The National Health Council is governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of representatives from our various membership categories. Board members set the strategic direction and establish policy to guide the NHC in meeting its mission to provide a united voice for people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers.

Officers

Michael Osso

Chairperson

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

Charles Henderson

Chairperson-Elect

American Diabetes Association

Calaneet Balas

Vice Chair

The ALS Association

Kathryn Schubert, MPP, CAE

Secretary

Society for Women’s Health Research

Kenneth Mendez

Treasurer

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Jeff Todd

Immediate Past Chair

Prevent Blindness

board Members

Jorey Berry

Immune Deficiency Foundation

Lisa Butler

GBS│CIDP Foundation International

Julie Louise Gerberding, MD, MPH

Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH)

Daniel Gillison

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Leah Howard, JD

National Psoriasis Foundation

Devin Jopp, EdD, MS

Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention & Control (APIC)

Michele Oshman

Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)

Sue Peschin

Alliance for Aging Research

Gary A. Puckrein, PhD

National Minority Quality Forum

Eric Racine, PharmD, MBA

Sanofi

Louise Vetter

Lupus Foundation of America

Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, MLS, RN

National Association of Hispanic Nurses

Harold Wimmer

American Lung Association

Jean Wright, MD, MBA

COPD Foundation

Michael Ybarra, MD

PhRMA

NHC Committee Members

Executive Committee
  • NHC Staff Liaison: Randy Rutta
  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Chair, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO)
  • Charles Henderson, President & CEO, Chair-Elect, American Diabetes Association (PO)
  • Calaneet Balas, President & CEO, Vice Chair, ALS Association (PO)
  • Katie Schubert, President & CEO, Secretary, Society for Women’s Health Research (PPO)
  • Kenneth Mendez, National President & CEO, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (PO)
  • Jeff Todd, CEO, Immediate Past Chair, Prevent Blindness (PO)

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Randy Rutta

  • Jeff Todd, President & CEO, Chair, Prevent Blindness (PO) 

  • Chuck Henderson, President & CEO, American Diabetes Association (PO)

  • Harold Wimmer, National President & CEO, American Lung Association (PO) 

  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO)

  • Sue Peschin, President & CEO, Alliance for Aging Research (PPO) 

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Jennifer Schleman

  • Jeff Todd, President & CEO, Chair, Prevent Blindness (PO) 

  • Dr. Jean Wright, CEO, COPD Foundation (PO) 

  • Sue Peschin. President & CEO, Alliance for Aging Research (PPO)

  • Kevin Hagan, President & CEO, PAN Foundation (PPO)  

  • Michael Pearlmutter, CEO, Everylife Foundation (PO) 

  • Berrett Stradford, Director of Alliance Development, Novo Nordisk, Inc. (B&I) 

  • Bari Talente, EVP, National MS Society (PO) 

  • Claire Gill, CEO, Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (PO)

  • Michaela Dinboeck, Head Patient Engagement, Novartis (B&I)

    Leaving committee: Chuck Henderson, ADA; Lisa Butler; GBS|CIDP Foundation; Tricia Brooks, Eisai

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Linda Beza
  • Julie Gerberding, President & CEO, Chair, Foundation for the NIH (PPO)
  • Eric Racine, VP & Head, Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Sanofi (B&I)
  • Katie Schubert, President & CEO, Society for Women’s Health Research (PPO)
  • Dan Gillison, CEO, NAMI (PO)
  • Devin Jopp, EdD, MS CEO, APIC (PPO)
  • Jorey Berry, President & CEO, Immune Deficiency Foundation (PO) 
  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO), exofficio

Leaving committee: Lisa Butler, GBS|CIDP Foundation

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Linda Beza

  • Kenny Mendez, President & CEO, Chair, Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America (PO/Bylaws)  

  • Lisa Butler, Executive Director, GBS/CIDP Foundation (PO) 

  • Calaneet Balas, President & CEO, The ALS Association (PO) 

  • Julie Gerberding, CEO, Foundation for the NIH (PPO) 

  • Louise Vetter, President & CEO, Lupus Foundation of America (PO)

  • Harold Wimmer, National President & CEO, American Lung Association (PO)

  • Michael Zincone, Senior Director Patient Advocacy, Pfizer (B&I)

  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO), exofficio

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Susan Gaffney
  • Jorey Berry, President & CEO, Chair, The Immune Deficiency Foundation (PO) 
  • Molly Murray, President & CEO, Autoimmune Association (PO)
  • Joe Nadglowski, President & CEO, Obesity Action Coalition (PO)
  • NEW Scott Staszak, President and CEO, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PO)
  • Jean Wright, MD, MBA, CEO, COPD Foundation (PO)
  • NEW Allan Balch, President & CEO, Patient Advocate Foundation (PPO)
  • Micah Cost, CEO, Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PPO)
  • NEW Meagan O’Neill, Executive Director, Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) (PPO)
  • Mary Bordoni, Senior Director, Strategic Alliances, BMS (B&I)
  • Kelly Cox, Head, Global Enterprise Alliance Development, Johnson & Johnson (B&I)
  • Katie Schubert, President & CEO, Society for Women’s Health Research, exofficio as Secretary
  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO), exofficio 

Leaving committee: Bob Gebbia, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Emily Boyd Stormoen, Arthritis National Research Foundation; Sue Peschin, Alliance for Aging Research

