AMDA Foundation - New Executive Director Joins Foundation

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Vol XVII, Aug `05

New Executive Director Joins Foundation

Vol XVII, Aug `05

Gwendolyn Maddox is the new Executive Director of the AMDA Foundation. Maddox, who began her position on July 11 (12), comes to the Foundation from the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program. She served as Executive Director of that organization for three years. Maddox also held positions--including Deputy Executive Vice President--with the National Kidney Foundation of the National Capital Area, where she initiated an innovative rehab and nutrition program for dialysis patients, developed educational and outreach programs, and led a broad range of successful fundraising activities. The AMDA Foundation E-Newsletter recently sat down with Maddox. Here is what she had to say about her new position and the future of the Foundation:

Foundation: What about the Foundation attracted you to the organization?

Maddox: I was especially impressed by the organization's commitment to and focus on long term care and the dedication of the leadership to perpetuating the Foundation's goals and objectives and facilitating innovative programs and projects. It speaks well of this organization that we have volunteers who have been involved consistently over time and who are hands-on long term care practitioners with first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced in this care setting on a daily basis.

Foundation: What about the Foundation and its programs do you find most intriguing and exciting?

Maddox: The Foundation is at a point where it is growing tremendously--both in terms of programs and staffing. I am excited to be a part of this growth and to help navigate the Foundation into the future. The Foundation is poised to do great things, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to the organization's progress and to support our leadership and members in their research efforts.

Foundation: What special experience do you bring to the Foundation that will help it continue to flourish?

Maddox: I have 14 years of experience in association management. I also have managed grant programs, developed and led fundraising activities, and worked extensively with researchers. I believe that my skills and experience fit in well with where the Foundation is going and what we want to accomplish as an organization. For example, I am excited about using my fundraising skills to help make our first art auction a success.

Foundation: Where do you see the Foundation going in the coming years?

Maddox: As I said, we really are poised for tremendous growth, particularly with the rapidly growing senior population and the baby boomers beginning to be concerned about long term care issues. I really think the Foundation's research will be of interest to a greater range of people than ever before and that we will have many audiences looking to us for study data, information, and leadership.

Foundation: How do you hope to interact with Foundation members and friends of the Foundation in the coming months?

Maddox: I am looking forward to meeting people at the Fall Research Network Conference in Chicago this November. Interacting with people in the trenches will be tremendously enlightening and rewarding for me. In the meantime, I encourage anyone who has comments or questions--or who just wants to say hello--to e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at (410) 992-3134.