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Dr. Karel Pacak Incoming Chair, Medical Advisory Board

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Karel Pacak will be the new Chair of the Pheo Para Alliance Medical Advisory Board.  The Medical Advisory Board is comprised of 11 medical researchers/clinicians from North America, Europe, and Great Britain, who are all experts in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, in addition to a handful of patient representatives who serve on the committee.  As part of his responsibilities, Dr. Pacak will also serve on the Pheo Para Alliance Board of Directors.

Dr. Pacak is Senior Investigator for the Section on Medical Neuroendocrinology, NICHD/DIR at the NIH.  He is an internationally recognized leader in the study of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. He has published over 300 articles on pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and has authored several books and book chapters.  He also has been a frequent and popular contributor to the Alliance’s educational webinars, as well as graciously responding to individual patients seeking his advice.  You can read more about Dr. Pacak’s experience here.

Welcome, Dr. Pacak!  We very much look forward to continuing to work with you in your new role as Medical Advisory Board Chair.

At this time, we also would like to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. Jacques Lenders for his excellent leadership during his two years of service as the previous Chair of the Medical Advisor Board.  Dr. Lenders led the Medical Advisory Board and the Alliance in the development and implementation of our Center of Excellence program.  Under his leadership, 12 Clinical and/or Research Centres of Excellence have been designated.

Dr. Lenders’ commitment to the Center of Excellence concept, expertise in the field, high standards, and patient attention to detail were essential to the success of this initiative.  Dr. Lenders was an insightful and thoughtful Chair of the Medical Advisory Board throughout his term, as the Board’s mandate evolved, its procedures developed, and it grew in number and diversity.  We are very grateful to Dr. Lenders for agreeing to continue his affiliation with the Pheo Para Alliance as a member of the Medical Advisory Board and look forward to his ongoing support and expert contribution.