Susan D. Desmond-Hellmann
Encyclopedia
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, is currently the Chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco
. She was appointed to the position by UC President Mark Yudof
on May 7, 2009, and officially took over in the position on August 3, 2009.
She served as president of product development
at Genentech
from March 2004 through April 30, 2009. In this role, Desmond-Hellmann was responsible for Genentech’s development, process research and development
, business development
, product portfolio management
, alliance management, and pipeline planning support functions. Desmond-Hellmann also served as a member of Genentech’s executive committee, beginning in 1996.
in 1996. In 1999, Desmond-Hellmann was named executive vice president of development and product operations.
Desmond-Hellmann is board-certified in internal medicine
and medical oncology
, and completed her clinical training at UCSF following completion of a bachelor of science
degree in premedicine and a medical degree
at University of Nevada, Reno
. She also holds a master's degree
in public health from University of California, Berkeley
.
Prior to joining Genentech, Desmond-Hellmann was associate director of clinical cancer research
at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Pharmaceutical Research Institute. While at Bristol-Myers Squibb, she was the project team leader for Taxol.
Desmond-Hellmann also has served as associate adjunct professor
of epidemiology
and biostatistics
at UCSF. During her tenure at UCSF, Desmond-Hellmann spent two years as visiting faculty at the Uganda Cancer Institute, studying AIDS
and cancer
. She also spent two years in private practice before returning to clinical research.
In January 2009, Desmond-Hellmann joined the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
’s Economic Advisory Council for a three-year term. In July 2008, Desmond-Hellmann was appointed to the California Academy of Sciences
board of trustees.
Desmond-Hellmann was named to the Biotech Hall of Fame in 2007 and Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Woman of the Year for 2006. Desmond-Hellmann was listed among Fortune magazine
’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2001 and from 2003 to 2008. From 2004 to 2006, the Wall Street Journal
listed Desmond-Hellmann as one of its Women to Watch.
From 2005 to 2008, Desmond-Hellmann served a three-year term as a member of the American Association for Cancer Research
board of directors
, and from 2001 to 2009, she served on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization
. Desmond-Hellmann has served on the corporate board of Affymetrix
since 2004.
as one of seven children. Her father worked as a pharmacist
and her mother was an English teacher. She went to college in Reno and attended the University of California, San Francisco
for medical school
.
Desmond-Hellmann married Nicholas Hellmann in 1987. They practiced in Uganda
for two years before moving to Kentucky
before they moved to Connecticut
to work for Bristol-Meyers.
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
. She was appointed to the position by UC President Mark Yudof
Mark Yudof
Mark G. Yudof is an American law professor and academic administrator. He is president of the University of California , former chancellor of the University of Texas System , and former president of the University of Minnesota .In addition to his position as Chancellor at The University of Texas,...
on May 7, 2009, and officially took over in the position on August 3, 2009.
She served as president of product development
New product development
In business and engineering, new product development is the term used to describe the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A product is a set of benefits offered for exchange and can be tangible or intangible...
at Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
from March 2004 through April 30, 2009. In this role, Desmond-Hellmann was responsible for Genentech’s development, process research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, business development
Business development
A subset of the field of commerce, business development comprises a number of techniques and responsibilities which aim at:1. Researching new types of business/products/services with an emphasis on identifying gaps in the mitigation of needs of potential clients .2. Attracting new customers3...
, product portfolio management
Product management
Product management is an organizational lifecycle function within a company dealing with the planning, forecasting, or marketing of a product or products at all stages of the product lifecycle....
, alliance management, and pipeline planning support functions. Desmond-Hellmann also served as a member of Genentech’s executive committee, beginning in 1996.
Career
Desmond-Hellmann joined Genentech in 1995 as a clinical scientist, and she was named chief medical officerChief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
in 1996. In 1999, Desmond-Hellmann was named executive vice president of development and product operations.
Desmond-Hellmann is board-certified in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
and medical oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
, and completed her clinical training at UCSF following completion of a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in premedicine and a medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
at University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
. She also holds a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public health from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Prior to joining Genentech, Desmond-Hellmann was associate director of clinical cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
Pharmaceutical Research Institute. While at Bristol-Myers Squibb, she was the project team leader for Taxol.
Desmond-Hellmann also has served as associate adjunct professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
and biostatistics
Biostatistics
Biostatistics is the application of statistics to a wide range of topics in biology...
at UCSF. During her tenure at UCSF, Desmond-Hellmann spent two years as visiting faculty at the Uganda Cancer Institute, studying AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. She also spent two years in private practice before returning to clinical research.
In January 2009, Desmond-Hellmann joined the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is the federal bank for the twelfth district in the United States. The twelfth district is made up of nine western states-—Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington--plus the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa,...
’s Economic Advisory Council for a three-year term. In July 2008, Desmond-Hellmann was appointed to the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
board of trustees.
Desmond-Hellmann was named to the Biotech Hall of Fame in 2007 and Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Healthcare Businesswomen's Association
The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association was founded in 1977 as a global non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in healthcare worldwide.-Mission:To further the advancement and impact of women in healthcare worldwide...
Woman of the Year for 2006. Desmond-Hellmann was listed among Fortune magazine
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2001 and from 2003 to 2008. From 2004 to 2006, the Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
listed Desmond-Hellmann as one of its Women to Watch.
From 2005 to 2008, Desmond-Hellmann served a three-year term as a member of the American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Cancer Research
The American Association for Cancer Research is the world's oldest and largest professional association to advancing cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational research into the etiology, prevention, diagnosis,...
board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
, and from 2001 to 2009, she served on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Industry Organization is an industry lobby group founded 1993 in Washington, D.C. Carl B. Feldbaum was the president until he retired in 2004, and was succeeded by James C. Greenwood.-External links:* *...
. Desmond-Hellmann has served on the corporate board of Affymetrix
Affymetrix
Affymetrix is a company that manufactures DNA microarrays; it is based in Santa Clara, California, United States. The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Fodor in 1992. It began as a unit in Affymax N.V...
since 2004.
Controversy
In June 2010 Desmond-Hellmann sold her Altria Group stock, which is owned by Phillip Morris, and subsequently donated $134,000 to The University of California, San Francisco tobacco control center, where she is chancellor. She sold this stock a day after being questioned about it by The New York Times. She claimed that many stocks had been bought by her broker and that she was too busy as chancellor although she had written the stock on her financial disclosure statement.Personal
Desmond-Hellmann grew up in Reno, NevadaReno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
as one of seven children. Her father worked as a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
and her mother was an English teacher. She went to college in Reno and attended the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
for medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
.
Desmond-Hellmann married Nicholas Hellmann in 1987. They practiced in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
for two years before moving to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
before they moved to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
to work for Bristol-Meyers.