Deafness Research Foundation Appoints Executive Director

NEW YORK, July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Deafness Research Foundation (DRF), the leading national source of private funding for research in hearing and balance science, announced today that Andrea Boidman has been unanimously promoted to Executive Director.  Andrea joined DRF in June 2007 as Chief Operating Officer.  She will be responsible for all facets of the foundation, including fundraising and Hearing Health Magazine.  

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100701/DC29174)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100701/DC29174)

"Andrea has demonstrated her leadership at DRF and dedication to funding hearing research," says Clifford P. Tallman, Jr., Chairman of DRF. "She has done an outstanding job during her years at DRF at managing the foundation, and especially expanding the reach of DRF's award-winning magazine, Hearing Health.  She is a talented leader with a team approach, and is ideally suited to DRF."

Andrea has created new partnerships and programs for DRF, which include, among others, the "It's a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing" campaign with the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to educate tweens about noise-induced hearing loss;  DRF's participation in the CORE awards program with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery; and her development of the new Centurion Clinical Research Award with the DRF's professional "Centurion" organization.

"I am excited to take on the position of Executive Director, and look forward to growing DRF's critically important grants program, as well as building creative partnerships with other hearing-related organizations," Andrea says.  "I believe that through collaboration and greater awareness, we can best realize the mission of DRF, which is to attain a lifetime of healthy hearing and balance through quality research, education, and advocacy.  Nearly 1 in 10 Americans suffers with a hearing loss, and DRF-funded research can provide new options for so many people."

Andrea holds a BA from Temple University and an MA from New York University.   Prior to coming to DRF, Mrs. Boidman worked at Bear, Stearns & Co. and New York University.  She and her husband Mark are residents of South Orange, New Jersey.  

Deafness Research Foundation is the leading national source of private funding for research in hearing and balance science.  Research made possible by DRF grants has resulted in dramatic innovations that have increased options for those living with hearing and balance disorders, as well as protected those at risk.  The primary focus of DRF's work is the awarding of scientific research grants.  Since our inception in 1958, we have awarded over $25.5 MM through more than 2,000 research grants to researchers who are dedicated to exploring new avenues of hearing science.  With the potential of hearing restoration through regeneration biology, the scope of DRF-funded research has expanded enormously.  Since 1972, DRF has funded close to 40 research grants that have been instrumental in the development, evaluation and improvement of cochlear implants.  Over 188,000 procedures have been completed worldwide with beneficial results, particularly when the procedure is undertaken in infants.  DRF publishes the award-winning Hearing Health Magazine.

SOURCE Deafness Research Foundation