Cystic Fibrosis Institute

cysticfibrosisinstitute.org

Meet the dedicated staff of The Cystic Fibrosis Institute:

cfi@wecare4lungs.com

Steven R. Boas, MD, CEO
Dr. Boas is Founder and CEO of The Cystic Fibrosis Institute. Dr. Boas is dedicated to the care of children and adolescents with acute or chronic respiratory disorders. His areas of expertise include Pediatric Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Exercise Related Disorders, Chronic Cough, and Chest Wall Disorders. His clinical private practice actively participates in both independent and national clinical research involving the newest therapies available for children with asthma and cystic fibrosis. He has

"The Cystic Fibrosis Institute (CFI) was founded on the fundamental principle that
every person with cystic
fibrosis (CF) deserves the opportunity to realize his
or her full potential, to
lead as normal a life as
possible and, despite the
many obstacles they and
their families face, share
in the joys of life itself."

authored dozens of book chapters and articles in national and international medical journals. Dr. Boas is sought for his experience and as an invited speaker at regional, national, and international medical conferences as well as a medical reviewer for exercise and pulmonary related journals.

Dr. Boas is also the Medical Director of The Cystic Fibrosis Center of Chicago. Founded on the principle of individualized care for people with CF, this comprehensive CF program has expanded and is now seeing patients in Naperville, Hoffman Estates, South Barrington, Lake Forest and Glenview. Dr. Boas has served on the Executive Committee for Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at the American Academy of Pediatrics and Chairing the Board of Medical Advisors for the American Association of Respiratory Care. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Society for Pediatric Sports Medicine. He currently serves on the Subcommittee for CF Newborn Screening of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Having received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, School of Medicine; Dr. Boas completed his Pediatric Residency at Boston City Hospital and Nassau County Medical Center in New York and his Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Board certified in Pediatric Pulmonology, he has received awards from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for his research with children with CF.

Lois Nelson
Director of Grant Procurement & Event Manager
Lois has been with CFI since 2008. In her role, Lois has coordinated CFI events such as the Winter Educational Retreat and CF Family Appreciation Picnic. Additionally, Lois is responsible for obtaining financial support for CFI activities. Being a mother of a young adult son with CF has offered Lois special insight for CFI.

Allan Slobodin
Business Manager
Allan oversees the financial and legal aspects of CFI. He has conducted multiple educational events including the Dinner Lecture Series. Allan's extensive professional background and experience with the Illinos Hospital Association has been essential in the running of CFI.

Elizabeth Mercado
Event Planner
Liz has coordinated many CFI related activities and has been integral in the growth of CFI. She is responsible for the distribution of the CFI newsletter.

Research Coordinators

Karen Acker

Nadia Yala

As a not for profit organization, Karen and Nadia coordinate CF-related clinical trials for CFI. This includes administrative roles, recruitment of subjects, and performance of all Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocols. Our research team has been responsible for a wide variety and number of clinical trials.

Board of Directors
As a not for profit organization, The Cystic Fibrosis Institute is governed by a 5 member Board of Directors from varied backgrounds including law, medicine, and banking. The Board’s mission is ensuring that individuals with cystic fibrosis realize every opportunity to maximize their life’s potential. CFI’s Board is actively involved in all major policy initiatives and the Board also exercises fiduciary control over fund raising efforts and budgetary expenditures. The Board’s efforts and dedication have enabled The Cystic Fibrosis Institute to see tremendous growth in its mission and accomplishments.

Pictured left to right: Steven Weinstock, Julie Knipstein,
Dr. Steven Boas, Cheryl Becker-Boas, Ed Laumbacher

Steven R. Boas, MD - CEO & President
Dr. Boas is a Board Certified Pediatric Pulmonologist in private practice. He serves as the Medical Director of The Cystic Fibrosis Center of Chicago and also treats children and adolescents with a variety of other pulmonary disorders. Dr. Boas is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and is also actively involved in cystic fibrosis related clinical research. He started The Cystic Fibrosis Institute in 2002.

Steven Weinstock
Mr. Weinstock is an attorney with the law firm of Wood Phillips. His specialty is in the area of patent law. In addition to the CFI Board, Mr. Weinstock also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Intellectual Property Section of the John Marshall Law School.

Cheryl L. Becker-Boas
Ms. Becker-Boas is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University Law School and serves as Senior Counsel with Abbott Labs. She has been with the organization since 1995 and is involved in many areas of pharmaceutical related litigation.

Ed Laumbacher
Mr. Laumbacher worked in the banking industry for over 25 years. His areas of expertise included accounting, finance, and global information technology. Mr. Laumbacher also serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the McHenry County Conservation District. Being a parent of 2 children with cystic fibrosis gives Mr. Laumbacher true insight into the challenges that CF presents.

Julie Knipstein
Ms. Knipstein is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and spent over 16 years in private practice. Her area of specialization is in municipal bonds and she was actively involved in litigation in this field. Ms. Knipstein is the parent of a child with cystic fibrosis and is keenly aware of the day to day issues those with CF face.

Volunteers
Volunteers are the lifeblood of CFI’s programs. A dedicated and enthusiastic panel of patients, parents, and lay people continues to develop new programs and initiatives to help their local CF community. Without these volunteer efforts, CFI would not be able to accomplish all that it has. New volunteers are always needed and we encourage all that can participate to join our worthwhile efforts.

Our Address:
2401 Ravine Way, Suite 302, Glenview, Illinois 60025