Washington D.C., July 8, 2024- Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation® (GAP) announced the appointment of Leigh Zisko, MPH as Chief Impact Officer and Tamiko MaGee-Rodgers, PhD, CCRP as the Director of Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives. In newly created global leadership roles, each will meaningfully contribute new perspectives and experience to GAP’s work in innovating clinical trial design, recruitment and collaboration while enhancing the next generation of central nervous system clinical trial solutions.
As Chief Impact Officer, Leigh Zisko will be responsible for driving GAP strategy, measuring the impact of its goals and vision, while continuing to oversee the GAP Participant Services (GPS) program, and Dr. Tamiko MaGee-Rodgers will be responsible for assisting and leading the development, implementation and management of recruitment strategies for GAP-enabled clinical trials through the Inclusive Research Initiative (IRI) team and expanding the teams reach with the development of strategic partnerships designed to improve clinical trial participation in all that GAP does. The team’s Community Connectors will continue to work in tandem with GPS liaisons to reach people in traditionally underrepresented communities to educate, inform and improve access to neurodegenerative research.
“Leigh is an outstanding leader who has driven our growth into new programs designed to improve the effectiveness of our AD/PD research programs and to improve the experience of trial volunteers from all walks of life.” said GAP President John Dwyer. “Her creativity, commitment to our Mission, and experience make her the ideal team member to lead our efforts to expand our suite of technology solutions and broaden our development of clinical trial sites and strategic collaborations. As our Chief Impact Officer, Leigh will have the portfolio to accelerate our efforts to achieve GAP’s strategic mission to improve the lives of the millions of people living with neurodegenerative diseases.”
“Dr. Tamiko MaGee-Rodgers is a talented leader who has made significant contributions to GAP’s effort to improve access to CNS clinical trials for members of traditionally underrepresented communities. Her insights and talent will be a welcome addition to GAP’s leadership team,” continued GAP President John Dwyer. “As we know, there are real and perceived barriers to accessing clinical trials for people who have historically been under-represented, including those who are African American or Hispanic. With Dr. MaGee-Rodgers at the helm, GAP has become a leader in addressing these disparities by building trust and national and local community partnerships that create lasting pathways to participation. This is a critical next step in GAP’s evolution, as we aim to change the trajectory of inclusion in clinical research, so that there is hope for all as we get closer to finding the cure for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases.”
Leigh has been with GAP since 2017 and has extensive research experience in her previous role as GAP’s Vice President of Trial Recruitment & Study Services, as well as in private, academic and hospital-based settings and has done research in a variety of different therapeutic areas including mental health, HIV/AIDS, developmental disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Tamiko joined GAP in 2021 as GAP’s Associate Director of Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives. She has worked in aging for over 15 years, including serving as a Mental Health Clinician and a Case Manager in a Psychiatric Pavilion for older adults. She supported a longitudinal Alzheimer’s disease study at the Indiana University School of Medicine where she engaged in community outreach efforts to support recruitment and retention.
GAP is also proud to announce the following promotions within the organization.
- Doug Beauregard, Senior Director, Operations
- Katy Smith, MA, LMHC, CSP, Director, Clinical Operations
- Mia Chester, Associate Director, Diversity and Community Outreach
- Jennifer Gaudioso, Associate Director, Operations & Data Management
- Rona Schillinger, Associate Director, Operations
- Diane Azorsky, Senior Manager, Business Development Operations
- Lucia Jaime, LCSW, Senior Manager, Recruitment and Clinical Trial Optimization
About the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP):
The nonprofit Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation was founded to speed the delivery of Alzheimer’s treatments with a commitment to promoting diversity in clinical research, as well as lowering the cost and duration of clinical trials to ensure that no one is left behind. As part of its mission, GAP supports more than 100 clinical research sites worldwide through study start-up and recruitment activities, promoting diversity in research studies, and giving attention to the citizen scientists who make research possible.