On Sept. 15, 2010, Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute announced the appointment of Dr. Jack Faris as their new interim CEO. Dr. Faris brings with him a wealth of experience and a dedication to scientific advancement and community engagement.

With a distinguished career encompassing diverse leadership roles including a previous term as the acting CEO of the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute (PNDRI), Dr. Faris returns to PNRI, poised to steer the institute forward to tackle the most difficult questions in science and medicine through innovative genetics research. His prior experience at PNRI from 2010 to 2011 laid a solid foundation for his understanding of our mission and values.

Before rejoining PNRI, Dr. Faris held positions as an independent consultant, most recently serving as board chair for the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth. His other independent consulting projects include developing a communications strategy for the Washington Global Health Alliance, participating in the planning for the Initiative for Global Development’s National Summit on global poverty, strategic consulting for clean, low-cost energy through advanced materials at the University of Washington, and co-leading Foster Promise, which seeks to improve foster care for children state-wide.

Previously, Dr. Faris held significant leadership roles, notably as the president of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association for four years. He also served as vice president of university relations at the University of Washington, director of community strategies for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and director of communications for the Rural Development Institute (now Landesa). 

His commitment to community involvement is exemplified by his board leadership roles in numerous organizations such as the Seattle Public Library Foundation, Urban Enterprise Center, Business Volunteers for the Arts, Washington Commission for the Humanities, Seattle International Children’s Festival, and the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute. 

Dr. Faris earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree and PhD from the University of Chicago. 

In his own words, Dr. Faris shared his enthusiasm for the work being done at PNRI: “Since the founding of PNRI by Dr. William Hutchinson more than 60 years ago, its scientists and their teams have made countless discoveries in diabetes, rare diseases, cancer, and other diseases. Today, with research technologies and scientific understanding that didn’t exist as recently as ten years ago, these teams are advancing the frontiers of knowledge.”