
As CEO, Mary serves as the primary representative and spokesperson
for FSR and leads the organization’s strategic vision with patient
engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, advocacy efforts,
program direction, and an aggressive communications and research
agenda.
Mary brings 35 years of nonprofit leadership and
management experience to the role. Prior to joining FSR, she served
as Executive Director at The Myositis Association (TMA.) As
Executive Director of TMA, McGowan was featured and highlighted as
a preeminent rare disease leader by numerous entities including
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Global Genes and
the National Organization for Rare Diseases for her innovative
national campaigns including Women of Color and Myositis and her
leading telemedicine initiatives for autoimmune patients during
COVID-19.
Prior to her time at TMA, Mary served as CEO of
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.
During her 8 years with WomenHeart, McGowan ensured the
organization’s long-term growth and sustainability as the leading
voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of
heart disease. McGowan also served as Executive Director of the
Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization
dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma,
allergies and related conditions. She held various positions with
the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years.
McGowan earned a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development
from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity
University.
Listen in as Mary McGowan & Dr. Elliot discuss
Living with Sarcoidosis.
Learn More :
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research