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ABC Member of the Board
Dennis R. Cryer, MD, FAHA

 

Dennis R. Cryer, MD, FAHA, received his undergraduate degree from the Johns Hopkins University (Honors: Biology) and completed his medical education in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he performed extensive research in molecular genetics and performed pivotal studies on the structure of DNA in eukaryotic chromosomes. He received his residency training in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The recipient of a research fellowship in Molecular Biology and a clinical research fellowship in Human Genetics and Metabolism at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he remained as a member of their pediatric faculty in the areas of genetics and metabolism for several years, performing original fundamental research in lipoprotein metabolism and kinetics (atherosclerosis) by developing innovative stable isotope protein tracer techniques.

Dr. Cryer joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1987 where he had an expansive career over 20 years. He started in Clinical Research & Development on the pravastatin (Pravachol) NDA and development of the large pravastatin primary and secondary cardiovascular intervention trials (WOSCOPS, CARE, LIPID.) He moved to the U.S. Operation in 1989 with primary responsibility for developing all medical aspects of the launch of pravastatin. In early 1991, his responsibilities were expanded to include late phase medical development of all lipid-lowering and cardiac drugs. In 1993, his team led the licensing and medical development of metformin (Glucophage™), an oral antidiabetic agent, for launch in the U.S. It has subsequently become first line therapy for Type II diabetes. In 1996, Dr. Cryer’s responsibilities were expanded to include the Women’s Health Care area, and he was promoted to Vice President. He was subsequently named Vice President, External Medical Affairs, initially serving as an internal expert for litigation support, and later serving as external liaison for Advocacy and Quality across therapeutic areas, with a focus on development of programs in the cardiovascular, metabolic, neuroscience, and primary care arenas. He left Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2007 to join Indigo Pharmaceuticals in New York, working on the preapproval development of INDI-702, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor for the symptomatic treatment of peripheral arterial disease. Since 2008, Dr. Cryer has served as Chief Medical Officer of CryerHealth, a patient-centric strategic consulting firm in Washington, DC, serving the breadth of the healthcare community in the US and internationally. In addition, in early 2014, he joined SP Consultants, a diverse consultancy providing creative results for organizations, governments, and corporations for over 35 years.

Dr. Cryer is a member of numerous scientific organizations including the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association (having served on the Board of Diabetes Industry Advisors), the American Federation for Medical Research, the American Medical Association, the American Society for Human Genetics, the American Society of Hypertension (former Chair, Corporate Affairs Committee), the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Endocrine Society, the International Atherosclerosis Society, the Molecular Medicine Society, the National Lipid Association, and the National Medical Association. He was elected a Fellow of the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Council of the American Heart Association in 1987, and for 2006-2007 was elected Chairman of the AHA Pharmaceutical Roundtable. He has served as a member of the Campaign Corporate Advisory Committee for the American College of Cardiology Foundation, completed a 4-year term on the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation and served on the Board of Directors of the Sister to Sister Foundation. He is currently Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (NIH), Secretary/Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Women’s Health Research and serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Liver Institute. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Black Cardiologists.

Dr. Cryer resides in Washington, DC, with his wife, Donna R. Cryer, JD.