This initial session will introduce HRA members to our sponsoring host, Arthritis National Research Foundation, and our funding sponsors: Mussallem CHD Alliance, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Representatives from each organization will highlight their nonprofit biomedical funding mission and how the organization interfaces with the Health Research Alliance.

Speakers

Emily Boyd Stormoen – Chief Executive Officer, Arthritis National Research Foundation
Emily Boyd Stormoen has more than 20 years of progressive experience working in the nonprofit sector as a senior executive leader, focusing on business development, strategic planning and revenue generation. She previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) for six years where under her leadership, the portfolio hit new revenue highs and new records for number of gifts booked for the Foundation. At the NPF, she created a medical education program certifying it as ACCME accredited with commendation. In this role, she was responsible for providing vision, leadership and overall management of the organization’s revenue-producing initiatives. Emily oversaw all activities related to cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of financial support from individuals, organizations, industry partners, foundations and transactional relationships. Prior to joining the NPF, Emily oversaw medical education and program development for the Oregon Medical Association. While there, she developed courses focusing on healthcare reform, risk management and physician wellness. Currently, Emily is a member of the National Health Council (NHC) serves on its Chief Development Officer Affinity Committee. She has a B.A. in Sociology from UCLA.

Krystal Estrada – Director of Operations, Mussallem CHD Alliance
Krystal Estrada is the Director of Operations for the Mussallem CHD Alliance and brings more than 13 years of operations leadership experience across nonprofit and creative organizations. Most recently, as Director of Operations at BES (Build. Excel. Sustain.), she developed scalable systems and processes that improved organizational efficiency, strengthened cross-functional collaboration, and created greater clarity for both internal teams and program participants. As the parent of a daughter born with CHD, Krystal also brings personal perspective to her role. Having navigated the CHD journey firsthand, she is committed to building the internal systems and processes that enable Mussallem CHD Alliance to better serve and support the CHD community.

Anne Hultgren, PhD – Executive Director, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation; Treasurer, Health Research Alliance
Dr. Hultgren joined the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in 2015 as Executive Director and CEO. Previously, she was at the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, working in chemical and biological defense technologies. She received her PhD in Physics and Astronomy from Johns Hopkins University, and BA in Physics and Mathematics from Franklin and Marshall College.

Dorraya Al-Ashry, PhD – Chief Scientific Officer, Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Dr. El-Ashry’s entire career has been in breast cancer research—initially compelled to study the disease in college after witnessing two of her best friends cope with their mothers being treated for or lost to metastatic breast cancer. Two of her aunts, one of them being just 39 years old with two young daughters, her grandmother, and several friends and colleagues have either been treated for breast cancer or died from breast cancer. Her personal experience fortified her determination to eradicate the disease through research.  Dorraya was most recently Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota/Masonic Cancer Center where she is now Adjunct Faculty. She graduated from Vanderbilt University and then went on to receive her PhD in Experimental Pathology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, performing her post-doctoral training at the Lombardi Cancer Center. Throughout her career she has had funding from NIH/NCI, Komen, the DOD and foundations such as Prevent Cancer Foundation and Metavivor, and she was involved in BCRF-funded research, and she has served on numerous study sections. As Chief Scientific Officer, Dorraya is working with the SAB to directly influence the course of breast cancer research around the world, leading BCRF’s multi-million-dollar grant program and serving as a breast cancer expert and spokesperson.