Ehrenamtlicher Vorstand

Im September 2025 ging Dr. Berns nach zehnjähriger Tätigkeit als Präsident und CEO des National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) in den Ruhestand. Zuvor war er Senior Vice President of Chapter Programs und stellvertretender Medical Officer im National Office von March of Dimes.

Dr. Berns ist Facharzt für Kinderheilkunde und Kindernotarzt. Er ist Professor für Pädiatrie an der Warren Alpert Medical School der Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Er erwarb einen Master of Public Health der Harvard School of Public Health mit Schwerpunkt Gesundheit, Politik und Management und absolvierte ein einjähriges White House Fellowship, bei dem er als Sonderassistent des US-Verkehrsministers tätig war.

Dr. Berns wurde für seine herausragenden Forschungsleistungen in der pädiatrischen Notfallmedizin mit dem Willis Wingert Award der American Academy of Pediatrics, einer nationalen Auszeichnung der National Perinatal Association, einer Auszeichnung für den öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienst des US-Verkehrsministeriums, dem Stan & Mavis Graven Leadership Award und dem White House Fellows Foundation & Association Impact Award ausgezeichnet.

Karen Ballack is a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP. She has extensive experience as an intellectual property transactional attorney, with emphasis on representing technology companies, particularly in the computer, internet, semiconductor, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Karen represents clients in connection with technology and intellectual property alliances and transactions, including research and development collaborations, licensing matters, corporate partnering transactions, and commercialization arrangements regarding products and services. Karen is often engaged as a guest speaker on these topics. She also serves on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, Diversity Committee and Women@Weil Leadership Committee and is a member of the Hiring Committee.

Sandra Bresnick retired after serving as Co-Chair of the Global Life Sciences Practice for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.  Based at the New York office, she specialized in patent litigation, particularly in the areas of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology. Ms. Bresnick also counseled clients on intellectual property management. She teaches Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation at Rutgers University School of Law and is a frequent speaker on topics pertinent to the life sciences industries. She is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Alan Brogdon ist ein erfahrener Manager mit über 20 Jahren Erfahrung in strategischer Führung, spezialisiert auf Betrieb, Technologie und Shared Services. Als Chief Technology Officer bei Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) leitet Alan die Bemühungen der Organisation zur digitalen Transformation und verbessert die Technologieinfrastruktur, Datenstrategie und Betriebseffizienz, um die Wirkung der Mission zu steigern.

Previously, Alan served as the Chief Operating Officer at The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), where he spearheaded initiatives to improve operational effectiveness, optimize financial operations, and drive revenue growth through innovative fundraising strategies. Following his tenure as COO, he transitioned to the PRF Board, continuing his commitment to PRF’s mission.

Paula is an Engagement Director within the Client Accounting and Advisory Services of CliftonLarsonAllen. She builds relationships and provides services to clients to help solve their accounting and finance issues, whether it’s project-based or as an interim role.

Paula has more than 25 years of experience in financial management operations, financial reporting, and planning within the manufacturing, private equity, and non-profit industries. She is also a former Assistant Professor of Accounting at Dean College. Paula earned an MBA from Providence College and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Nach 20 Jahren als Leiter der pädiatrischen Neuroonkologie am Dana-Farber Cancer Institute und dem Boston Children's Hospital, wo er sich auf die Entwicklung und klinische Umsetzung neuartiger zielgerichteter Gentherapien für Kinder mit Hirntumoren, Progerie und anderen Herzerkrankungen bei Säuglingen konzentrierte, wechselte Dr. Kieran in die Industrie und ist gegenwärtig Vizepräsident für klinische Entwicklung bei Day One Biopharmaceutics, einem Unternehmen, das sich auf die Entwicklung zielgerichteter Medikamente für Kinder konzentriert.

In addition to a PhD in Immunology from the University of Alberta, Canada and two post-doctoral fellowships in molecular biology (Paris, France) and cellular signal transduction (Harvard, Boston), Mark is also a board-certified pediatric hematologist oncologist. He helped develop and remains on the faculty of the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, the largest pediatric cancer hospital in the world. Mark is also the CEO of Break-Even Therapeutics, a 501c3 working to supply essential medicines to in-need populations around the world.

John is the President/CEO of Bell-Mark Sales Company which designs, manufactures and services high-performance coding, marking and printing equipment for the food, medical device and industrial marketplace worldwide. Founded in 1959 by John’s father, Bell-Mark is now a 3^rd generation family business headquartered in Pine Brook, New Jersey, with manufacturing facilities in Dover, PA, and sales offices around the globe.

John is a member of the Board of Preakness Hills Country Club where he chairs the Tournament Committee. He is also the grandfather of Zoey Penny, diagnosed with Progeria in March 2010 at age 5 months. He and his family formed Team Zoey  to raise funds and awareness in their community and beyond.

Larry Mills has been the Executive Vice President of the Holt Companies, based in San Antonio, Texas for over 40 years. These companies are comprised of HOLT CAT, one of the world’s largest Caterpillar dealers and the four-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. After holding various positions with the companies in the areas of parts operations, marketing, sales and human resources, his areas of focus now include strategic planning, marketing, leadership development, and organizational development.

He is the founder of Holt Development Services, Inc., which is based on the Values Based Leadership approach to business. Larry serves on the board of directors of the San Antonio Spurs, Clarity Child Guidance Center and Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation.  He is also a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, the American Society of Training and Development, and the Ethics Officers Association. 

Liza Morris is a 20+ year veteran of health and science communications. As a strategy and communications consultant, she has worked with organizations to build strategic partnerships; raise awareness in global markets about important science, education and human development issues; create programs to drive fundraising, change perceptions and influence behavior; implement strategies to drive digital conversations; successfully navigate through crisis situations; and establish new programs to measure results. Liza has been working with PRF since 2003 and has helped lead the communications aspect of every major milestone that PRF has achieved.

Kim Paratore is the former Executive Director and Event Coordinator of Grateful Friends, a non-profit based in Gloucester, MA that provides support to adults living with, or undergoing treatment for, cancer. Kim has been involved as a PRF volunteer since its inception, having created and chaired the Night of Wonder galas (PRF’s major fundraiser), as well as numerous other PRF special events. She has also been involved in dozens of fundraising efforts for other charities and her two sons’ schools, organizing races, auctions and dinners. In 2005, Kim was honored with PRF’s coveted Amy Award for her tireless efforts and long-standing commitment to children with Progeria.

Matthew Winters is a Partner at the strategic advisory firm Hakluyt & Co., where he leads much of the firm’s US healthcare work out of Washington, DC. Prior to joining Hakluyt, Matt spent seven years as a Partner at PWR, a boutique law firm where he provided counsel and strategic advice to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and nonprofit organizations, on an array of legal, regulatory, business, and public policy matters.

Previously, Matt served in several senior roles in the Obama Administration, including as Deputy Special Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office, and as Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Energy’s $50 billion clean energy investment fund. He also worked for several years as an associate at the law firm of Williams & Connolly.