Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Announces 2011 Board of Directors

Deborah Coogan Seltzer, Life Sciences Practice Member, Spencer Stuart, Elected 2011 President of the HBA

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A commitment to strengthening relationships with members and corporate partners to further the advancement and impact of women leaders in healthcare worldwide has propelled the HBA to 6,000 members across 15 chapters in the U.S. and Europe. Incoming 2011 President Deborah Seltzer, life sciences practice member at Spencer Stuart, is focused on continuing to strengthen these vital relationships and providing volunteer members with leadership development opportunities that can be leveraged for professional advantage. She says, "Without members who actively engage as volunteers – whether they can spare two hours a quarter to help at an event, or serve as member-leaders on corporate, chapter/affiliate boards, or committees – we would be wholly incapable of delivering on our mission and promises to our members and corporate partners. My goal is to ensure they are getting something valuable in return that propels their career."

Since its inception 34 years ago, the HBA has become the number one women's leadership organization in the healthcare industry, dedicated to recognizing outstanding women in the healthcare industry, providing educational opportunities for its members to develop cutting-edge industry knowledge and leadership skills, creating greater visibility for individuals in the industry through networking, and fostering mentoring opportunities. The HBA also performs groundbreaking research on career advancement issues such as the E.D.G.E. in Leadership study, the first to benchmark women's progression in leadership roles in the healthcare industry.  

The board of directors for the HBA will meet January 20 for a kick-off strategic planning retreat with the new board members coming together for the first time. The 17-member HBA board will be led by a seven-member executive committee:

• President: Deborah Coogan Seltzer, life sciences practice member, Spencer Stuart
• President-elect: Buket Grau, strategic marketing, regulatory reimbursement director, Stryker Development
• First vice president: Terri Pascarelli, CV sales strategy and alliance director, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
• Second vice president: Jeanne Zucker, SVP, client relations, InfoMedics Inc.
• Immediate past president: Susan E. Torroella, chief operating officer MEDEX Global Solutions
• Treasurer: Nancy Stempin, Director of Finance, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
• Secretary: Linda DaSilva, VP, sales and business development ROI2 LLC.

Members of the HBA board are representative of the HBA's diverse membership, which represents all aspects of the healthcare industry, from pharmaceutical and medical device companies to patient advocacy groups, healthcare communications and consulting firms across the U.S. and Europe.

In addition to the executive committee, the 2011 HBA directors-at-large are:

• Violet B. Aldaia, senior vice president, LLNS
• Ciaran Bellwoar, director, client services I-SITE Inc.
• Quita Highsmith, national sales director, Genentech Inc.
• Ann D. Mohamadi, EVP, business development -advertising and medical education, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group
• Liz Kay, VP, account strategy and marketing, Cramer
• Charlotte Sibley, president, Charlotte E. Sibley Associates, LLC
• Janis Cohen, chief operating officer and partner Flaum Partners
• Yvonne D'Amelio, chief financial officer and principal, Vox Medica Inc.
• Eve Dryer, principal, Vox Medica Inc.
• Wendy White, CEO and founder, Siren Interactive

And two non-voting directors:

• Taren Grom, editor and co-founder, PharmaVOICE
• Ilyssa Levins, president, Center for Communication Compliance

Election of the 2011 slate of officers and directors-at-large took place at the HBA's Annual Business Meeting, during the two-day HBA Leadership Conference in Philadelphia, PA.

About the HBA

The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) is in its fourth decade as a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in healthcare worldwide. With 15 chapters and affiliates throughout the U.S. and in Europe, the HBA is headquartered in New Jersey with offices in Philadelphia and Research Triangle Park. The HBA provides educational opportunities for women and men to develop cutting-edge healthcare industry knowledge and leadership skills; recognizes outstanding women and men in the industry; provides opportunities for networking; creates greater visibility for women in the industry; fosters mentoring relationships and serves as a conduit and sponsor for research on career advancement issues. The HBA has over 6,000 individual members and nearly 120 Corporate Partners. It is widely recognized as the catalyst for leadership development of women in healthcare worldwide.

SOURCE Healthcare Businesswomen's Association