“Throughout my career I’ve been deeply passionate about helping patients and families improve their health and gain access to investigational and approved medical therapies,” says Ken Getz, president of OPAF. 
 
“My involvement in OPAF extends that passion by providing important, approved therapies to patients who have a financial need preventing their access to them.”  
 
Ken’s passion for improving patient experience and access is readily apparent in his healthcare industry involvement. Currently he is the chairman of CISCRP – a nonprofit organization that he founded to educate and raise public and patient awareness of the clinical research enterprise. He also holds several board appointments in the private and public sectors and serves on the editorial boards of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science. He is the founder of CenterWatch, a leading publisher in the clinical trials industry, and one of several businesses that he has created and sold. 
 
“What these organizations all have in common,” says Ken, “is their commitment to improving the availability, transparency, and disclosure of health information and their dedication to educating patients and their families about drugs in development and the clinical research process.”  
 
“I’m so very proud to serve on OPAF and its evolving mission,” says Ken.  “We are passionate and committed to making an impact and to differentiating our patient assistance services.”

“OPAF recognizes the importance of each person’s health journey,” explains Ken. “Patient assistance is not only about providing free medical treatments to eligible patients. It’s also about supporting patient health and well-being.”
 
Ken received an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Brandeis University.   
 
A well-known speaker at conferences, symposia, universities, investor meetings and corporations, Ken has published extensively in peer-review journals, books and in the trade press and writes a bi-monthly column nominated for a Neal Award in Applied Clinical Trials.  
 
Ken Getz is the Executive Director and a professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine, where he conducts grant-funded research on pharmaceutical R&D management and execution; protocol design optimization; contract service provider and investigative site management; e-clinical technology and data usage; and
patient engagement.   
 
He has been on the OPAF board since 2018 and has been its president since 2020.

Beth Harper brings 35 years of clinical research experience to OPAF, and a lifelong desire to learn and contribute. Being part of OPAF allows her the opportunity to do both.

Beth has been in the clinical research world for most of her career in healthcare and knows how pharmaceutical products get approved. “As a board member,” says Beth, “I am able to contribute through the lens I have as a clinical research professional to the expanded world of pharmaceutical development.”

“What I’ve learned,” she continues, “is that while we think there many social safety nets out there in the healthcare system, there are still so many needs and gaps. The OPAF mission is visionary. It expands the support of the patient’s healthcare journey to include everything that they’re going through.”

Throughout her 35-year career as a clinical research professional, Beth has passionately pursued opportunities to optimize the clinical trial process, enhance sponsor/site relationships, and build the competency of the clinical trial workforce. The expertise she’s gained gives her unique insight into how OPAF can expand and grow in the support of the patients and programs.

Beth has held multiple roles in clinical research across all types of organizations (sites, CROs, sponsors, service providers) throughout her career.  Beth is currently serves as President of Clinical Performance Partners, Inc., the Chief Learning Officer for Proficiency, and as a Senior Research Analyst for the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD). 

Beth joined OPAF in 2021.

"I don't believe you can ever be too passionate about making a difference in someone's life,” says OPAF director Rachel Thorpe. “If I can make a difference for someone, that’s what I'm going to do. I'm going to build programs that truly make a difference, that truly impact their health on a positive level.”

In her role as director, Rachel drives the program’s mission of improving the health and wellness of patients and reducing their barriers to the medications they need. Rachel’s personal experience with caregiving fuels her passion for bridging the gap between patients and their health. 

“I've seen first-hand what can happen when somebody doesn't have the support that they need,” says Rachel. “I’ve seen what mental illness does to patients and their families. It’s a travesty when people can’t access their medications. The hope and goal of OPAF is that we help those who are in need.”

Rachel’s passion for her work shines through when she talks about the assistance provided to eligible patients. “It goes far beyond free medication,” says Rachel. “Patients are asked specific questions to determine the barriers to their overall health, from housing or food insecurities to transportation and daycare challenges. We find them resources in their local area to offset barriers. And that is substantial.”

“Inherently, as an industry, as an organization, and as an individual human, we need to do better in this world,” says Rachel. “If I can make a difference in the lives of the patients and have a positive impact on their health and wellness, then I'm doing what's right for our communities and our world.”

