Newswise — Russel E. Kaufman, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute, has been named co-chair of the Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress (GPLSC), effective July 1, 2010. Kaufman joins Tom Muldoon, president of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) as co-chair. Muldoon retires from PCVB this December.
The Greater Philadelphia Life Science Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, endorses and promotes Greater Philadelphia as a world-class life sciences meetings destination.
Kaufman is a leading figure in the vibrant and growing life sciences industry in the Greater Philadelphia region. As president and CEO of The Wistar Institute, an independent, non-profit biomedical research institute and National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in West Philadelphia, Kaufman works actively to speed progress along the path of scientific discovery from the laboratory to better treatments, preventions and cures for patients.
During his tenure at Wistar, which he joined in 2002, Kaufman has significantly raised the international profile of the Institute by recruiting top-notch scientists, developing new biomedical research centers, and fostering research collaborations with regional academic institutions and life sciences industry partners. Kaufman also serves on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Select Greater Philadelphia’s CEO Council for Growth, the University City Science Center, BioAdvance and WHYY’s Health and Science Desk advisory committee. He earned his medical degree from the Ohio State University’s College of Medicine. He completed his medical residence at the Duke University Medical Center, beginning a long affiliation with Duke, as a clinician, researcher, and administrator.
“With its wealth of biomedical research institutes, academic medical centers and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the Greater Philadelphia region is well positioned as a global leader in the life sciences,” Kaufman said. “I look forward to working with the Congress and its members to bring the major academic and scientific conferences to Philadelphia, to further brand our region as a world-class life sciences meetings destination.”
Kaufman and Muldoon succeed Mickey Flynn, former president and current vice chair of Pennsylvania Bio, and Fritz Bittenbender, vice president of public affairs at Cephalon.
“This is a great combination of medicine and hospitality,” said Bonnie Grant, executive director of GPLSC. “We look forward to working with Dr. Kaufman to continue to position our region as a top life sciences sector and driving that message to every professional association and meeting planner.”
“Pennsylvania is home to the continuum of the biosciences with world-class basic research, emerging companies, mature industries, and global pharmaceuticals, said Chris Molineaux, president of Pennsylvania Bio. “Hosting conventions and meetings in Philadelphia exposes attendees and visitors a wealth of vibrant resources, exceptional and innovative talent, and an outstanding collaborative spirit from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and beyond.”
“Life science-related meetings and conventions represent more than 50% of all meetings held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Center City Philadelphia hotels each year,” said Jack Ferguson, incoming president, PCVB. “The economic impact of these meetings add up to tens of millions of dollars on an annual basis. With the March 2011 opening of an expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center, we want to attract bigger meetings.”
For more information on GPLSC, visit www.philadelphiausa.travel/life-sciences.
The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the country, Wistar has long held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. The Wistar Institute: Today’s Discoveries – Tomorrow’s Cures. On the Web at www.wistar.org.
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