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HopeHeart: Have you had a cupcake from @theyellowleaf? Just one would be great for your heart! Find out why on our blog: http://ow.ly/2iXqu
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Leadership & Advisors
CEO and Board of Directors
 
The Hope's CEO
Mark Nudelman

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 A Bellevue native, Mark graduated with a business degree from WSU's Hotel & Restaurant administration program. After graduation he took a job in Maui with Renaissance Hotels (formally Stouffer Hotels.) Mark later returned to Seattle, to work at the Mayflower Park hotel for several years before transferring to the Warwick Hotel. In 1996, Mark transferred to Jamaica and took on the task of closing up a large resort as General Manager. While there, several high-pressure situations honed his management skills - a hurricane, a labor walk-out, and a massive power outage over the Christmas holiday. Mark built trust among his employees and the community as he resolved the labor dispute and aided in the renovation of the town square. Mark successfully closed the resort with full employee compensation packages. Read More

Board of Directors
 
The Hope Heart Institute is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, which guides the overall strategic direction and approves The Hope's major financial commitments.
 
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Tom Amidon, M.D.
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Kristin Black
Kristin joined the board in 2005. She is passionate about supporting the Hope's research and education programs. Formerly with AstraZeneca, Kristin currently resides in Manhattan and is a Regional Director for a facial plastic surgery company.

 
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Jon Brock, Past Chair
 Jon is an assistant professor at the University of Washington in the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. Jon Chairs the Personnel Committee.

  
Patricia Buchsel, RN
Patricia is a Professor at Seattle University’s School of Nursing.
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Gordon Cohen, M.D., Ph.D.

Gordon is the Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Co-Director of Children’s Heart Center. His clinical interests include complex neonatal repairs, pediatric heart and lung transplant, mechanical cardiac assistance and heart failure. He joined The Hope’s board in 2008.

 
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Tracey Conway

Tracey is a highly awarded actress and heart disease survivor. She is owner of Tracey Conway Speaking, where she shares the story of her bout with heart disease.
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Stephen Hollomon
Steve is the Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, Hollomon Daniel & Chavez. He also chairs the Hope Heart Classic Golf Tournament. Steve sits on the Board Personnel Committee.
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Jim Leggett, M.D.,
Medical Director
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Marc Lilly

Marc is a seasoned healthcare IT executive with more than thirty years direct experience. He joined the board in 2009. Marc is founder of, and an advisor to, the Seattle Youth Board of the Make the Dash Count Foundation.

 

 alt Carrie Middlemiss
Carrie is the creator of Bella Cupcake Couture. Prior to that she worked at WaMu for 18 years. She joined the board in 2008.
Brian Pierson
Craig W. Philips
Craig joined The Hope in 2008. He is the President and COO of biopharmaceutical company Cell Therapeutics Inc. Prior to that he was vice president and general manager of Bayer Healthcare Oncology. Craig chairs the Board Development Committee.
Brian Pierson Brian Pierson, Treasurer
Brian is an Associate Director with Convergent Wealth Advisors. He has a rich background in building community service initiatives and mobilizing volunteers. Brian is dedicated to fostering community philanthropy and volunteerism. He joined The Hope’s board in 2008.
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Scott Rabinowitz, Chair
Scott joined the Board in 2007. He serves as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of DHR Executive Search’s Seattle office which he recently opened.
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Buddy Ratner, Ph.D.
Buddy is head of the bio-engineering department at the University of Washington. He is an active partner in the Youth Take Heart education program.

 

 
 
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Michael Sandoval
Michael first became involved with The Hope through the 2008 On Wings of Hope Gala. He and his wife Heather are the 2009 Gala Co-chairs. Michael is the CEO and chairman of Atigeo.

 

 

 

 
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Lester R. Sauvage, MD, Founder
Dr. Sauvage is founder of The Hope Heart Institute and an ex-officio member of the Board.

 
 
 Robert Strickland

Rob joined The Hope board in July 2010. He is currently Director and President of Atigeo. Prior to joining Aitgeo, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at T-Mobile USA. Rob and his wife Vanessa have been the On Wings of Hope Benefit co-chairs since 2010.

 
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Scott Summers
Scott is a Vice President in the Commercial Insurance division of Kibble & Prentice, a USI Company in Seattle. Scott has served on the Board of Directors at his alma mater, Eastside Catholic School, and the Sacred Heart Shelter and been involved in several other Puget Sound-area organizations including the MIT Enterprise Forum and Seattle Rental Housing Authority. Scott and his wife have three children. Scott sits on the Hope Heart Classic Golf Tournament Committee.

 
Gordon Cohen

Brad Vancour
Brad Vancour is an Associate Broker at Suncadia Resort, Washington’s first year round resort. He joined the Hope in 2006 and was instrumental in starting the Women’s Only Annual Golf Event at Suncadia.
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Tom Wight, Ph.D.

 
Carrie Middlemiss

Kristine Wright, MPH
Kristine joined the Board in 2005. She is a former executive in the clinical trials industry, having run multiple cardiovascular drug and device studies.  Kristine is a member of the Sauvage Healing Heart Guild.

  alt Donald W. Wyatt
Mr. Wyatt has over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including research and legal representation. He has worked in research in large pharmaceutical companies, as an attorney in a law firm, and as in-house patent and general legal counsel. His most recent position in the pharmaceutical industry was as Vice-President of Legal Affairs at Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Presently, Mr. Wyatt is founder of The Wyatt Group, LLC, a consulting firm serving companies worldwide in intellectual property strategies and intellectual property information management.

 

 

Scientific Advisory Board

The research programs of The Hope Heart Institute are governed by a volunteer Scientific Advisory Board, which guides the overall research of The Hope.

Alexander W. Clowes, MD
University of Washington

Daniel Rifkin, PhD
New York University Medical Center

David Cheresh, PhD
Research Institution of Scripps Clinic

Gerald T. Nepom, MD
Virginia Mason Research Center
Benaroya Research Institute

Harold Dvorak, MD
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Robert Meacham, PhD
Washington University

William Frazier, PhD
Washington University

Vincent Hascall, PhD
Cleveland Clinic