Our Team
Battling CPAE takes a dedicated team of amazing individuals all coming together for the greater good. The PACE Foundation is eternally grateful for the continuing contributions of the following members.
Executive Board of Directors
Paul Ryan
Co-Founder & President
PACE Foundation
The PACE Foundation is a pioneer in the national advocacy for research, diagnosis and treatment of children’s PostInfectious Neurological Autoimmune Disorders (CPAE). Paul’s vision has been to establish CPAE clinics nationwide, at top universities, which have led the way to world-class treatment and research necessary for patients to lead nearly symptom-free lives.
Dan Twibell
Co-Founder & Treasurer
PACE Foundation
Dan Twibell is the co-founder and Treasurer of the Pace Foundation. He also co-founded Skysis, a biopharma consulting firm based in Scottsdale, AZ, and serves as Managing Director. Dan has been instrumental in the planning of PACE’s core mission to expand research opportunities, new clinic development and financial support for pediatric post infectious autoimmune neurological disorders.
Molly Ochoa
Co-Founder & Executive Board Member
PACE Foundation
Coming Soon!
Lee Miller
Executive Board Member
AZ Deputy Secretary of State
As a Foundation Director, Lee has served as PACE’s liaison for Arizona’s Legislature and Department of Health Services (DHS) to promote and educate leaders on Children’s Postinfectious Autoimmune neurological disorders. His advocacy has helped to secure vital funding, including $250,000 grant from DHS, for basic medical, clinical and advanced research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases associated with CPAE.
Lisa Betts
Executive Board Member
PACE Foundation
Coming Soon!
Kelley Utterback
Executive Board Member
PACE Foundation
Coming Soon!
Jim Breen
Executive Board Member
PACE Foundation
Coming Soon!
PACE Foundation Medical Advisory Board
Syndney Rice, M.D.
Pediatrics
Banner Health
Dr. Rice as a member of PACE’s Medical Advisory Board provides medical expertise for the Foundation’s advancement of clinical and research development in CPAE. She is currently the Co-Director of the world-class Childhood Autoimmune Encephalopathy Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson, which was created via collaboration with the NIH.
Huub Kreuwel, Ph.D.
Vice President, US Medical Affairs
Octapharma USA, Inc.
Huub’s extensive medical, clinical, scientific and executive experience provides world-class expertise in immunotherapy treatments for CPAE Disorders like PANS/PANDAS. As Vice President of Octapharma USA Inc, Huub contributes to our Board information on state-of-the art product development of the highly beneficial biopharmaceutical plasma therapies being used for treatment.
Michael Daines, M.D.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Banner Health
Coming Soon!
G. Richard Smith, M.D.
UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute Director
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Richard Smith, M.D., is director of the Psychiatric Research Institute, chairman of the UAMS Department of Psychiatry and the holder of the Marie Wilson Howells Chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the UAMS College of Medicine. Dr. Smith developed several programs at UAMS, including the Division of Health Services Research (now the Center for Health Services Research), the nation’s largest research group dedicated to mental health and substance abuse services research.
