Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

OMAHA, Neb. - The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) announced today the appointment of Mr. David Schmahl as Chief Executive Officer. Schmahl succeeds Ms. Linda Miller, who has served in the role for over two decades. Miller will remain with FACT, serving in a newly created executive role focused on operations.

FACT is the premier volunteer-governed and peer-based promoter of quality clinical care and laboratory practice in hematopoietic cell transplantation and other cellular therapies. It publishes evidence-based practice and care standards developed by world-renowned experts vested in quality improvement and progress in cellular therapy. These standards are foundational to FACT’s voluntary accreditation programs, administered throughout the world by an inspectorate of over two hundred experts active in cellular therapy clinical, apheresis, and laboratory practices and cord blood banking.

Scientific and clinical innovations are driving unprecedented growth in cellular therapy adoption and advancements, including FDA approval of select CAR T-cell therapies since 2017. FACT’s Board of Directors and headquarters staff have worked successfully to ensure the organization is resourced and structured to fulfill its mission against this backdrop of rapid growth and high demand for its programs. The appointment of Schmahl is a key component of FACT’s plans for growth. “Our entire Board of Directors and leaders of our principal member organizations are fully committed to ensuring FACT continues to drive success in the exploding field of cellular therapies. David’s appointment is celebrated by all and represents a critical expansion of our headquarters leadership capacity,” says Catherine Bollard MBChB, MD, FRACP, FRCPA.

Schmahl brings twenty years of nonprofit executive leadership experience to this role. He recently served as Chief Executive of the healthcare and scientific industry practice for Smithbucklin, the leading professional services company for nonprofit organizations. His leadership there was respected in the industry and viewed as key to their growth in the field of health and science and development of best practices in nonprofit administration and leadership. “I’m beyond grateful for the privilege of joining FACT at this critical stage of growth and innovation in cellular therapies,” says Schmahl. “I’m honored to serve its mission and work alongside industry pioneers, world-respected innovators, and dedicated headquarters staff.”

FACT’s Chief Medical Officer, Phyllis Warkentin MD, one of a handful of visionaries who founded FACT, echoes the Board’s and headquarters’ enthusiasm for this leadership transition. “This appointment represents yet another proof point of FACT’s total commitment to serving our field and improving patient care. We enthusiastically welcome David to the FACT team.”

About FACT

Founded in 1996, FACT is a non-profit corporation co-founded by the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) for the voluntary inspection and accreditation in the field of cellular therapy. FACT promotes improvement and progress by establishing minimum standards, providing education, and inspecting and accrediting programs worldwide. For more information, visit www.factglobal.org.

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