New Brunswick, NJ, January 25, 2011 — The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) has selected Dean J. Paranicas as the next president and chief executive officer of the state′s life sciences industry association.
Paranicas was nominated by a selection committee after a nine-month search and is expected to start March 1.
“Dean will be an outstanding advocate for New Jersey′s life sciences community. As chair of the HINJ steering committee for the last seven years, Dean has played a key role in developing HINJ′s mission and expanding its impact,” said Timothy M. Ring, chairman and chief executive officer of C.R. Bard and chair of HINJ′s board of trustees. “Dean brings leadership continuity to an effective and well-respected organization that will enable HINJ to adapt to new and ever-changing environments and policy challenges in both Washington, DC and Trenton. His thirty years of experience with and intimate knowledge of the life sciences sector are unique qualities that make him an invaluable leader.”
Paranicas takes over the organization after the untimely passing of former U.S. Rep. Bob Franks, who served as HINJ′s president from 2001 to 2010.
“Our search process was thorough and complete,” said Robert J. Hugin, Chief Executive Officer of Celgene Corporation and chair of HINJ′s presidential search committee. “While we reviewed scores of highly qualified candidates, Dean clearly distinguished himself by demonstrating a rare combination of leadership skills, knowledge of the industry, and ability to advocate passionately on behalf of patient access to the medicines and technologies our industry works to discover.”
Paranicas is currently vice president, corporate secretary and public policy for BD, a Franklin Lakes-based global medical technology company and a HINJ member company, which he joined in 1981.
He is chair of HINJ′s steering committee and of the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting, Inc. (NJN Foundation) board of trustees. He is a former member of the Rutgers University Board of Governors and the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Overseers. He is also a former chair of the Rutgers University Board of Trustees and is currently a member of the board of directors of NEHI (formerly the New England Healthcare Institute).
“By researching and innovating treatments and cures, New Jersey′s life sciences community makes tremendous contributions to the advancement of global human health,” said Paranicas. “Ensuring that people throughout the world have access to the medicines and medical technologies they need is just as important to advancing health. Because I have devoted the last thirty years of my life to improving global human health, I feel especially honored to be selected to lead HINJ.”
“The life sciences sector is New Jersey′s economic crown jewel,” continued Paranicas. “My vision is for New Jersey to remain and expand its position as the world leader in medical innovation. To do this, we must assertively advocate for sensible policies that encourage investment in the life sciences that help create new jobs and opportunities for New Jersey workers and their families.”
New Jersey′s life sciences industry employs more than 55,000 people. In 2009 the industry added $29.2 billion to the state′s economy, contributed to the creation of more than 75,000 “spin-off” jobs, and contributed nearly $214 million to New Jersey philanthropic causes.
New Jersey is home to more life sciences companies than any other state in the country, or any other country in the world. The biopharmaceutical and medical technology community is the cornerstone to New Jersey′s economy, making New Jersey the world′s leader in research and development.
Founded in 1997, the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) serves as a unified voice for the state′s biopharmaceutical and medical technology industry in New Jersey. It seeks to expand public access to the latest and most innovative treatments for diseases and build awareness of the industry′s impact on New Jersey′s quality of life and economic well-being. It helps to advance the development and implementation of sound public health and business policies that support the interests of New Jersey, its people and its life sciences industry.