Founder's Bio

With 20+ years of Biotech and Pharma experience, Debra started her consulting firm in 2006, Chevy Chase BioPartners, specializing in Commercial Strategy and Licensing for start-up Life Science companies. She has held positions as a Contract VP, COO, and CBO for several client companies as part of her consulting practice. 
Prior to starting her own business she was the Head of New Product Planning for MedImmune where she built a department responsible for supporting the commercial and business planning aspects of MedImmune’s R&D pipeline. Previously Debra held the position of Senior Director, Corporate Development for Amylin Pharmaceuticals.
She spent several years at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Licensing and New Product Planning focusing on oncology. Additionally Debra served as Worldwide Market Manager for Centocor, where she was responsible for managing and expanding oncology licensing agreements with European and Japanese partners. Debra started her commercial pharmaceutical career with Hybritech, Inc where she held positions of growing responsibility in sales, marketing, market research and licensing.
 Debra is the current President-Emeritus and Board Member for Women in BIO. She has been an industry speaker since 2005 and currently serves on Industry Corporate Boards. Debra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati and a Medical Technologist (M.T.) certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She is currently pursuing her MBEE at Johns Hopkins University.