Director, National Institutes of Health

Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD was appointed the 16th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate. He was sworn in on August 17, 2009. On June 6, 2017, President Donald Trump announced his selection of Dr. Collins to continue to serve as the NIH Director. In this role, Dr. Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research.

Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. He served as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH from 1993-2008.

Before accepting the role at the NIH, Dr. Collins was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the University of Michigan. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007, and received the National Medal of Science in 2009.

Pediatrician, Co-Host of “The Doctors”

James M. Sears, MD, is a pediatrician and co-host on the Dr. Phil hit spin-off series called, “The Doctors,” and a contributor to the content of AskDrSears.com. He has co-authored several books including The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, Father’s First Steps – Twenty-Five Things Every New Father Should Know, The Premature Baby Book, The Baby Sleep Book, and The Baby Book. Sears received his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed his pediatric residency at Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, Tod Children’s Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio in 1999. During his residency, he received the honor of “Emergency Medicine Resident of the Year.”

He has been featured on Parenting.com’s “Ask the Experts,” and has written for “Parenting” and “BabyTalk” magazine, and his medical advice has been featured on the PBS parenting series, “Help Me Grow.” Sears frequently travels the country speaking about the importance of good family nutrition and is passionate about the vital role that nutrition plays in a variety of medical and behavioral problems.

Filmmaker

Robyn Symon is a two-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, specializing in documentaries and television series. In 2007, Symon debuted in the indie arena, producing, directing and editing the feature documentary “Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard,” about one of the most controversial pioneers of the multi-billion dollar self-help industry. Other award-winning films include “Behind the Blue Veil,” about the war on terror in West Africa, and “Uncle Gloria,” about transgender rights. All films have received international distribution deals.

A former TV news reporter, Symon has written and produced hundreds of hours of television programming for various networks including PBS, NBC, Discovery, CNBC, HGTV including the PBS series “Voices of Vision,” hosted by NPR’s Scott Simon focusing on the work of non-profit organizations around the world and “Florida!” for The Travel Channel.  Recently, Symon produced and directed the docu-series “Nancy O’Dell Remembers” for the Reelz Channel and “Health & Family,” a multi-media health series airing on the Discovery Health network and CTV in Canada. In addition to two Suncoast Emmys, Symon has been honored with three national Telly awards among others.

Physician, Author

Pamela Wible, MD, is a family physician born into a family of physicians who warned her not to pursue medicine. Dr. Wible soon discovered why: to heal patients, she first had to heal her ailing profession. Fed up with assembly-line medicine, Dr. Wible held town hall meetings where she invited citizens to design their own ideal clinic. Open since 2005, Wible’s community clinic has inspired Americans to create ideal clinics and hospitals nationwide. Her innovative model is now taught in medical schools and featured in Harvard School of Public Health’s newest edition of Renegotiating Health Care, a textbook examining major trends with the potential to change the dynamics of health care.

Dr. Wible speaks widely on health care delivery and is the best-selling author of Pet Goats & Pap Smears and Physician Suicide Letters —Answered. When not treating patients, Dr. Wible devotes herself to medical student and physician suicide prevention. Her articles have been picked up by major news outlets such as The Washington Post and her work on physician suicide was the focus of a primetime segment on America Tonight. Dr. Wible has been interviewed by CNN, ABC, CBS, and she is a frequent guest on NPR. An inspiring leader and educator of the next generation of physicians, Dr. Wible has been named one of the 2015 Women Leaders in Medicine, and TEDMED calls her the “Physicians’ Guardian Angel.”

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