Dave Zook, J.D. and Debra Lappin, J.D., B&D Consulting

New Partnership for Progress

The Association’s mission to make CFS widely understood, diagnosable, curable and preventable relies upon effectively harnessing the government’s ability to conduct and support CFS research. We are pleased to announce a new strategic partner to help us do this – the B&D Consulting health and life sciences team. Led by Dave Zook, J.D. and Debra Lappin, J.D., B&D Consulting has established a nationally recognized practice that works with voluntary health organizations, medical technology innovators and research institutions to advance legislative, reimbursement and regulatory policy solutions across the federal government.

Dave Zook has worked in the national and federal policy arena for nearly 25 years. Prior to joining B&D, Dave served as counsel to two members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the House Committee on Appropriations and was senior vice president of the Arthritis Foundation. Debra Lappin has led a number of major public policy campaigns including the effort to promote “open access” with the NIH. She worked on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act passed in 2008 and has served on several top advisory committees to agency leaders, including for the directors of the CDC and NIH.B&D Consulting is part of the international law firm of Baker & Daniels, LLP.

Working closely with president & CEO Kim McCleary and scientific director Dr. Suzanne Vernon, B&D will define activities designed to expand public investment in research, validate the burden of illness imposed by CFS and shape public policy that is responsive to the needs of CFS patients.

Our team is pleased to have the opportunity to serve the CFS community,” observed Dave Zook. “We specialize in building effective public-private partnerships to address the burden of disease. Debra and I believe that this collaborative strategy can significantly accelerate progress toward new therapies.

Kim McCleary shared her respect for the firm’s past accomplishments. “B&D has represented the interests of disease communities facing similar challenges and has contributed to increased attention to and funding for arthritis, Alzheimer’s and ALS, to name just a few conditions. We look forward to applying their experience and strategic approach to advance our cause.

Prior to engaging B&D Consulting in May, the Association benefited greatly from a longstanding relationship with the Sheridan Group and its founder Tom Sheridan. With the rapidly changing political and economic landscapes and a more intense organizational focus linking research and public policy that all culminated at year-end, the Association canvassed several firms to help set a course for the new administration. Several firms submitted detailed proposals to address our policy-oriented objectives. B&D’s innovative approaches, deep experience and excellent reputation earned the highest marks from reviewers. After consulting with several of the firm’s current clients and other D.C. contacts, B&D emerged as the best fit to help us leverage past successes and overcome current challenges.

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