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Kim Beer
  • Leah Howard, President & CEO, National Psoriasis Foundation, Chair (PO)
  • Jorey Berry, President & CEO, Immune Deficiency Foundation (PO) 
  • Helen Burstin, President & CEO, Coalition of Medical Specialty Societies (PPO) 
  • Michele Oshman, Vice President, External Relations, BIO (B&I)   
  • Bernice Martin Lee, President & CEO, Epilepsy Foundation (PO) 
  • Jeanette Thornton, EVP, Policy & Strategy, AHIP (B&I)
  • Mike Ybarra, CMO, PhRMA (B&I) 
  • Charles Henderson, President & CEO, American Diabetes Association (PO)   
  • Jason Resendez, President & CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving (PPO)
  • NEW: Sue Peschin, President & CEO, Alliance for Aging Research (new member, 2026)
  • NEW: Larry Holden, President & CEO, Global Liver Institute (to be invited, new member, 2026)
  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO), exofficio

Leaving committee: Cass Isidro (no longer at Amputee Coalition)

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Omar Escontrías

  • Devin Jopp, EdD, MS, CEO, Chair, APIC (PPO)

  • Leah Howard, JD, President & CEO, National Psoriasis Foundation (PO) 

  • Tracy Hart, CEO, Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (PO) 

  • Louise Vetter, President & CEO, Lupus Foundation of America Inc. (PO)  

  • Vanessa Boulanger, MSc, Director, Patient Engagement, Boehringer Ingleheim Pharmaceuticals, (B&I)

  • NEW Celina Gorre, President & CEO, WomenHeart (PO)

  • NEW Marilyn Geller, Chief Executive Officer, Celiac Disease Foundation (PO)

  • NEW Michael Ward, Director, U.S. Alliance Development, AstraZeneca | North America (B&I)

  • Joe Lindahl, MA, CAE, President & CEO, Mission MSA (PO) 

  • Nicole Boschi, PhD, Director of Regulatory Affiars, National MS Society (PO) 

  • Ron Pievincenzi, PhD,President & CEO, USP (PPO) 

  • Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (PO), exofficio

    Leaving committee: Cynthia Bens, Personalized Medicine Coalition; Irene Aninye, Society for Women’s Health Research (no longer at SWHR)

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Omar Escontrías
  • Gary Puckrein, President & CEO, Co-Chair, National Minority Quality Forum (PPO) 
  • Luther Clark, Deputy Chief Patient Officer, Co-Chair, Merck (B&I)
  • Charles Henderson, President & CEO, American Diabetes Association (PO)   
  • Lily Shen, Chief of Staff, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (Nonmember) 
  • Tara Chico-Jarillo, Executive Director, Pascua Yaqui, Nonmember – invited
  • Dan Gillison, CEO, NAMI (PO)
  • Adrianna Nava, Past President, National Association of Hispanic Nurses (PPO)
  • Carl Hill, PhD, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Alzheimer’s Association (PO)   
  • Rick Willis, President & CEO, Brain Injury Association of America (PO)
  • Ex Officio: Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO, Mental Health America, & NHC Board Chair (PO) 
  • NHC Staff Liaison: Randy Rutta
  • Jeff Todd (Co-Chair), President & CEO, Prevent Blindness (PO)
  • Eric Racine (Co-Chair), US Head Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Sanofi (B&I)
  • Calaneet Balas, President & CEO, ALS (PO)
  • Steve Taylor, President & CEO, Arthritis Foundation (PO)
  • Brian Lloyd, CTO, Immune Deficiency Foundation (PO)
  • Katie Evans, Chief Programs & Mission Engagement Officer, Alzheimer’s Association (PO)
  • Kim Love, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Strategic Alliances, Amgen (B&I)
  • Richard Sperry, CSO, GBS/CIDP, (PO) invited
  • Helen Burstin, MD, President & CEO, CMSS (PPO)
  • Patrick Wayte, CTO, American Heart Association (PO)
  • Chelsea Magnant, Director, Brunswick Group (nonmember)
  • Maia Hightower, CEO & Founder, Equality AI (nonmember) invited
  • Ex Officio: Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO, Mental Health America, & NHC Board Chair (PO) 

  • NHC Staff Liaison: Randy Rutta

  • Chuck Henderson, President & CEO, American Diabetes Association, Chair (PO)

  • Jaymes Black, Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Project (PO)

  • Lisa Butler, President & CEO, GBS|CIPD Foundation (PO)

  • Dan Gillison, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) (PO)

  • Michael Pearlmutter, CEO, Everylife Foundation for Rare Diseases (PO)

  • Joanne Pike, President & CEO, Alzheimer’s Association (PO)

  • Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Chief Executive Officer, United States Pharmacopeia (PPO)

  • Jean Wright, Chief Executive Officer, COPD Foundation (PO)

  • Louise Vetter, President & CEO, Lupus Foundation (PO)

  • Diana Gray, President & CEO, Hydrocephalus Association (PO)

  • Steve Taylor, President & CEO, Arthritis Foundation (PO)

  • Kendra Davenport, President & CEO, Easterseals (PO)

  • Ex Officio: Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (PO)

Former Chairs of the board

 
2024

Jeff Todd
Prevent Blindness 

2023

Kenny Mendez
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

2022

LaVarne Burton
American Kidney Fund

2021
Diana Gray
Hydrocephalus Association
2020
Ann Palmer
Arthritis Foundation
2019
Steven Taylor, MBA
Sjögren’s Foundation
2018
Robert Gebbia
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
2017
Cyndi Zagieboylo
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
2016
Tracy Smith Hart
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
2015
Randy Beranek
National Psoriasis Foundation
2014
Nancy Brown
American Heart Association
2013
LaVarne A. Burton
American Kidney Fund
2012
Larry Hausner
American Diabetes Association
2011
John H. Klippel, MD
Arthritis Foundation
2010
Steven Taylor, MBA
Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation
2009
Cindy Brownstein
Spina Bifida Association
2008
Margaret C. Kirk
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
2007
James E. Williams, Jr.
Easter Seals
2006
John Walsh
Alpha-1 Foundation
2005

Eric R. Hargis
Epilepsy Foundation

Secret Link