From the Desk of ACSH's President

As you may know, I'm retiring as President of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH). While it hasn't always been easy, I've enjoyed it.

How did I get here? My first job was as a 13-year-old electronics technician working with my father, the chief engineer who created the first whole-body CT scanner. None of my four degrees, in U.S. History, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Psychology, involve health or science. I do have a long history with nonprofits and think tanks, going back 53 years (Yep, I'm that old).

Most of my work has been in fundraising, always under the guidance of a strong leader. As a fundraiser, I developed numerous programs and helped organizations grow. Many people around me said I was the one actually guiding the organization. I didn't really believe them; I just liked creating the things the organization needed that fit its mission.

In mid-2019, ACSH had been without a president for nearly a year, and the search committee called to tell me they had finally found ACSH's new president— me. I was shocked. I actually said, "I'm Tom Hagen, not Michael Corleone." But I have loved and respected ACSH since I first heard of it and its co-founder, Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. So, I agreed that if ACSH's Board felt I was right for the job, I must be what ACSH needed.

The staff made the transition much smoother than I thought possible. We streamlined our operations, and ACSH has continued its vital mission for seven years under my leadership. But the staff and a very strong Board of Trustees made much of that stability and my growth as a leader possible.

In addition to improving our financial standing, I redoubled our efforts to confront bad science used in policymaking and often promoted by misinformed but ostensibly reputable journalists. For example, Dr. Josh Bloom's work on opioid overdoses changed the policy debate. Using the CDC's own data, he showed that the overdose epidemic was not caused by prescription medications but by black-market fentanyl and other illicit opioids. Just one example of ACSH's many victories.

In the media realm, ACSH has done very well. Last year, we hit nearly four billion impressions, an advertising-value equivalent of more than $24 million. Not bad for an organization with a total budget of less than $1 million annually.

Those numbers also say something about how ACSH has operated during the past seven years. We have remained a remarkably small organization while producing an outsized impact. We strengthened our finances, streamlined operations, expanded our audience, and used the talent already here far better. I take some pride in that, but the greater accomplishment has been building an organization in which a handful of smart, independent voices can reach millions of people without a multimillion-dollar bureaucracy standing behind them.

ACSH was in a good place two years ago, when I told a long-time friend I was turning 65 and would be retiring. He asked, "What is your exit strategy?" "Huh?"
"Thom, you are running the organization; you cannot leave without finding a worthy replacement." In previous roles, I had always trained someone to take my place. That wasn't an option this time around, so my search began.

Last January, I spoke with Cameron English, then an outside writer for ACSH. He has always worked to advance the organization's mission and is well liked by the staff. He was enthusiastic about the opportunity to step into a leadership role and was named Executive Vice President at our March Board meeting. I had found my replacement.

Yesterday, at this month’s Board meeting, Cameron was appointed President of ACSH.

Seven years ago, the Board took a chance on a fundraiser who wasn't a scientist. I hope I have repaid that confidence by leaving ACSH stronger, more visible, and better prepared for what comes next. Now Cameron gets his chance. I intend to be around to offer advice when he wants it — and, having been a president myself, perhaps when he doesn't.

But ACSH's future will depend on more than Cameron, our staff, or our Board. It will depend on the readers who share our work, the scientists and physicians who contribute their expertise, and the donors who understand that independence requires financial independence. If ACSH has informed you, challenged you, or occasionally irritated you into thinking a little harder, help us extend that reach — send an article to someone who should read it, introduce us to a new audience, or support the work financially.

With sincere appreciation,

Thom