Karen Talmadge, PhD, Named Chair of the Board for the American Diabetes Association

Online, January 22, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The American Diabetes Association, the nation's largest voluntary health organization leading the fight to Stop Diabetes, is pleased to announce that Karen Talmadge, PhD, of Los Gatos Hill, CA, has been named Chair of the Board for the Association. As Chair of the Board, Dr. Talmadge is one of the principal officers of the American Diabetes Association, and will serve as primary spokesperson and advocate for the Association regarding it's policies, goals, direction and management. She will also preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors. Additionally, she will work closely with the Association's volunteers and staff on initiatives in support of the organization's mission during her tenure.

Dr. Talmadge has been an award-winning volunteer leader for the American Diabetes Association since 1993, and her 22 year old daughter has had type 1 diabetes for 20 years. Dr. Talmadge is currently serving as vice chair of the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. She also chairs the Pathway to Stop Diabetes campaign. This is an initiative to fund more than 100 scientists in the field of diabetes in the next decade. Dr. Talmadge is also a member of the American Diabetes Association Pinnacle Society and Summit Circle.

Dr. Talmadge is an entrepreneur and executive in the biomedical industry, currently serving as president of Nabu Health Care Consulting. She is also Chair of the Board of Directors of Gynesonics, and serves on the Boards of Directors of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Velocity Pharmaceuticals Development, Venous Health Systems and VeraLight. Dr. Talmadge co-founded and funded Kyphon Inc., a minimally-invasive spine company, which Medtronic acquired in November 2007. She served as Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Kyphon Products, and Bakken Fellow, at Medtronic Spinal and Biologics, Sunnyvale, CA, until she retired in 2010. Prior to Kyphon's acquisition, she served as a member of it's Board of Directors from the company's inception in 1994. She has served as Kyphon's start-up phase from 1994 to 1998, she was the company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer.

From 1983 to 1993, Dr. Talmadge worked at California Biotechnology, which became Scios Inc., where she held numerous research and business positions. Dr. Talmadge received her PhD in Biochemistry from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, and was a post-doctoral fellow in the field at Harvard and at Cold Springs Harbor Labs, NY.

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050, unless we take the steps to Stop Diabetes.

The ADA funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information;and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES or visit [url:http://www.diabetes.org/siliconvalley.

Contact: Nancy B. Pruitt
408-241-1922 x7469
[email protected]