Register for RSQ

CHPA’s Regulatory, Scientific & Quality Conference (RSQ) brings together leaders from industry, regulatory authorities, and academia across the consumer healthcare landscape to focus on the self-care space.

The RSQ agenda offers something for everyone with key regulatory and scientific, and product quality sessions over the course of two days. Hear from FDA, USP, industry, and academia on some of the timeliest topics affecting the consumer healthcare marketplace.

Julie Aker

President and Chief Executive Officer, Concentrics Research, an IQVIA business

Julie started her career in a large healthcare system in Colorado Springs. Julie attended Ball State University and obtained degrees in medical technology, biology, and chemistry; her MBA work was done at the University of Colorado. She worked in the clinical laboratory and grew into senior management in medical affairs with over 800 healthcare providers. She started a healthcare consulting business within the hospital system that soon grew and became a separate business.

Julie was later recruited by a global CRO, for positions in quality assurance/regulatory affairs and in protocol services as head of the project teams in the U.S. and Switzerland for the Central Laboratory Business. In 1999, Julie was recruited to work at West Pharmaceutical Services and expanded the clinical, consulting, and regulatory capabilities of the company. In 2002, she led a management buy-out with partnership and funding from Bindley Capital Partners and started Concentrics Research.

Mike Bailey

Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs

Mike's Full Bio

Mike Bailey is CHPA's Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs. He oversees all aspects of regulatory and scientific affairs at CHPA, including leading task groups, working groups, and committees; strengthening relations with FDA leaders, centers, divisions, and offices; and additional regulatory priorities for the association while leading a very seasoned and talented department at CHPA. 

Mike graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in animal science and a master's degree in business from Johns Hopkins University. He is an experienced member of multiple leadership and management boards, research and development leadership teams, and global regulatory affairs leadership teams. He resides in Lafayette, New Jersey, with his wife of 34 years and three adult children. He works out of CHPA's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Russell Bradford

M.D., MSPH, Senior Vice President, PEGUS Research, Inc.

Russell D. Bradford, MD, MSPH is Senior Vice President at PEGUS Research, a CRO specializing in consumer behavior research and supporting Rx to OTC switch efforts for more than 3 decades. Russ interfaces directly with clients in the design, development, and advancement of research programs to support program needs, and particularly enjoys the challenge of helping clients solve the inevitable problems that arise. Russ attended medical school at the University of Utah. Thereafter he completed residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics followed by a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases, all at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Along the way, he earned his MSPH. After serving for some years on faculty in the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine at UAB, in 2011 he joined PEGUS Research, where he has played a leading role in dozens of programs. Additionally, he continues to care for hospitalized patients in his community.

Eric Brass

M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA

Dr. Eric Brass received his M.D. and Ph.D. (Pharmacology) degrees from Case Western Reserve University. He completed an internal medicine residency and clinical pharmacology fellowship at the University of Washington. After holding faculty positions at the University of Colorado and Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Brass moved to the UCLA School of Medicine where he was Chair of the Department of Medicine at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from 1994-2000. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Brass has long-standing interests in drug discovery, development and regulation, with a particular focus on the challenges of prescription to OTC switches. He served as a member, and then as Chair, of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee. Subsequently he has served as a consultant to a number of companies on nonprescription drug development strategies. Dr. Brass has authored over 200 scientific papers, including several related to nonprescription drug development and regulatory issues.

Natalia I. Chalmers

DDS, MHSc, Ph.D., Chief Dental Officer, Office of the Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Dr. Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate who brings more than 20 years of clinical, research, industry, and regulatory experience to CMS in her role as Chief Dental Officer in the Office of the Administrator. Previously, Dr. Chalmers served as a Dental Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Chalmers has devoted her career to transforming scientific and health care data and information into actionable insights to address equity, improve care, and better inform policy and funding. Dr. Chalmers completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of Sofia, a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and a Ph.D. in oral microbiology from the Graduate Partnerships Program of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, Post-doctoral Fellowship at the Forsyth Institute, and Clinical Research Fellowship at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chalmers holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Research from Duke Medical University and a Certificate in Drug Development and Regulatory Science from the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy. Her research has translated into action, improving oral care and advocating for the role health policy can play across the lifespan—particularly when it embraces dental well-being as a facet of care for the whole person.

