News

Tom Ryder Joins Focused Ultrasound Foundation Board of Directors

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Thomas O. Ryder, an investor, entrepreneur, and retired corporate executive, was elected to the Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s Board of Directors at their March 1 meeting.

Ryder has served as Chairman and CEO of the Reader’s Digest Association and President of American Express’s Travel Related Services International, Merchant Services Worldwide, and American Express Publishing Worldwide divisions.

He has experience in the publishing industry, having worked at Time Inc., CBS, and Education Today Company, Inc. where he was co-founder and CEO.

Ryder has also served on numerous boards, including at Amazon for 20 years, during which time he was audit committee chairman and the first lead independent director.

Other previous board appointments have included Starwood Hotels, RPX Corporation, Startek Corp, American Express International Bank, and Virgin Mobile – where he was Chairman.

He is also a prolific writer on the subjects of food and wine.

“Tom brings his unsurpassed skills and experience to the Foundation’s leadership team,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “He will help to facilitate our efforts to overcome barriers and take advantage of opportunities to shorten the time for focused ultrasound to become a global standard of care.”

Ryder is also an essential tremor patient who underwent focused ultrasound therapy for the disorder in 2021.

“Focused ultrasound fixed a major problem I had with essential tremor and changed my life,” he explains. “I truly hope my tenure on the Foundation Board of Directors will give me the opportunity to share that miracle with others in similar need.”

Read more here.

Recent News

03/21/2023

Mason leads planning study to position Northern Virginia as a premier location for the life science industry

During the past several years, industry demand for a skilled life science workforce has been surging. In Virginia, while there are currently shortages in almost all health-related professions, little is known about whether there is an adequate supply of life science workers to meet the needs of employers. Now George Mason University is working toward

03/21/2023

California invests $50M to partner with Civica Rx on insulin manufacturing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a new contract with nonprofit drugmaker Civica Rx, a move that brings the state one step closer to creating its own line of insulin to bring down the cost of the drug. Once the medicines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Newsom said at a press conference

03/07/2023

RAMP Welcomes 5 Startups into Spring 2023 Cohort

From designing battery electric spotter tractors to developing individualized neuro-oncology treatments for aggressive gliomas, the five companies accepted into RAMP’s Spring 2023 Cohort span the gamut of technology, health science and life science innovation. “We are thrilled to welcome these inspiring entrepreneurs and help them accelerate their vision,” said RAMP director Lisa Garcia. “Not only