Richmond, BC (June 17, 2014) – The Arthritis Research Centre of Canada is pleased to welcome noted businesswomen Martina Franchi and Naz Panahi to its board of directors.

Martina Franchi

“We are very excited to add these valuable women to our organization so that they may provide their leadership and expertise to further enable us to accomplish our mission, which is “to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement.” says ARC executive director Shauneen Kellner, “Their guidance will assist us in moving forward to meet the needs of people living with arthritis.”

Naz Panahi

Martina Franchi is a Principal at Mercer Consulting and has worked in their Health & Benefits business for fifteen years, in the Vancouver and Toronto offices. She partners with larger public and private sector clients consulting on health and benefit plan issues including disability and drug plan management and group benefit cost containment strategies. Through her involvement on Mercer’s national drug committee she is very familiar with cost containment strategies and solutions that are being introduced by the Canadian insurance industry, particularly with respect to biologic drugs. Ms. Franchi also sits on ARC’s Arthritis Patient Advisory Board.

Naz is a CFA charter holder and has an MBA (Finance) from McGill University. Prior to joining City Square Property Holdings Inc. and the commercial real estate industry, Naz’s focus was financial asset management. She is very passionate about leaving a positive, sustainable impact and has therefore devoted a significant amount of her time volunteering in leadership roles with many fabulous charitable organizations. Health and education are areas that are very dear to her.

The Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (ARC) is an international leader in medical research on Canada’s most debilitating chronic disease. ARC conducts consumer-driven clinical research to help reduce the burden of arthritis, and give people with arthritis better, more timely, and cost-effective solutions for living with their disease. With research centres in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, ARC’s research is making a critical difference in arthritis diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, care outcomes and quality of life issues for millions of arthritis patients.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Shauneen Kellner, Executive Director
skellner@arthritisresearch.ca
604-207-4004