National Parkinson Foundation Names New Chief Information Officer

MIAMI, June 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) announced today that Peter N. Schmidt, Ph.D. has been named Chief Information Officer and Director of Programs effective June 1. Dr. Schmidt was most recently Director at Cronus Partners, an investment banking firm in Norwalk, CT.

“Dr. Schmidt will play a key role in helping us fulfill our mission of improving care. He will focus on creating a data-driven approach that is at the forefront of health information technology, including the development of a web-based clinical database, related internet resources and strategic alliances,” said Joyce Oberdorf, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Peter Schmidt brings a depth of experience in information technology management and execution to NPF. Prior to his role as Director at Cronus Partners, Dr. Schmidt was president of Doctor Global, Ltd., a company offering software for chronic disease management. Among his accomplishments at Doctor Global, Ltd. was helping victims of hurricane Katrina through their decentralized care.

Dr. Schmidt was awarded an M.S. and Ph.D. from Cornell University, Sibley School of Mechanical Engineering where he studied gait and balance and total joint replacement. He graduated from Harvard University with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. After a fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Schmidt temporarily left health care for the growing internet boom, taking several technology management positions at early internet companies. This culminated in a stint as the Chief Operating Officer of a non-profit joint venture of Oxford, Stanford, and Yale Universities offering on-line education.

Dr. Schmidt is an active member of several trade groups and is widely published in both scientific and trade journals on issues around medicine, health information technology and finance.

As Director of Programs, Dr. Schmidt succeeds Ruth Hagestuen who is shifting her role to one of external consultant. In this capacity, Ms. Hagestuen will be in charge of education and outreach, continuing her leadership on Allied Team Training for Parkinson (ATTP) and the National Parkinson Care Network (NPCN) programs.

About the National Parkinson Foundation

Since 1982, NPF has funded more than $140 million in care, research, outreach and support services for its Centers network, addressing unmet needs at all stages of Parkinson’s disease. In FY 2009, NPF funded a total of nearly $9 million in programs dedicated to Parkinson’s disease.

Founded in 1957, the National Parkinson Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of Parkinson’s care and develop exemplary care for this generation of Parkinson’s patients through research, education, and outreach.

For more information about the National Parkinson Foundation, please visit www.parkinson.org or call 800-327-4545.

SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation