NEW YORK, N.Y. –– The American Council on Science and Health, a leading pro-science consumer advocacy organization, announced today the appointment of Thom Golab as president, only the third person to lead the Council in its 41-year history.
Golab, previously the Council’s Vice President of Development, has been a key ACSH member for nearly 20 years. He first served as a volunteer cultivating donors before performing other significant duties and eventually joining the Board of Trustees in 2012. Five years later, Golab came out of retirement to head up the organization’s development operation.
“This is a great honor,” said Golab. “I was fortunate to be able to work with the founder and first president, Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. She, along with co-founders Dr. Norman Borlaug and Dr. Fredrick Stare, built the Council into one of the most respected and important science and health organizations in America.”
Golab has spent more than 37 years in non-profit management, primarily as a fundraiser. In addition, for nine years he worked as a biomedical technician under Dr. Robert S. Ledley at Georgetown University Medical Center. Today’s promotion was proudly offered by ACSH’s board.
“I am delighted and honored to welcome Thom Golab as the new President. He has a lifetime of experience with non-profit organizations, including many decades working at all important levels with the Council,” said Dr. Nigel Bark, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Under his leadership we are looking forward to the continued expansion of ACSH’s role in speaking out for sound science, especially in the areas of chemicals, health, energy and food, while pointing out the errors of pseudoscience and anti-science.”
Golab will build upon the Council’s strong year of program growth. The organization’s website, www.acsh.org, draws more than five million unique-users and its daily newsletter, Dispatch, has more than 15,000 engaged subscribers.
ACSH has also been cited in, interviewed by, and has written commentaries for, hundreds of media outlets, reaching well over 200 million people in all.
The Council will continue its important work with policymakers as well. Dr. Josh Bloom, its Director of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has worked with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) as officials there seek his advice for solutions to the country’s opioid crisis. Other Council experts have testified before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other congressional committees.
The Council, founded in 1978 by a group of scientists, began with a singular focus: to publicly support evidence-based science and medicine, while helping consumers, journalists, and policymakers see past scaremongering and activist groups attempting to discredit GMOs, vaccines, conventional agriculture, nuclear power, natural gas, and chemicals proven to be safe and effective.
The Council is not a trade association, nor does it represent any industry.
For questions or to arrange an interview with Mr. Golab, please contact Erik Lief, Director of Communications, at liefe@acsh.org or call 212-362-7044.
