MCAN National Advisory Board Convenes for First Annual Meeting

Upper Gwynedd, PA

MCAN National Advisory Board members, MCAN Executive Director Floyd J. Malveaux, and Merck & Co., Inc. Chief Executive Officer Richard T. Clark

The inaugural meeting of the MCAN National Advisory Board (NAB) convened on October 26, 2006 at Merck's Upper Gwynedd, PA facility.  NAB members are renowned national experts and thought leaders with expertise that ranges from asthma treatment and management, clinical and translational research to healthcare systems and services research, social determinants of health and health disparities and policy. During the meeting they were briefed on the mission and programs of MCAN.  In turn, they provided feedback and offered advice and guidance in shaping 2007 program plans.  Following the meeting, the NAB joined MCAN Trustees and Merck & Co., Inc., Chief Executive Officer and President, Richard T. Clark, for lunch and a presentation on the NIH-MCAN post-Katrina HEAL Project in New Orleans.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Clark addressed the NAB members. Stating that childhood asthma is an important issue to Merck employees, Mr. Clark expressed his gratitude to the NAB members for lending their valuable time to help MCAN achieve its mission.  He noted that asthma has touched his family too and it is among the company’s top philanthropic priorities.  MCAN National Advisory Board Chairperson Noreen Clark, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, commented that Merck's corporate commitment to pediatric asthma as demonstrated by establishing and funding MCAN, exemplifies corporate good citizenship that can make a difference in reducing the burden of a major public health problem on effected children and their families.