Living with Sarcoidosis

Dr. Crouser has over 31 years of medical experience and has been a member of FSR's SAB since 2016. He is a professor of medicine at Ohio State University where he specializes in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine with a focus on translational research on systemic inflammatory diseases involving the lungs. In 25 years of supported research, Dr. Crouser's laboratory has contributed to the publication of more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, including the first efforts to study sarcoidosis disease mechanisms by deeply scrutinizing genetic data (2009) and the first clinical practice guidelines for sarcoidosis which were endorsed by the American Thoracic Society in 2020.

In addition to his research, Dr. Crouser served as the President of the American Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (AASOG) from 2017-2019 and has advocated for the sarcoidosis community through engagement with the National Institutes of Health.

Mary joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research as the organization's first-ever Chief Executive Officer in 2020. As CEO, Mary serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for FSR and leads the organization's strategic vision with patient engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, advocacy efforts, program direction, and an aggressive communications and research agenda.

Mary brings 35 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience to the role. Prior to joining FSR, she served as Executive Director at The Myositis Association (TMA.) As Executive Director of TMA, McGowan was featured and highlighted as a preeminent rare disease leader by numerous entities including American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Global Genes and the National Organization for Rare Diseases for her innovative national campaigns including Women of Color and Myositis and her leading telemedicine initiatives for autoimmune patients during COVID-19.

Prior to her time at TMA, Mary served as CEO of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. During her 8 years with WomenHeart, McGowan ensured the organization's long-term growth and sustainability as the leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease. McGowan also served as Executive Director of the Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. She held various positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years. McGowan earned a Master's Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity University.

Listen in as Mary McGowan & Dr. Elliot discuss Living with Sarcoidosis.

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