Arthritis Foundation Appoints New Chair, Two Members To National Board Of Directors

ATLANTA, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Arthritis Foundation recently elected Daniel T. McGowan as chair of its National Board of Directors at its annual meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Foundation also appointed Laurie Stewart and Suzanne Taylor as new board members. They bring to the Arthritis Foundation their vast experiences in health care, banking and business ownership, as well as valuable perspectives from their many years of community service.  

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The all-volunteer board, comprised of key stakeholders from around the country, acts as the governing body of the organization in its mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability. In the United States, 50 million people live with some form of the disease.

McGowan is currently chairman of the board of Hygea Health Holdings, LLC, a comprehensive medical services organization headquartered in Miami, Fla. In 2008, he stepped down as the president of EmblemHealth Services, LLC, the management and service corporation for HIP Health Plans of New York (HIP) and Group Health Incorporated (GHI) , which merged in 2006. Earlier, he led the development of Catholic Charities for the diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y.

"Dan's experience and dedication to the Arthritis Foundation proves that he will be a valuable asset to our national board of directors," said President and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation, Dr. John H. Klippel. "I am confident his contributions at the national level will further our organization's commitment to helping individuals take control of this disease."

The newly appointed directors are as follows:

Laurie Stewart is the president and CEO of Sound Community Bank, headquartered in Seattle. She is a member of the bank and holding company board of directors and serves as a member of the board of the Arthritis Foundation Great West Region. She has been a dedicated fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion marathon training program. She also serves on the board of the Woodland Park Zoo and the Washington Banker's Association.

Suzanne Taylor is a licensed architect, business owner and philanthropist. Taylor currently serves as founder and president of Eagles Wings Foundation, a foundation focused on supporting Christian and secular organizations helping women and children. She has served as a board member of the Arthritis Foundation South Central Region for three years and previously served on the board of the Arthritis Foundation Eastern Oklahoma Chapter.

"I am pleased to welcome Laurie Stewart and Suzanne Taylor as our newest directors," said Klippel. "Their experiences in their local communities and dedication to the Arthritis Foundation will be valuable assets to our national board of directors."

About the Arthritis Foundation
Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of this serious and painful disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.

SOURCE Arthritis Foundation