Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Staff Members
Mary McGowan
Chief Executive Officer
Mary joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research as the organization's first-ever Chief Executive Officer in 2020. As CEO, Mary serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for FSR and leads the organization's strategic vision with patient engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, advocacy efforts, program direction, and an aggressive communications and research agenda.
Mary brings 35 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience to the role. Prior to joining FSR, she served as Executive Director at The Myositis Association (TMA.) As Executive Director of TMA, McGowan was featured and highlighted as a preeminent rare disease leader by numerous entities including American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Global Genes and the National Organization for Rare Diseases for her innovative national campaigns including Women of Color and Myositis and her leading telemedicine initiatives for autoimmune patients during COVID-19.
Prior to her time at TMA, Mary served as CEO of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. During her 8 years with WomenHeart, McGowan ensured the organization's long-term growth and sustainability as the leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease. McGowan also served as Executive Director of the Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. She held various positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years. McGowan earned a Master's Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity University.
To view Mary's reflections from her first year as CEO, read her blog here.
Tricha Shivas
Chief of Staff and Strategy
Tricha Shivas joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) in December of 2020. As the Chief of Staff and Strategy, she works with various stakeholders including individuals living with sarcoidosis and their loved ones, academic researchers, clinicians, industry partners, regulators and policy-makers to advance FSR’s mission to support patients and accelerate sarcoidosis research in the search for a cure.
Tricha is a collaborative and strategic leader with over 15 years of non-profit results-driven experience. Tricha has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those with complex chronic illness and rare diseases. Tricha has served patients in her roles with the Washington Regional Transplant Community, The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), The National Quality Forum (NQF), WomenHeart - the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and The Myositis Association (TMA). In these roles, she helped build comprehensive patient engagement and awareness programming, developed robust diversity, inclusion, and equity programming, worked with the NIH, FDA, and industry to expand therapeutic pipelines and to increase patient centricity in drug develop, and worked with the CDC, HHS, regulators, and state and federal legislators to improve national health policy strategies, patient access to care, and healthcare quality measures.
Tricha received her bachelors in American Studies from Albright College and her Masters of Bioethics from University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves on Drexel University’s Health Administration Department Advisory Council and Global Skin’s Rare Disease Steering Committee. Tricha lives in Ohio with her husband, Daryl, and her dog, Dooley.
Elise Hoover
Vice President of Research
Elise Hoover joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in May of 2024. She is a strategic leader with a decade of experience in rare disease research initiatives and national collaborative partnerships. As VP of Research, she convenes clinicians, researchers, patients and their families, and other stakeholders to elevate FSR’s research agenda and the initiatives that support acceleration of sarcoidosis research discoveries.
Elise is dedicated to supporting the researcher pipeline to encourage collaboration and mentorship between established researchers and younger investigators, addressing the unmet needs in the diagnostic journey, and ensuring patient-centered research priorities. She worked at the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation for six years, launching both patient registry and centers of excellence programs, and bringing patient stakeholder reviewers into the grant review process. Elise has also held an epidemiology fellowship at the NIH and worked in clinical research coordination for clinical trials.
Elise received her bachelor’s degree from New York University and her master’s degree in public health from Boston University. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Health Research Alliance’s Registry and Biorepository Community. Elise lives in Denver, CO.
Elizabeth Wallace
Senior Director of Global Clinical Engagement
Elizabeth Wallace joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in September of 2024. As Senior Director of Global Clinical Engagement, she oversees the FSR Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance and develops innovative education programs for clinicians committed to offering quality care for those living with sarcoidosis. She brings her experience in clinical neuropsychology and scientific communication to the role, having worked directly with patients and clinicians across a variety of medical specialties in inpatient and outpatient settings for seven years. She most recently worked in the Medical & Scientific Operations division of the Alzheimer’s Association, supporting clinicians and researchers in the dementia field.
Elizabeth received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology (clinical neuropsychology concentration) from the University of Kentucky, completing her clinical residency at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Birmingham-Southern College. Elizabeth lives in Chicago, IL.
David Fischer
Director of Operations
David joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research team in March 2024. As Director of Operations, he will collaborate with FSR’s senior leadership and management team in the development of long-term operational plans, policies, and standard operating procedures to increase efficiencies and ensure smooth completion of the organizations day-to-day activities. David graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, IA with bachelor’s degrees in business management and marketing. Prior to FSR, he spent his professional career working in pharmacy and retail operations. Through this 20-year career he focused on change management and execution strategies that supported operations for small to large programs and projects. David was drawn to FSR for their dedication to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. David lives near Chicago, IL with his wife Erin and children, Mary Jo and Patrick.
Cathi Davis
Director of Communications and Marketing
Cathi Davis joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research team in April 2021, inspired by a friend affected by sarcoidosis. As Director of Communications and Marketing, she manages the strategy for all external communications, website, and public relations messages and collateral to consistently articulate FSR's mission.
