March 30, 2011 — The National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA), a private-public partnership working to improve the overall health and quality of life of all Americans by enhancing their bone health, has named David B. Lee, MPA, the new director of the alliance effective March 21, 2011.

The NBHA was established in 2010 in response to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis (released October 2004) and recommendations from the 2008 Summit for a National Action Plan.

The NBHA's goals are to increase public and professional awareness of healthy lifestyle choices, expand public policies to advance better bone health and foster research necessary to develop and disseminate the scientific and medical knowledge necessary to serve as a basis for strong bones across America.

"David Lee is the ideal person to lead the National Bone Health Alliance," said Sundeep Khosla, MD, president, The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) and chairman, NBHA Governance Committee. "In this exciting era of new ideas and new research efforts in healthcare, his enthusiasm and collaborative approach will be critical and will enable the NBHA to play a leading role in the advancement of bone health and the prevention of disease."

"We are very pleased to have Mr. Lee assume the leadership role with NBHA," said Robert R. Recker, MD, president, National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and vice-chairman, NBHA Governance Committee. "As we break new

ground to implement the Surgeon General's recommendations for improved bone health across the nation, we are confident that David's leadership and relationship-building expertise will position the NBHA to make bone health a reality and lifelong priority for everyone."

Lee joins the NBHA with nearly 20 years of demonstrated experience in executive management and program administration, business development and fundraising, health policy, communications, and grants management.

Lee's most recent position was as Deputy Director of the Biomarkers Consortium at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. He has played key roles in establishing relationships with a variety of health-related entities, including federal government agencies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, advocacy organizations, non-profit and trade associations, foundations, and individuals representing the healthcare industry, health professionals, and consumers.

"This an important time in healthcare and specifically in the promotion of bone health and I am eager to be devoting my energies to the mission of the National Bone Health Alliance," said David Lee. "I look forward to working with the members of the bone health community to increase awareness and prevention messages related to bone health, to improve diagnosis and treatment and to enhance research, surveillance and evaluation," stated Lee.

Source: National Bone Health Alliance, www.nationalbonehealthalliance.org