Mary McGowan

I am a nonprofit executive and rare disease leader with over thirty-five years of experience in organizational management, advocacy, fundraising, and patient-centered program development. I currently serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, a role I have held since October 2020, where I am honored to be the first President and CEO of the leading international organization for sarcoidosis. In this role, I serve as the primary representative and spokesperson for FSR, leading the organization's strategic vision with a focus on patient engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, advocacy efforts, program direction, research elevation, and an aggressive communications and research agenda.

Before joining FSR, I served as Executive Director of The Myositis Association, an international nonprofit rare disease organization committed to support, education, advocacy, and research. I was featured and highlighted as a preeminent rare disease leader by numerous entities including the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Global Genes, and the National Organization for Rare Diseases for my innovative national campaigns, including the Women of Color and Myositis initiative and leading telemedicine initiatives for autoimmune patients during COVID-19.

Prior to that, I spent over ten years at WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, where I served as Chief Executive Officer for over five years, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer for over four years. During my tenure, I ensured the organization's long-term growth and sustainability as the leading voice for the forty-eight million American women living with or at risk of heart disease. I created and implemented WomenHeart's National Hospital Alliance, a partnership with hospitals nationwide committed to advancing women's heart health, and I was accountable for overall management and administration of this national five-million-dollar nonprofit organization with over thirty-five thousand members.

Earlier in my career, I served as Executive Director of the Allergy and Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma, allergies, and related conditions, and held various leadership positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during eighteen years of service, speaking up for our nation's children. I also served as Senior Director of Development and Membership at Research!America.

I hold a Master's Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University.

Across my career in nonprofit leadership and rare disease advocacy, my work has been driven by a deep commitment to improving the lives of patients and families affected by chronic and life-threatening conditions. Whether I am leading a national organization, advocating for research funding, or building partnerships that advance patient care, I bring strategic vision, passion, and a steadfast dedication to making a difference for the communities I serve. I am proud to have spent my career giving voice to those who need it most and building organizations that create lasting impact.