Rachel began her career as a molecular biology researcher at Scripps Research Institute for HIV and ALS, where she first learned about social determinants and their impact on patient health. From there she was a USB corporate account manager then a field sales rep for Novartis. Rachel joined Otsuka in 2010 in sales and then transitioned to patient support operations in 2017. She became the director of OPAF in 2019.

Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from San Diego State University and a master’s in business from Southern New Hampshire University.

Christina has been with Otsuka for 8 years. She is an experienced advisor to cross-functional teams in the commercialization and support of pharmaceutical products. Her expertise is in corporate social responsibility initiatives, both internal and through private foundations. Her area of expertise is providing legal guidance and support to the commercial teams, corporate affairs, and patient support.

Terri comes to OPAF with unique insight into its mission of reducing barriers to healthy living. Terri came to the U.S. from Canada in 2013, bringing with her at the time 25 years of experience in acute nursing care in the healthcare setting and in clinical research. 

Her new role as the head of a professional association for clinical research in Washington D.C., led to volunteer work as a nurse for the homeless population in Alexandria, VA. It was her first interaction with the American healthcare system and with people that don’t have any health insurance. “I absolutely loved that work,” says Terri, “and it gave me clear insight into what lack of medical insurance means for individuals in our communities.”

Terri was hired by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) in August 2017, and joined OPAF in 2021. “The opportunity to be on the OPAF board is a brilliant marriage of all the work I love,” says Terri.

Terri states that the nursing industry is being called to provide leadership for removing barriers to health and to being able to be healthy – which includes social determinants like access to food, housing, and healthcare. Says Terri of her work with OPAF, “It’s an immense privilege for me to be able to give back. I’m proud to be part of organization addressing true systemic issues around healthcare and the health of the whole person, not just providing access to a free pharmaceutical product.”

Terri has over 34 years in acute care nursing in the healthcare setting. She has ten years of association management staff experience, having held executive positions in both individual membership associations and certification boards.

“It’s no secret that the last two and a half years have been challenging from a mental health perspective,” says Mark Hoffmann, Ph. D. “Mental health is the second pandemic.” Access to mental healthcare is finally being given the attention it has needed for decades, says Mark, and OPAF is providing a much-needed response. Mark views the OPAF board as leading the mission to help people gain access to treatment and care that they wouldn’t have otherwise had. “It’s meaningful to be a part of it,” says Mark.

Mark notes that many healthcare organizations want to effect change and bring advancement in care and treatment to the people who need it and can’t access it. Being part of OPAF has given him the opportunity to be part of an organization that puts action behind its words – a rare opportunity in a market saturated with unsubstantiated, “we put the patient first” claims. 

Says Mark, “Being on the OPAF board has given me the chance to work on the front lines of an organization that is expanding access to healthcare, and that’s very exciting.”

Mark has 15+ years of experience in strategy and communications. He has worked closely with executives, academics, scientists, advocates, policy experts, and healthcare leaders to frame arguments and make deeply complex material clear and persuasive. Mark is the author of numerous speeches, articles, white papers, and training materials, and he has edited countless more. 

Prior to joining High Lantern Group, Mark spent a number of years working in international settings with private companies, universities, and governmental organizations in Argentina, Cambodia, England, the Philippines, Samoa, Thailand, and Vietnam. Mark holds a doctoral degree in writing and rhetorical theory.

Ken Wright has been with Otsuka’s Finance division for 28 years. Ken was already an officer on two Otsuka boards when his search for non-profit work within the Otsuka umbrella brought him to OPAF. Ken learned about OPAF, loved what it stood for, and wanted to go all in. 

“In fact,” says Ken “I helped stand it up as an entity. At the time, I thought it was just a way of distributing free pharmaceuticals to patients. I didn’t realize OPAF was much bigger than that.”

OPAF’s mission is aligned with Ken’s own values. He has volunteered his time over the last 40 years to various charitable organizations. The seed for this work was planted in his preteens when, through his local church, his family volunteered regularly at a soup kitchens and shelters in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

“That what’s exciting about OPAF,” says Ken. “It goes beyond just free medication – it takes care of the physical and mental needs of patients as well: water, vitamins, and getting people connected to shelters that provide food.” 

Throughout his tenure at Otsuka, Ken has served within Finance in the following areas: Accounts Payable, FP&A, Financial Reporting, Accounting, and in his current role as Director of Treasury. Ken holds a BS in Accounting and is a CTP (Certified Treasury Professional). He is currently the Treasurer for the Otsuka US PAC and serves as a board member.