Dear friends,
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce that Kristin Jacobson, a fierce patient advocate and member of Solve’s Board of Directors, will lead our organization as our newest President and CEO. She succeeds Oved Amitay, who served from June 2020 – October 2023.
When we mobilized to find a new CEO in July, our search committee sought to identify someone with the knowledge, vision and leadership ability to carry Solve forward into a new era of discovery and innovation. It became immediately apparent that Kristin, who joined Solve’s board in May 2023, was a natural fit for this role.
Kristin has extensive and relevant experience as a CEO and patient advocacy leader, and brings with her over 30 years of expertise in healthcare, including executive roles in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. In all her work she has been a patient advocate first, with a special focus on medically underserved communities. She has transformed and empowered California’s autism community by leading key initiatives to establish coverage, advance health policy, and spur legal enforcement of insurance coverage for autism and other mental health conditions. I share the confidence of my fellow board members in Kristin, and her ability to bring her successes to Solve.
During my tenure as a board member and as Solve’s board chair, I have witnessed the leadership of three CEOs, each bringing their unique strengths and perspective to the role. Throughout the years, Solve has grown in its ambitions, influence, and impact; and never wavered in its commitment to improving the lives of all individuals suffering from ME/CFS, Long Covid, and other post-infection diseases.
As with many other former members of Solve’s leadership, Oved remains committed to the organization and our efforts — he will stay on to guide Kristin and the team through the end of the year as a strategic advisor. We thank him for his ongoing dedication, insights, and leadership.
I hope you’ll join me in wishing Kristin the very best of luck as she steers at the helm of Solve — a beloved organization to me and my family, and to many of you in our community.
With excitement,
John Nicols
Chair, Solve M.E. Board of Directors
jnicols@solvecfs.org