Kristen Garrett

Manager of Market Research at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)

Kristen Garrett is a Manager of Market Research at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which produces the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Kristen is responsible for managing the execution of consumer and B2B market research studies, both domestic and international, spanning many topics and areas. Kristen is most passionate about digital health and works with industry stakeholders to publish research aimed at improving digital health technology and public awareness and education. Kristen graduated with a B.S. in Sociology and a minor in psychology from Virginia Tech.

Nicholas Georges

Senior Vice President, Scientific & International Affairs, Household & Commercial Products Association

Nicholas Georges is the Senior Vice President, Scientific & International Affairs of the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA).  Georges leads HCPA’s activity on aerosol products and industrial & automotive products, as well as multiple scientific and regulatory areas both domestically and internationally such as air quality.  Georges has a monthly column in Spray Technology & Marketing and often contributes to other publications such as World Aerosols and Aerosol Europe. Before joining HCPA, Georges was the Director of Regulatory Affairs at PLZ Aeroscience and the Technical Director at Nyco Products Company.  Georges has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Angela Granum

Director, Division of User Fee Management, CDER, FDA

Jody L. Green

Ph.D., FAACT, Chief Scientific Officer, Uprise Health

As the Chief Scientific Officer for Uprise Health, Dr. Green provides strategic direction for drug safety research design, generation and analysis of real-world evidence, and data dissemination activities for postmarked studies of prescription and nonprescription medications. Prior to joining Uprise Health she was the Director of Research at the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, where she was the principal investigator on over 40 studies ranging from clinical trials to observational studies, primarily focused on pharmaceutical and consumer product safety. Dr. Green is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and a current member of the Prevention of Overdoses and Treatment Errors in Children Taskforce (PROTECT) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an assembly of experts to develop strategies to keep children safe from unintentional medication overdoses. Dr. Green has over 20 years of research experience aimed to advance patient and consumer safety, authoring or co-authoring over 90 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, including co-authorship of the Annual Report of the National Poison Data System from 2006 to 2010.

Corey Hilmas

MD, Ph.D., Chief Regulatory Officer, KGK Science

Dr. Corey Hilmas is a respected scientist, medical doctor, and former U.S. federal food regulator. After having completed his medical degree and doctorate in toxicology, working as a principal investigator for a very large institute, he was employed on behalf of the US government at US FDA. He served as an NDI notification reviewer and branch chief within the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs (today the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs). In addition to his expertise in food safety, setting structure function claim policy, labeling, GMPs and health fraud, he served as an expert witness for FDA, DOJ and AUSA, resulting in an FDA Award of Merit from former FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. As a recognized regulatory expert with intimate knowledge of the dietary supplement industry, Dr. Hilmas has made significant contributions toward building and re-shaping the global food regulatory landscape after leaving FDA through drafting over 70 comments to US federal and state agencies, as well as global food health directorates on topics ranging from soy to supplements and CBD to China’s overhaul of their Food Safety Program. Today Dr. Hilmas heads up KGK Science’s Client Services Division, which helps regulatory clients gain access to the North American market by offering GRAS, NDIs, consulting advice, labeling reviews, structure function claim substantiation files, citizen petitions, and other regulatory work products.

Haijing Hu

Ph.D., Chief of the Regulations Implementation Branch, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA

Dr. Haijing Hu joined the FDA in 2010 and has served in several roles and positions. Her current role is the Chief of the Regulations Implementation Branch (RIB) in the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP) within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at the FDA. She leads a multi-disciplinary team to review industry submissions and inspectional findings on labeling and CGMP compliance. She also collaborates with other FDA offices in the development of compliance policies and enforcement actions. Haijing has been in this position for four years. Prior to joining ODSP, Haijing was a senior microbiologist in CDER’s Office of Compliance with a focus on pharmacy compounding. She also conducted microbiological assessments for sterile drug manufacturing in CDER as well as sterilization and disinfection assessments for medical devices at CDRH. Haijing obtained her Ph.D. in 2003 as a food microbiologist. She has more than 10 years of experience in microbiological research prior to joining the FDA.

