National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) Names New Executive Director

BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) board of directors named Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, to serve as its new executive director. She will succeed Len Novick upon his retirement in July.

Dalton joined NFID in December 2010 as senior director of education and public outreach and has worked to advance the organization's mission to educate both the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases.  After a three-month leadership transition beginning in April, she will become full-time executive director on July 1, 2013.

In making this appointment, the board expressed its gratitude for Novick's strong and consistent leadership as executive director since 1995. "Through its various programs and partner base, NFID has built a solid foundation of education and awareness with a focus on vaccine-preventable diseases," said Thomas M. File, Jr., MD, NFID president. "The board looks forward to working with Marla, who has demonstrated her knowledge of and passion for the work we do, and is well positioned to move NFID forward."

Since joining NFID, Dalton has integrated NFID's public and professional education programs; expanded its strategic partnerships and coalitions, including more than 50 partner organizations; provided oversight for NFID continuing medical education programs; and managed communications outreach initiatives, including website development and social media initiatives to foster increased collaboration.

"As an organization, NFID is uniquely positioned to reach both the healthcare professional and consumer about prevention and treatment of infectious diseases," said Dalton. "In the current funding environment, I look forward to expanding NFID's collaborations and national initiatives through new models and approaches to reach a broad audience in accordance with NFID's mission."

Dalton came to NFID with more than 20 years of experience in business management, marketing, and public affairs having held several leadership positions in the non-profit sector.  Prior to joining NFID, she served as senior vice president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC), directing the development and management of APIC's live and online educational programs and products, as well as APIC Consulting Services, Inc., a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary. Her previous experience also includes directing coalition-building efforts, education, and communications programming as executive vice president of the Industry Leaders Council for the American Society of Civil Engineers and as the executive director of The Infrastructure Security Partnership.

Dalton is a certified association executive (CAE) and a registered professional engineer. She earned a bachelor of science in civil and environmental engineering from Cornell University College of Engineering. She holds a certificate in non-profit organization management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions. She lives with her husband and twin daughters in Bethesda, MD.

"It has been rewarding to serve NFID for so many years and help improve public health through our educational efforts," said Novick. "These past few years I had the opportunity to work closely with Marla and I know that she will maintain and grow NFID's influence as a leading public health organization."

About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Based in Bethesda, MD, NFID is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1973 dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. For additional information, visit www.nfid.org.

SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases