Fred Fisher is the President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, an organization focused on finding an effective treatments and cures for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The Golden West Chapter provides services, develops and funds ALS research programs and advances state and federal public policy initiatives for the benefit of those living with ALS. The Chapter’s geographic scope reaches throughout most of California and Hawaii and is funded largely through philanthropic efforts. The Golden West Chapter provides funding to the three other Chapters in California, as well as to eight Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence. As such, the Chapter’s Wraparound System of Care provides service and support to everyone living with ALS in CA.
Fred has been the Chapter’s President and CEO since 2003, placing him among the longest tenured and most productive ALS executives in the United States. He has more than 35 years of experience leading non-profit social service and health organizations, including those serving children, families, the frail elderly, high-risk youth and the mentally ill. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has the experience, commitment and vision to execute creative and innovative programs that have an important and meaningful impact. His commitment to evidence-based initiatives and outcomes-based service delivery, results in the identification and integration of best practices which result in higher quality and greater impact.
Some of his key activities and accomplishments of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter are as follows:
• Continued growth in leadership, programs, and fund development within the organization.
• Served as an active member of the National ALS Association’s Research Committee.
• Established the California ALS Research Network and annual CA ALS Research Summit in 2008.
• Coauthored a scientific article and a white paper on the state of ALS research in California.
• Passage of state legislation establishing a Standard of Care for ALS in the California Health Code.
• Passage of state legislation for personal income tax check-off establishing the ALS Research Fund.
• Passage of state budget item to fund Chapter and Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and Chapters throughout CA.
• Development of the Neuro Collaborative, a multi-site research initiative designed to accelerate the search for an effective treatment and cure for ALS.
• Serves as an ALS Patient Advocate on the Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
• Leading initiatives focused on Caregiver support and improving access to home health and DME.
• Catalyst for bringing the neurodegenerative disease community together is support of Prop 14.
• Engaged member of the CA Rare Disease Advisory Council.