Barbara A Kochanowski

Ph.D., Former Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, CHPA

Barbara's Full Bio

Barbara Kochanowski was Sr. VP, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, CHPA, from 2009 – 2023, where she was responsible for regulatory affairs activities with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including OTC Monograph reform, ingredient safety, and consumer medical devices. She retired from CHPA in July 2023 and currently serves as a consultant to CHPA for special projects, including OMUFA II. Prior to 2009, Kochanowski worked for more than 23 years in R&D at The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), retiring in December 2008 as director, global personal health care, oral care, and feminine care product safety and regulatory affairs and corporate microbiology. She is experienced in pharmaceutical, medical device, and dietary supplement regulatory affairs, Rx-to-OTC switch, product safety, clinical research, and pharmacovigilance. While at P&G, Kochanowski was very active in CHPA activities, serving as chair of the Scientific Affairs Committee from 2007-2009. In March 2023, Kochanowski received CHPA’s esteemed Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Career Achievement Award for her nearly four decades of outstanding contributions and service to the consumer healthcare industry. She is a member of the American Society of Nutrition and actively engaged in alumni activities at Penn State University and University of Illinois.

Irene Laurora

Pharm.D. Senior Director, Global Scientific Affairs, Perrigo Company

Irene Laurora, PharmD is Sr Director, Scientific Affairs with Perrigo Women's Health. In this role, Irene leads the strategic planning and implementation of global development programs, clinical trials design and execution, and the Scientific Affairs function.  Dr Laurora has a 30-year career in the pharmaceutical industry where she most recently led the team to the successful Rx to OTC switch of Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive approved in the US. Previous roles include leading Global Medical Affairs and Global Drug Safety functions and leading US Medical Affairs for foremost Consumer Healthcare companies including Pfizer Consumer Care and Bayer Healthcare, and as the Global R&D Category Leader for Bayer's Analgesic and Cough & Cold franchise.  

Dr. Laurora received her Bachelor’s of Pharmacy degree from St John’s University in New York and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Dr Laurora served on the Board of Trustees of Autism NJ, a non-profit organization that works to help those with autism and their families connect to necessary resources. She enjoys spending time with her two adult children, who have autism, and her husband of 32 years.  

Frank Lin

M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, Professor & Director, Cochlear Center for Hearing & Public Health

Frank R. Lin, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor and the Director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. As an otologic surgeon & epidemiologist, Dr. Lin has translated his clinical experiences caring for patients with hearing loss into foundational public health research and federal policy in the U.S. His research established the association of hearing loss with cognitive decline & dementia and served as the direct basis for the Lancet Commission on Dementia conclusion that hearing loss is the leading modifiable risk factor for dementia. Based on this research, he initiated the ACHIEVE study in 2014, and the results of this landmark randomized trial that were released in 2023 established that treating hearing loss reduces loss of thinking and memory abilities by 48% among older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline. In parallel, Dr. Lin has collaborated with the National Academies, White House, and Congress to develop policies to ensure hearing loss can be effectively and sustainably addressed in society. These efforts directly resulted in bipartisan passage of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 which Dr. Lin testified on before Congress and final enactment of federal regulations for OTC hearing aids in the U.S. on October 17, 2022. Dr. Lin has subsequently collaborated with the Consumer Technology Association to develop the standard for a consumer-facing hearing metric based on the PTA4 (Hearing Number) to empower consumers to track, monitor, and act on their own hearing. As the director of a public health research center, Dr. Lin’s academic efforts are focused on reshaping the rules and assumptions underlying the global hearing care market in order to ensure the market is optimized to advance public health.

Diane C. McEnroe

Partner, Sidley Austin

Diane McEnroe has established long-standing relationships with domestic and international companies in the food, dietary supplement, drug, medical device, and cosmetic industries. She leads the New York Healthcare and Food, Drug and Medical Device practice group and is a member of the firmwide Food, Drug and Medical Device Regulatory practice.  

Diane provides clients strategic counsel on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory questions on a broad range of issues, including product formulation and positioning, ingredient safety, claims substantiation, over-the-counter drug monograph and Monograph Reform issues, and post-marketing obligations, including adverse event reporting and food registry postings. She also has extensive experience advising on drug sampling programs, track and trace systems, and the interplay between federal and state laws on drug distribution. Diane supports clients in responding to FDA Warning Letters, during facility inspections and recalls, and in addressing product integrity issues. In addition to her FDA advisory role, she has also assisted clients with Federal Trade Commission investigations and claims substantiation obligations relating to the full range of consumer products.  

