New director bolsters Rural Health Education Foundation board
April 22, 2010The Rural Health Education Foundation’s board of directors will has been strengthened by the appointment of Helen Leonard, a senior MSD executive.
Ms Leonard officially began her new role as a Foundation director at the organisation’s board meeting held on 20 April 2010.
“I’m thrilled to have Helen join me and my colleagues on the Foundation’s board,” said Foundation chair Dr Brian Bowring. “She will bring a fresh perspective and new knowledge to the board and enhance the Foundation’s ability to meet its objectives.”
“Helen, who is a long-term supporter of the Foundation through MSD’s corporate sponsorship, will contribute important industry knowledge and help us to strengthen our industry relationships,” Dr Bowring said.
“I’m delighted to be able to help the Foundation to improve its educational services to Australia’s rural and remote health community,” Ms Leonard said. “It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to leverage my pharmaceutical industry experience and contribute to the non-profit health sector.”
About Helen Leonard
Helen Leonard is Senior Manager, External Affairs, at MSD (previously called Merck Sharp & Dohme Australia), responsible for MSD’s interaction with a broad range of healthcare stakeholders. She has a special focus on the quality use of medicines (QUM) and works in a number of areas where QUM is helping overcome some of the barriers to good clinical practice.
Helen is also manager of The Pharmaceutical Alliance, a twelve-year-old collaboration between three research-based pharmaceutical companies - Eli Lilly, MSD and sanofi-aventis - which is committed to health system improvements that incorporate concepts such as evidence-based practice and QUM.
About the Rural Health Education Foundation
Established in 1992, the Rural Health Education Foundation is a non-profit organisation which works to improve the health and wellbeing of rural and remote Australians. It provides independent, accredited education services to general practitioners and other health professionals working in rural and remote Australia, as well as high-quality community educational resources. The Foundation pays particular attention to the health, medical and education needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For more information, contact the Foundation’s CEO, Don Perlgut, at ceo@rhef.com.au.