My Promise to the CF Community

As I assume my new role as president and CEO of the CF Foundation, I am humbled by all that this organization has achieved and am determined to continue our work toward the ultimate goal. Here are my thoughts as I take over the reins from my dear friend and colleague.

| 4 min read
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Preston W. Campbell, III, M.D.
Preston-Campbell-with-Bob

Today, I am deeply honored to be taking over the reins from my dear friend and colleague, Bob Beall. For more than two decades, as president and CEO of the CF Foundation, Bob has led the search for new treatments and a cure for CF, while significantly expanding the life expectancy for people with this disease and bringing unprecedented hope to CF families everywhere. His accomplishments are too many to list, and I feel very fortunate to have had Bob as my mentor for the past 17 years.

Working alongside Bob in my role as executive vice president of medical affairs, I had the privilege of leading the Foundation's research, drug discovery and development program, among other research and clinical initiatives. I am starting this new role with a real sense of optimism because of the team that we have built here. I have never felt more confident in our community's ability to reach the finish line.

While it's impossible to say for sure what the future holds, I know two things for certain: We have gained tremendous momentum in our quest for breakthroughs in treatment and care, and we are truly making a difference in the lives of people with CF. As I assume my duties as president and CEO, I am determined to continue our commitment to translating research into new treatments, improving care at our CF care centers nationwide and increasing access to lifesaving therapies for all people with CF.

This is a tremendously exciting time to be a part of the CF story. For the first time, half of all people living with CF are adults, and the face of this disease is changing before our eyes. Adults with CF are celebrating milestones and overcoming challenges that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. For years our focus has been on adding tomorrows. Now, we are focused on adding tomorrows AND living today.

As we work to help address some of the toughest challenges that adults with CF face in their daily lives, I plan -- above all else -- to listen. We will continue to rely on the expertise of our Adult Advisory Council, which was established in 2013 to give adults with CF a greater role in helping guide and shape the work of the Foundation.

The voices of adults with CF and the broader CF community have never been stronger, and I want you to know that we hear you.

We are expanding our resources to better serve you and your families. For example, this blog -- where I am writing to you today -- is a space designed for the CF community to connect about what it means to live with this disease, and we invite all in the community to share their stories.

We are excited about these new efforts, but there is much more to do. We are also launching a new division at the Foundation specifically dedicated to community engagement to better respond to the needs and concerns of people with CF and their families. You will be hearing more in the coming months about this effort.

People with CF and their families, caregivers, researchers, donors and volunteers are at the core of the work we do. As Bob often reminds us it was a group of concerned parents who established the Foundation in 1955 and, although our organization has changed quite a bit, our commitment to the people and their families touched by this disease remains the same.

I know that I have some big shoes to fill, but I feel ready and committed to guiding this organization and the next generation of lead

This site contains general information about cystic fibrosis, as well as personal insight from the CF community. Opinions and experiences shared by members of our community, including but not limited to people with CF and their families, belong solely to the blog post author and do not represent those of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, unless explicitly stated. In addition, the site is not intended as a substitute for treatment advice from a medical professional. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your treatment.

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About the CF Foundation
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Dr. Preston Campbell served as president and chief executive officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation from 2015 - 2019. A leader at the CF Foundation for more than 20 years, Dr. Campbell previously served as the Foundation's executive vice president for medical affairs, overseeing the Foundation's research, drug discovery, drug development and clinical research programs, and directed clinical research, the Foundation's network of care centers, clinical training programs and the national patient registry database. He initially became interested in cystic fibrosis as a CF camp counselor while earning his medical degree from the University of Virginia Medical School.

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