Cathi graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL with a bachelor's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Prior to FSR, she spent her professional career creating content and marketing campaigns for several non-profits, mainly focused on efforts that support people with disabilities. Working in the nonprofit industry, she has learned how to build effective communication strategies to reach a variety of audiences. She hopes to continue using her skills to increase awareness for sarcoidosis research to help accelerate treatments and possibly a cure.
Timothy Legenzoff
Research Manager
Timothy joined the FSR in September 2023. As Research Manager, he executes strategic and operational plans for research development and growth. He is dedicated to accelerating sarcoidosis research through collaboration with clinical research partners, and management of the Foundation’s research grant giving program. Timothy also supports the FSR registry, public health engagement projects, and big data and AI efforts.
Timothy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. During this time, he became passionate about scientific research through his independent studies on enzyme kinetics. He was drawn to medicine from his time volunteering in local hospitals and motivated by his family’s battle with autoimmune and immunological diseases.
Timothy served as Clinical Research Coordinator for nearly four years where he coordinated clinical trials, observational research, and quality assurance and quality improvement projects in autoimmunity, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and critical care, and infectious disease. Timothy specialized in research data management and supported the development of rare disease research registries. Tim lives near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenna, and pug, Milena.
Jennifer Bulandr
Development Manager
Jennifer joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) team in June 2024 as the Development Manager. In this role, she is responsible for cultivating the organization's individual donors, grants, and corporate relationships, as well as identifying new and prospective supporters and foundation partners. With 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Jennifer has leveraged her storytelling skills to significantly improve organizational outcomes. She is a lifelong learner, having recently completed "The Impact of Equity: Leaders Activating Change" course at the Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University.
Jennifer is dedicated to building trusted relationships with patients, caregivers, and the medical and research communities that support them. Having been personally impacted by rare disease within her own family, she intimately understands the unique challenges of raising awareness, advocating, and securing funding. Her commitment to finding a cure and leading the charge toward a world without sarcoidosis drives her every day.
Mia Kato
Senior Patient Outreach Coordinator
Mia joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in October of 2023. As the Senior Patient Outreach Coordinator, she is responsible for coordinating FSR’s patient education and support programs.
Mia recently graduated with a master's degree in social work with a pathway in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use from the University of Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Seattle University. Prior to FSR, she worked at several non-profit organizations and in the legal field for over 5 years. Mia is passionate about connecting patients with resources and providing patient-centered service.
Sam Spinner
Operations and Membership Coordinator
Sam joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in November 2023. As Operations and Membership Coordinator, he supports critical operations and processes necessary for the organization’s workflow. He supports day-to-day and operational functions of the organization, financial matters, and coordinates community outreach.
Sam is a graduate of Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, where was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. He also holds a post-baccalaureate American Bar Association approved Paralegal Certificate. Before joining FSR, he worked in education and law for 6 years in Japan and Australia, as well as the United States. He lives in Chicago with his lab rescue, Elvira.
Stephanie Mizell
Social Media and Marketing Coordinator
Stephanie joined the FSR team in February 2024, and is proud to serve as the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator. With over 15 years of experience in the dynamic field of marketing, her journey has been a colorful blend of creativity and strategy. With a degree in Graphic Communications, providing a solid foundation for diverse roles in both large and small organizations. Stephanie's professional voyage has been marked by versatility. From designing captivating visuals to steering social media strategies, she has demonstrated expertise in various areas. A seasoned professional with a heart for non-profit causes, Stephanie has dedicated over five years to the sector, honing skills in Design, Layout, Social Media Management, Video and Digital Marketing, and Email Marketing. Her proficiency extends to all Adobe programs, and she has had the privilege of sharing her expertise by teaching Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator at the college level.
Stephanie's connection to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research goes beyond professional alignment. A personal journey navigating a Sarcoidosis diagnosis has fueled her passion to contribute meaningfully to an organization making a difference. Committed to supporting FSR's mission, she brings not only her skills but also a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by sarcoidosis.
Khaleelah Cohen
Health Equity Programs Consultant
Khaleelah is a seasoned professional dedicated to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for marginalized communities. As the Health Equity Programs Consultant at FSR, she drives the strategic direction and execution of the Ignore No More Initiative, a multifaceted series of campaigns aimed at reducing health disparities and enhancing care for Black patients living with sarcoidosis.
In her role, Khaleelah fosters collaboration and engagement across various stakeholders and oversees several pivotal leadership committees, including the Women of Color and ACTe Now! Patient and Clinical Advisory Committees, and the Coalition for Clinical Trial Equity.
With over six years of research and collegiate teaching experience, Khaleelah brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Her professional background in non-profit program development and volunteer services spans over 15 years, during which she has led the enhancement and execution of numerous public health initiatives, national training conferences, awareness campaigns, and community-based education and peer support programs.
In 2017, Khaleelah launched her consulting business, where she has provided invaluable expertise to clients such as WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and The Myositis Association. She continues to passionately serve her community through her role in Community Health at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and her positions on the Boards of Directors for Open My Heart Foundation and The Talking Drum, Incorporated.
Khaleelah earned her Masters in Sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed her Bachelors from the University of California, Riverside. A California native, Khaleelah now resides in the District of Columbia with her husband and four children.