RICHARD J. WILLKE, PHD JOINS ASSOCIATION IN KEY LEADERSHIP ROLE
Princeton, NJ—April 18, 2016—The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (
ISPOR) announced today that it is expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Richard J. Willke, PhD as Chief Science Officer (CSO) for the organization. In this new role, Dr. Willke will lead ISPOR’s strategic initiatives related to research, scientific, and content priorities to advance the Society’s mission of promoting health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) excellence to improve decision making for health globally.
Dr. Willke has more than 25 years of experience in the life sciences arena and has specialized in outcomes research in a succession of HEOR group leadership roles with Pfizer and its legacy companies. His most recent position at Pfizer was Vice President, Cluster Lead for their Outcomes & Evidence and Global Health & Value divisions. Dr. Willke has also served in a number of leadership roles with affiliated organizations, including the ISPOR Board of Directors (2007-2009), Chair of ISPOR Institutional Council (2010), and Chair of the PhRMA Health Outcomes Committee (2002-2004). Prior to joining industry, he served as the Director of the Center of Health Policy Research at the American Medical Association and held research and teaching positions at Ohio State University. Dr. Willke has a PhD and MA in economics from Johns Hopkins University. He has authored nearly 80 scholarly publications examining the science and methodologies of health economics and outcomes research.
“ISPOR is pleased to announce the appointment of Dick Willke as our first Chief Science Officer,” stated ISPOR CEO and Executive Director, Nancy Berg. “Dick brings substantial experience to this position and will play a key role in moving ISPOR forward as the leading global scientific and educational organization for health economics and outcomes research.”
ISPOR is the leading global scientific and educational organization for HEOR and its use in decision making to improve health. As interest in health care pricing and value has increased, ISPOR’s membership and leadership role in HEOR has grown exponentially. These significant market changes—coupled with the Society’s growth—have precipitated the development of this new Chief Science Officer role.
Dr. Willke said, “I am both excited and honored to serve as ISPOR’s first Chief Science Officer. It will be a privilege to work with the many outstanding researchers that comprise ISPOR’s membership, as well as with its top-notch staff. As the determination of the value of medical treatment—and the role of HEOR in understanding that value—continues to grow in importance, ISPOR’s role as the preeminent voice in the field is more significant than ever.”
ISPOR President, Daniel C. Malone, RPh, PhD, stated, “I am delighted to have Dr. Willke, a talented and well-respected scientist, serve as ISPOR’s first CSO. Dick’s knowledge of ISPOR and the health care environment will be a tremendous asset to the organization.”
“The hiring of Dick Willke as Chief Science Officer is a great day for ISPOR,” noted Lou Garrison, PhD, ISPOR President-elect. “The society has reached a point where the need for this scientific leadership role is very clear.”
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