Our Foundation has some exciting – and also a bit sad – organizational news to share: CEO & President, Alice Lara, is retiring this month after 23 years as the CEO of the SADS Foundation.
You can read the press release here, and learn more about our incoming CEO, Walker Frahm, here.
Alice dedicated herself to saving lives and ensuring the future would be brighter for SADS families. And it is! We are forever grateful for her unwavering commitment to our community.
“Alice has been instrumental in elevating SADS to international prominence—placing us at the forefront of developments in these conditions, convening top stakeholders, and ensuring patients receive the support they need to live and thrive. On behalf of the Board, we send Alice our most heartfelt thanks and congratulations on a career filled with purpose and achievement.” – Dr. Mike Ackerman
Share your thoughts and memories with Alice
Do you have a memory, photo, or message you’d like to share with Alice? We’d love to hear it!
You can post your comments, photos and videos below. Feel free to share a memory or well wishes as Alice begins her well-deserved retirement.
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Alice – you are, without a doubt, the best boss I’ve ever had. Working alongside you has transformed me, both personally and professionally. I love working with you – whether it’s bouncing ideas off of each other, discussing new ways of communicating with our community and then making them happening, or trying brand new things (that sometimes don’t work – and are sometimes a hit!). I can talk to you for hours, both about work and our lives and interests, and never get bored. Thank you for all the collaborative Google Doc sessions, 5 pm eNews run-throughs, discussions about yoghurt brands, dog story swaps, and for all the compassion you’ve shown me during your time here. Thank you for changing my life by giving me this job, and for being a compassionate and brilliant leader. I have grown so much through seeing a strong, fearless woman at the helm of this incredible organization. I hope we can continue to swap ideas and book recommendations for many years to come!
Hi Alice-
Congratulations on your pending retirement at the end of the month. Clearly great minds think alike as I too am retiring on June 30. I’m sure that you will miss being at SADS once you retire but hopefully you will be able to find something to keep you busy and “entertained”. Your devotion and steadfast support over the years has been remarkable and your impact has been undeniable. Thank you for all you have done over the years. Wishing for you to hav a wonderful retirement.
Best regards,
Jeff Towbin
Alice- Congrats on a well deserved retirement. We will forever be grateful for your leadership in bringing ARVC into the SADS community and providing our patients with immeasurable support. You are irreplaceable, but we can only hope to continue to legacy that you built.
Best wishes,
Brittney
So happy to have got to meet you in person at the last SADS Conference. Such a lovely caring person and leader in the SADS community. Thank you for all you have done!
Alice, thank you for your leadership and the growth of this organization. SADS provides such wonderful support and education for patients and professionals. Enjoy your retirement!
Alice I can’t thank you enough for your amazing work.
Because of you and this fondation I knew that I’m not alone anymore (LQTS1), because of you I did make some friends, because of you I did research on my condition and the latest news on lqts I have because of you.
You did brings us all together patiens doctors all the staff and because of Ireally really learned so much about my health since I’m from algeria.
Congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Thank you
Alice, Thank you for your dedication and service to the SADS community!
Dear Alice,
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your contributions and leadership at the SADS Foundation. It’s been 12 years since I first became acquainted with the SADS Foundation when awareness of this condition was still nascent in Hong Kong. I feel incredibly privileged to have joined Ms. Shirley Chan’s company and the SADS Hong Kong team when Shirley established the SADS international affiliates in Hong Kong in 2013. SADS HK Foundation is the only one charitable organization in Hong Kong dedicated to supporting individuals/patients with SADS, advocating for policies with the government, and addressing the needs of patients and their families.
Over the past decade, I have witnessed your selfless dedication and hard work towards the SADS Foundation and supporting international affiliates. I deeply admire the entire SADS Foundation team for significantly advancing public education, medical research, healthcare assistance, and information dissemination related to SADS, all of which are crucial for those affected by SADS and their families.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks once again for your invaluable contributions and efforts, Alice. I hope that we will have the opportunity to meet again in the future. Thank you very much.
All the best!!
Warmest regards,
Carol
General Manager
SADS HK Foundation
Congratulations on a remarkable career Alice and thank you for everything you’ve done in your 2+ decades at SADS Foundation. Wishing you the best in your retirement and somehow I hope you’ll still be available to sprinkle in your deep wisdom! Enjoy!!
Congratulations on your retirement, Alice, and sincere gratitude for all you have done for the SADS community.
It is much appreciated!
Blessings to you always.
Alice, I wish you all the best in your retirement. You’ve certainly earned it. You have built such an incredible organization with SADS and have pulled together an amazing team. So many people have been helped due to your passion and drive. t’s been an absolute pleasure to work with you over the years.