With Diane’s deep knowledge of foods, including functional and medical foods, and dietary supplements, she has guided clients through the implementation of significant legislative amendments, including the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, the Organic Foods Production Act, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, the Bioterrorism and Drug Preparedness Act, and the Food Safety Modernization Act. With the recent passage of the OTC Monograph Reform Act of 2020, and the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act of 2022, Diane is currently advising domestic and international companies on how to meet their obligations for products marketed within these new legal frameworks.  

Diane supports Sidley’s transactional practice group, leading on most of the consumer product due diligence for firm clients. She also assists Sidley’s class action practice group, when defending clients facing litigation which raises FDA regulatory arguments. 

Scott Melville

President and CEO

Scott's Full Bio

Scott Melville is the president and chief executive officer of CHPA and leads the organization’s efforts to empower consumer self-care by preserving and expanding choice and availability of consumer healthcare products, including OTC medicines, dietary supplements and consumer medical devices.

Prior to joining CHPA, Melville served as senior vice president of government affairs and general counsel for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (formerly HDMA), representing pharmaceutical wholesale distributors.

Melville previously served in various public affairs and legal roles for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies Sterling-Winthrop, Hoffmann-LaRoche, and Cephalon. Melville began his professional career as a legislative assistant and appropriations committee associate on the staff of retired U.S. Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.).

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Bucknell University, and his juris doctorate from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia School of Law. He serves on the boards of the Global Self-Care Federation, and the Health in Hand Foundation.

Theresa Michele

M.D., Director, Office of Nonprescription Drugs, Office of New Drugs, Center of Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA

Dr. Theresa Michele is currently the Director of the Office of Nonprescription Drugs (ONPD) in the Office of New Drugs, Center of Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to joining FDA in the Division of Pulmonary and Allergy Drug Products, she spent 10 years in industry, with clinical research experience across a variety of therapeutic areas in both commercial and development stage companies. She is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine, completing her training at Johns Hopkins University, where she currently serves on the faculty.

JJ Mifsud

Applied AI Architect, Klick

JJ Mifsud is an Applied AI Architect at Klick Health with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. He excels at building and exploring generative AI solutions that bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and regulatory compliance. JJ's expertise lies in making complex AI technologies accessible while championing responsible development and implementation. He developed a patented HCP simulator that predicts market reactions to healthcare marketing materials. He has a deep understanding of industry regulations and standards, ensuring that his solutions align with the necessary requirements. JJ envisions a future where AI safely and effectively revolutionizes the healthcare regulatory landscape without compromising risk or safety.

 

Stefan Pasiakos

Ph.D., FACSM, Director, Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), NIH

Stefan M. Pasiakos, Ph.D., was named Director of the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health in July 2023. In the months that followed, Dr. Pasiakos led efforts to develop a new strategic vision that builds upon the office’s successful history and positions ODS as the premier organization, authority, and convening body for advancing the study of dietary supplements across the federal government. His vision emphasizes objectivity, scientific curiosity, and innovation. It prioritizes collaboration and coordination across NIH while maintaining the office’s long-standing partnerships with other federal agencies, research institutions, and dietary supplement trade organizations. Dr. Pasiakos is committed to the American public as the honest broker for advancing dietary supplement science and fostering public health knowledge to optimize health across the lifespan. Dr. Pasiakos’ research interests and expertise include nutrition and dietary supplements, muscle physiology, human performance, and bioenergetics of exercise metabolism. His research has spanned multiple disciplines, including basic sciences, population level analyses, randomized controlled trials, and military field studies in austere environments. Before joining ODS, Dr. Pasiakos held multiple positions at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine from 2008 to 2023. Most recently, Dr. Pasiakos served as the Chief of the Military Performance Division, where he led a multidisciplinary research program and scientific team to develop evidence-based solutions to limit musculoskeletal injuries and optimize physical and cognitive performance in military training and operational environments. From 2012 to 2021, Dr. Pasiakos was a Research Physiologist in the Military Nutrition Division. The author of more than 150 scientific publications, journal articles, and book chapters, Dr. Pasiakos’ work to refine dietary and supplemental protein recommendations for soldiers is internationally recognized. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to military medicine and was awarded the Vernon R. Young International Award for Amino Acid Research from the American Society for Nutrition. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. His research highlighting the fundamental relationship between energy balance and essential amino acid utilization for the protection of skeletal muscle mass during strenuous military operations has informed nutrition policy for the Department of Defense and the development of next generation combat ration products. Dr. Pasiakos received his Ph.D. in nutritional science in 2008 from the University of Connecticut. He also holds a M.A. and B.S. in exercise physiology from Adelphi University and Southern Connecticut State University, respectively. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Military Nutrition Division at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in 2012 as a United States Army Medical Service Corps officer.

