Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Appoints Health Care Advocacy Executive William T. Schmidt As President And CEO

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Jul 25, 2017, 12:05 ET

CHICAGO, July 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has named William T. Schmidt as the next President and CEO, effective August 14, 2017. Schmidt, a veteran health care advocacy executive with more than 25 years of experience, most recently served as the CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. (FFB). He succeeds Patti Tuomey, who led the PFF from 2010 through February 2017.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Appoints Health Care Advocacy Executive, Bill Schmidt, to President and CEO.

"After a comprehensive search process, the board is pleased to have found the best individual to lead the PFF into its next stage of growth," said George Eliades, Chairman of the PFF board of directors. "Bill is a leader in health care advocacy, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, public policy and fundraising. In addition, Bill's expertise with volunteers and donors will maximize the impact of important upcoming initiatives such as our biennial PFF Summit in Nashville and inaugural PFF Walk this fall."

As CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), Schmidt managed the largest non-governmental source of funding for retinal degenerative disease research in the world. During his tenure at the FFB, Schmidt grew annual revenues from $16 million to $40 million. Between 2015 and 2017, Schmidt helped lead a major gifts campaign that raised over $110 million for vision research. He also served as CEO of the FFB Clinical Research Institute, the clinical research arm of the FFB.

"I'm honored and grateful to the board for the opportunity to lead this exceptional organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with pulmonary fibrosis," said Schmidt. "Working with ambitious patient-led groups to eradicate disease has been my life's work. Together with the board, staff and community, we can move toward a world free of the devastating impact of pulmonary fibrosis."

Schmidt has held senior executive roles at several health advocacy organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

A native of Evanston, Ill., Schmidt received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and completed the Kellogg Graduate School of Management's Executive Development Program. He graduated with honors from Amherst College in Amherst, Mass.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2017, its fourth biennial international health care conference will be held from November 9-11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or 312.587.9272 from outside of the US.

CONTACT: Dorothy Coyle
773-332-6201

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation