Executive-level Position Announced

NMDP Adds Strategic Development Officer

The Board of Directors of the National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Boo to the newly created position of strategic development officer. Boo's appointment is the result of an intense yearlong strategic planning process for the national life-saving organization.

Formerly the vice president of strategic and corporate development for Allina Health Systems, headquartered in Minneapolis, Boo will be responsible for pursuing stem cell business activities and developing new relationships within the extensive NMDP Network of national and international partners: Transplant Centers (132), Collection Centers (113), Donor Centers (92), Apheresis Centers (86), Contract Testing Laboratories (22), International Cooperative Registries (16), Recruitment Groups (10), Cord Blood Banks (8) and Repositories of Stored Frozen Samples (3).

"Currently, the National Marrow Donor Program has the largest and most successful Registry of unrelated blood stem cell donors in the world. We envision a closer cooperation and a more dynamic relationship with our Network partners. Ultimately, this will allow us to more quickly identify the best source of stem cells and provide more patients with transplants. The role of the strategic development officer is vital in making this happen, " Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., NMDP chief executive officer said.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, the NMDP is a non-profit organization that began facilitating marrow transplants from volunteer unrelated donors in 1987. Today, a patient's transplant options have expanded beyond marrow to now include all three sources of blood stem cells: marrow, peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord blood. The NMDP facilitates more than 140 transplants a month and has provided donor blood stem cells to more than 13,000 patients.

"This is a remarkable time in transplant therapy and research. Newer sources of stem cells are in use and more medical conditions are being considered for stem cell therapy. Working with our network partners, we intend to explore new sources of stem cells and how these new sources can improve access and results for patients who need stem cell based therapies," Boo said.

Michael Boo earned a Juris Doctor at the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Prior to a 17-year-career at Allina, he worked as General Council for a real estate development company and as an attorney for a specialty law firm in Minneapolis. Boo has also held a faculty position with the University of Minnesota, Independent Studies Program, School of Public Health, Integrated Delivery Systems and Joint Ventures. He has also lectured on various topics including: Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Integrated Delivery Systems; Association of Community Cancer Centers, 1991 Session of Joint Ventures; and 1988 American Bar Association Forum on Health Law, Hospital Acquisition of Medical Practices and Joint Ventures with Physicians.