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Maria E. Petrey

Senior Director, North America Regulatory Affairs, US Personal Health Care Regulatory Affairs, The Procter & Gamble Company

Maria E. Petrey leads the North America Regulatory Affairs organization within the Procter & Gamble Personal Health Care business. Maria oversees a team of regulatory affairs managers that are responsible for a wide range of brands across a variety of regulatory classifications such as OTC monograph drugs, OTC drugs approved under an NDA/ANDA, dietary supplements, conventional foods, cosmetics, medical devices, and consumer goods. These brands include Vicks NyQuil, DayQuil, Sinex, ZZZQuil, Metamucil, Nervive, Prilosec OTC, Pepto Bismol, and Align among many others. Maria has worked at Procter & Gamble for over 25 years, joining Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals as a molecular and cellular biologist in 1998. Maria worked at Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals and Dow Chemical prior to joining Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, as well as at Warner Chilcott Pharmaceuticals. Maria obtained her undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Indiana University, a graduate degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Cincinnati, and a Regulatory Affairs Certification from the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society.

 

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Rachele Pojednic

Ph.D., Director of Scientific Research, Restore

Dr. Rachele Pojednic is an international authority on nutrition, supplementation and physical activity interventions for muscle physiology, performance and recovery. She received her PhD from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. In addition to serving as Restore’s Director of Scientific Research and Education, she has a faculty appointment at Stanford University and holds research appointments at The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute. She has received NIH research funding from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN), an NIH IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Is Medicine® initiative. Dr. Pojednic has been an active fitness professional for over 20 years as a nutrition educator and coach for Olympic, Division I sports, and tactical athletes. She has a passion for science communication and is regularly featured in outlets such as NPR, Sirius Doctor Radio, Time, the Wall Street Journal, STAT News, Popular Science, Self, Shape, Women’s Health, Forbes, and Runners World.

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Howard D. Sesso

ScD, MPH, FAHA, Associate Director, Division of Preventive Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Associate Epidemiologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dr. Howard D. Sesso is an Associate Epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He designs and conducts randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, focusing on dietary supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle factors to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and other aging-related outcomes. Dr. Sesso is the Associate Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and Director of Nutrition and Supplement Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Sesso helps lead the Physicians’ Health Study, consisting of two trials testing aspirin, beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, and a multivitamin on aging-related outcomes in 29,071 men. Dr. Sesso is also examining vitamin D and fish oil supplements on blood pressure, hypertension, and other outcomes in the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL). Finally, Dr. Sesso is Co-Principal Investigator of the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), a recently completed trial testing cocoa extract and multivitamin supplements in the prevention of CVD and cancer in 21,442 older women and men. He has published more than 350 papers, teaches courses on clinical trials and epidemiology, and enjoys mentoring students and junior faculty.

 

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Alpa Shah

M.S., RDN, Medical Lead, US Wellness Medical Affairs, Haleon

Alpa V. Shah leads U.S. Wellness Medical & Scientific Affairs within R&D at Haleon. She oversees a team of nutrition scientists responsible for the science and research behind well-known nutritional/dietary supplement brands such as Centrum, Caltrate, and Benefiber. Alpa is a nutrition professional with over 20 years of experience in the application of nutrition science in a variety of settings including patient care in clinical practice, community nutrition and health programs, academia, and industry. She obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and she is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. Alpa has had extensive clinical experiences in the areas of diabetes management, perinatal nutrition, HIV nutrition as well as in human vitamin/mineral nutrition and healthy aging. Alpa is passionate about the role of nutrition in promoting health and wellness especially for underserved and vulnerable populations and hence has focused much of her career on the interpretation, translation, and communication of nutrition science for practical use in the betterment of health. 

