Mid-Atlantic Bio

Mid-Atlantic Bio consistently attracts the best and the brightest speakers within the biotech field.

Frederick Frank, Vice Chairman, Peter J. Solomon Company

Frederick Frank is Vice Chairman of Peter J. Solomon Company, a member of its Mergers and Acquisitions Group and with Managing Director Mary Tanner, co-heads PJSC’s global pharmaceutical and life sciences practice. Mr. Frank joined the firm in 2009 from Barclays Capital where he was Vice Chairman. He began his investment banking career at Smith, Barney & Co. Inc. in 1958, where he attained the positions of Co-Head of Research, Vice President and Director. Subsequently he joined Lehman Brothers, Inc., in 1969, as a partner. At Lehman, Mr. Frank provided investment banking services to an extensive number of companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare services, medical device and nutraceutical industries, and was involved in hundreds of financings, strategic alliances and merger and acquisition transactions in the global healthcare industry.

Martine A. Rothblatt, PhD, JD, MBA, Chairman and CEO of United Therapeutics Corporation

Martine A. Rothblatt started United Therapeutics in 1996 and has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Prior to founding United Therapeutics, she launched several satellite communications companies. She also represented the radio astronomy interests of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Radio Frequencies before the FCC and led the International Bar Association’s efforts to present the United Nations with a draft Human Genome Treaty. Her book, YOUR LIFE OR MINE: HOW GEOETHICS CAN RESOLVE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERESTS IN XENOTRANSPLANTATION, was published by Ashgate in 2004. She is a co?inventor on three of our patents pertaining to treprostinil.

Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD, Principal Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Joshua M. Sharfstein was appointed by President Obama to be the principal deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previously, Dr. Sharfstein was the commissioner of health for the City of Baltimore. In this position, he led efforts to: expand literacy through pediatric primary care professionals; make the transition to Medicare Part D easier for disabled adults; engage college students in public health activities; increase influenza vaccination of health care workers; expand access to effective treatment for opioid addiction; and address violence as a public health issue. Under Dr. Sharfstein’s leadership, the Baltimore Health Department and its affiliated agencies won multiple national awards for innovative programs. In 2008, Dr. Sharfstein was named a Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine. Dr. Sharfstein is a 1991 graduate of Harvard College, a 1996 graduate of Harvard Medical School, a 1999 graduate of the combined residency program in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center, and a 2001 graduate of the fellowship in general pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine.

H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Human Genome Sciences

Tom Watkins joined HGS as Chief Executive Officer and a Director in December 2004, and was also named President in December 2005. Mr. Watkins came to HGS with nearly 20 years of experience at Abbott Laboratories and its affiliates in the United States and Asia. He joined Abbott in 1985 and held various executive positions in the Pharmaceutical Products Division, Diagnostics Division and HealthSystems Division prior to serving as President of TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., from 1998 to 2004. Mr. Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Symphony Orchestra. He is a Trustee of The College of William and Mary Foundation and a member of the Board of Trustees of The Mason School of Business of The College of William and Mary. Mr. Watkins currently serves as Chair of the Life Sciences Advisory Board of the State of Maryland, and is a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.