ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) today announced that Paul Brooks has been appointed executive director. Brooks will officially join RAPS on 12 September 2016. He succeeds Sherry Keramidas, who retired last January after 20 years at RAPS.
Brooks served on the RAPS board of directors from 2008 through 2013, and was chairman in 2013. He has been actively involved with RAPS as a volunteer representative and leader for two decades.
"After a thorough search, the board of directors unanimously selected Paul Brooks as executive director," said Martha A. Brumfield, chairman of the RAPS board. "Paul's extensive experience as a regulatory professional, his prior service as chair of the RAPS board of directors and his unending dedication to advancing our profession make him the ideal leader for RAPS."
Brooks has more than 25 years of work experience within the medical device regulatory affairs environment during his 35-year career with the British Standards Institution (BSI), where he served most recently as senior vice president, BSI Americas Healthcare and previously was head of the medical device EU Notified Body responsible for review and clearance of medical devices against European regulations. He also led BSI in achieving formal recognition as a recognized third party under FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and Health Canada's Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS) programs, and he is known both domestically and internationally as an expert on medical device regulations and regulatory issues.
"For more than twenty years at BSI, I have been working closely with medical device regulatory affairs and quality assurance professionals in supporting timely and predictable market access for safe medical devices, while maintaining the confidence of all stakeholders," said Brooks. "RAPS is the community where stakeholders concerned with supporting and enhancing best regulatory practice come together. I am honored and excited to be selected by the RAPS board to work with the RAPS staff, members and volunteers to support the continued leadership, facilitation and service provided by RAPS to all stakeholders supporting our mission of driving regulatory excellence."
"On behalf of RAPS' board of directors, I would like to extend the board's sincere appreciation to Board Director Don Boyer, who has served as our interim strategy lead since February. Don has worked closely with RAPS' dedicated staff and, together, Don and the team have maintained a high level of programming, functional support for RAPS members and partners, and continuity in RAPS' day-to-day operations," said Brumfield.
Since 1976, RAPS has helped regulatory professionals succeed in their roles and has remained steadfast in advancing the regulatory profession. As healthcare and the need for innovative medical products continues to evolve, the RAPS board is committed to ensuring that the organization remains ready to meet challenges of the future and that the new executive director will bring the skills and attributes needed to ensure RAPS' continued vibrancy and leadership.
About RAPS
The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) is the largest global organization of and for those involved with the regulation of healthcare and related products, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biologics and nutritional products. Founded in 1976, RAPS helped establish the regulatory profession and continues to actively support the professional and lead the profession as a neutral, non-lobbying nonprofit organization. RAPS offers education and training, professional standards, publications, research, knowledge sharing, networking, career development opportunities and other valuable resources, including Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), the only post-academic professional credential to recognize regulatory excellence. RAPS is headquartered in suburban Washington, DC, with offices in Shanghai and Singapore, and chapters and affiliates worldwide. www.RAPS.org