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Greg Sperla

Partner, DLA Piper LLP (US)

Greg Sperla is a litigator and regulatory attorney protecting clients in complex litigation and compliance matters. He is one of the few attorneys to have obtained a post-trial judgment requiring a Proposition 65 "bounty hunter" to pay costs to a defendant. He is focused on the science of consumer products of all types, particularly food, drugs, and cosmetics, and is broadly experienced in domestic and global regulation of consumer goods and disputes. Mr. Sperla has advised companies of all sizes in dozens of industries on matters involving California's Proposition 65, consumer class actions, product labeling and marketing rules, administrative and regulatory enforcement proceedings, permitting and licensure, hazardous waste, and commercial disputes, among other issues.

 

 

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Andrew Stewart

Head of Real-World Evidence and Behavioral Science, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare

Andrew Stewart is currently the Head of Real-World Evidence, Behavioral Science and Data Platforms at Sanofi Consumer Healthcare where he leads a team of subject matter experts across real-world evidence, behavioral science, as well as data and analytics. He has worked as Sanofi since 2013, originally developing evidence strategies targeted at payers for rare diseases and has been leading real-world evidence generation efforts for Sanofi Consumer Healthcare since 2017. Andrew has a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University, specializing in Health Policy and Management, and is originally from Iowa where he graduated from the University of Iowa with Honors in Integrative Physiology, and Honors Commendations in Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies.

 

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David Strauss

M.D., Ph.D., Director, Division of Applied Regulatory Science, FDA

Dr. David Strauss serves as the Acting Chief Scientist for the US Food and Drug Administration to promote, leverage, and lead cross-cutting, collaborative activities and initiatives that catalyze FDA science, innovation, and research to help the agency address its most pressing regulatory and public health questions and respond to emerging issues. Prior to serving as Acting Chief Scientist, he served as the Director of the Division of Applied Regulatory Science in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) where he led efforts to move new science into the FDA regulatory process and address emergent regulatory and public health questions by engaging stakeholders in mission-critical laboratory, computational, and clinical research. This work brought him in contact with many of the complex and varied scientific and regulatory issues the agency faces. He also has spent five years in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health; eight years in CDER and worked with all of the FDA’s regulatory product centers and offices on a variety of applied research projects and cross-agency committees.

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Keith Thornley

Ph.D., Head of Dry Molded Fiber Collectives, PA Consulting

Keith Thornley is one of the senior leaders of PA Consulting’s Dry Molded Fiber (DMF) business, working hand-in-hand with our technology partner PulPac to develop more sustainable single-use packaging solutions for the Consumer Health, FMCG, and Pharmaceutical industries.  Keith’s current role is the Commercial Program Head for both the Bottle and Blister Pack Collectives, where he has the immense privilege of working directly with several of the world’s leading brands to develop the world’s first DMF bottle and tablet blister pack.  

Prior to his work with DMF and sustainable packaging, Keith had 10+ years of experience as a strategy and innovation consultant for PA, 4iNNO, and McKinsey & Company.  His expertise was helping R&D-driven firms accelerate the development of new-to-the-world technologies, products, and business models.  Keith earned his Ph. D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his B.S. in Chemistry from The Ohio State University. 

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Pelin Thorogood

Co-founder & Executive Chair, Radicle Science

Pelin Thorogood is the Cofounder and Executive Chair of Radicle Science, an AI-driven HealthTech pioneer recognized as a “World Changing Idea” by Fast Company for powering the future of Personalized Wellness with proof.  Her category-defining efforts earned her the INC 200 Female Founder award in 2023. Previously, Pelin held pivotal C-level roles, including CEO, in both public and private companies, establishing herself as a MarTech trailblazer.  Pelin is a prolific writer and speaker on topics ranging from AI, analytics, entrepreneurship, women’s health and precision medicine, including in Fast Company, Forbes, SXSW, TED, Montgomery Summit, ABC News and Cornell Enterprise.  Deeply committed to impact, education, and community, Pelin serves as Trustee and Vice Chair of the UC San Diego Foundation and as Chair of the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Pelin holds a B.S., M.Eng and MBA, all from Cornell.

