Joan Young to Retire as President of PDSA

This year marks a major milestone for the Platelet Disorder Support Association and its Founder and President, Joan Young.  As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and our many accomplishments, Joan has decided the timing is right for her to retire from her position as President.  But Joan assures us her passion and commitment for improving the lives of people with ITP and their families will continue, "It is difficult to imagine that a diagnosis of ITP can be a gift, but for me it has been just that. My experience in building PDSA and helping to improve the health of those who come to us has been incredibly rewarding. I look forward to bringing more balance into my life and also continuing to share what I have learned."  Joan will still be an integral part of the organization in a variety of support roles, serving as a resource for members and for the organization to share her vast knowledge of ITP and its treatments.

As the guiding force behind PDSA, Joan has taken the organization from a Web site started on her home computer to a nonprofit known to ITP patients around the world. After being diagnosed with ITP, Joan started PDSA because she wanted those afflicted with this disease to avoid the physical and emotional hardships she experienced and have a smoother path to recovery.  Since PDSA was founded a decade ago, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of those affected by ITP and other platelet disorders.  She has personally answered thousands of phone calls and emails from people desperate for information, offering hope and inspiration. "Joan, I can’t thank you enough. If you hadn’t remembered me and invited me to the conference after my brain bleed, I doubt I would ever have gotten into this trial," shared ITP patient Lib. "Words cannot express my joy, or my appreciation for you and for the PDSA."

Joan has collaborated with top hematologists, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and lawmakers, working diligently to find funding, new treatments and ultimately a cure for ITP.  "Joan has earned the respect and admiration of patients and health care advocates alike," said James Bussell, MD.  "As a medical advisor to PDSA, I have had the pleasure of working with Joan for 10 years now and I am proud and grateful for the contributions of this compassionate leader."

While Joan's retirement may come as a surprise to many of you, her hard work and dedication to PDSA has gone far beyond the call of duty.  In the nonprofit world, 10 years at the helm of a national organization is a long tenure.  As we embark on our second decade at PDSA, Joan will embark on a new chapter in her life: having more time to spend with her children and grandchildren, writing, traveling and skiing. 

The PDSA Board of Directors is now in the process of searching for Joan's successor through the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, one of the largest and most successful nonprofit associations in the United States, invested with promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance and management. "Joan leaves behind an incredible legacy.  She is a shining example of how one person can make a difference," said Mat Heyman, Chair of the PDSA Board.  “We are committed to finding a new leader for our organization who can move PDSA forward,” he pledged.

The plan is to have a new executive director in place by the PDSA annual conference in June.  It will also be a time to honor and congratulate Joan for her invaluable contributions to those touched by ITP.  That is another reason we hope you will join us in Chicago June 20-22, 2008.  We thank you for your support during this time of transition.

Sincerely,

PDSA Board of Directors