 

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Kersi Vasunia

Ph.D., Senior Director of Oral Care, The Procter & Gamble Company

Kersi Vasunia is at the helm of Global Regulatory Affairs and Human and Environmental Safety at Procter & Gamble Oral Care business. With a global team, Kersi oversees a diverse group of products including dentifrice, toothbrushes, denture adhesives, oral OTC drugs, cosmetic rinses, teeth whitening solutions, and dental floss. These products, sold worldwide under brand names like Crest, Oral-B, Glide, Scope, and Fixodent, adhere to various regulatory classifications such as OTC monograph drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, natural health products, hygiene products, etc.

With a 25-year tenure at Procter & Gamble, Kersi has lent his expertise to the Safety and Regulatory organizations across several business domains, spanning Personal Health Care, Beauty Care, Feminine and Baby Care, and Fabric and Home Care.  Kersi obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Toxicology from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.  From the United States to Asia and Europe, Kersi's contributions have solidified his standing as an authority in the Regulatory and Safety field. 

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Cara Welch

Ph.D., Director, Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Cara Welch, Ph.D., is the Director of the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs in FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Dr. Welch has been with FDA since 2014 in different roles working on regulatory, compliance, and scientific matters for the agency’s regulation of dietary supplements. She also worked in the Office of the Commissioner as the Acting Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs providing expertise on agency level food policy issues. Prior to joining FDA, Dr. Welch was the Senior Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at the Natural Products Association. Welch earned her Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from Rutgers University working with traditional medicinal African plants.

 

 

 

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Shontell Wright

M.S. Chemist, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, FDA

Shontell Wright, M.S. is a chemist in the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP) within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She is a member of the Identity and Status Branch (ISB) in the Division of Research and Evaluation (DRE) where she reviews the identity, manufacturing, and specification information provided in new dietary ingredient (NDI) notifications; determines the regulatory status of dietary ingredients and supplements; responds to consumer and industry inquiries; assists with the development of guidance documents; and provides scientific rationales for the development and assessment of FDA’s actions related to the safety of dietary supplement products.

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road
Rockville, Maryland, 20852
301.822.9200

Hotel Reservations

CHPA has reserved a block of rooms at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

• The CHPA 2024 Group Rate is $269.00.
• This discounted rate is available until 3:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2024, or sooner if the room block sells out.

Check-In and Check-Out 

Check-in: 4:00 p.m. 
Check-out: 12:00 p.m.

Cancellation Policy 

Cancellations must be received 72 hours prior to your arrival date in order to avoid a penalty fee of one night’s room and tax.

Hotel Amenities

For a full list of amenities and features, please visit: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Travel Information

Airport Information

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is approximately 20 miles/33 minutes. 
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is approximately 25 miles/35 minutes. 

Ground Transportation

Amtrak train service is available to Washington, D.C. Union Station (WAS) and the Rockville Station (RKV). Visit: www.amtrak.com

The closest metro stop is North Bethesda (formerly White Flint) Metro Station - Red Line. You can find out more about the DC metro system at www.wmata.com. 

Parking

On-site hotel guest parking with in/out privileges is $19 daily. 

Center day guests: 2.50 hourly, max of 30 per day.

Registration Fees

• $1095 – Early-Bird Member Registration (through July 11, 2024)
• $1395 – Standard Member Registration (after July 11, 2024)
• $3295 – Nonmember Registration
• $225 – Government Registration (this rate is only available for government agencies)
• $895 – Non-Profit Registration (this rate is only available to non-for-profit companies who are not government agencies) 
• Student Registration (this rate is only available for those currently registered as a full-time student with a college or university) Please contact meetings@chpa.org if interested in a student registration. 

Register online 

Phone registrations are not accepted, please register online.

• A log-in and password are required to register online
• New to CHPA? You must create a contact record first
• A log-in and password will be sent to you after creating a contact record

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received by August 7, 2024, will receive a full refund. Cancellations received after August 7, 2024 will result in the forfeiture of the entire registration fee. Substitutions are always accepted.

Registration & Logistics Questions

The CHPA Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Career Achievement Award recognizes transformational leaders whose outstanding careers of service in the consumer healthcare products industry have created a long-lasting impact in support of public health. This award is bestowed upon crusaders within our industry, who have made significant contributions in support of improved consumer health.

Submit Nominations for 2024

View Past Winners

Please contact Tatiana Tolentino with questions about this award.