Gov. Gregoire highlights Eastern Washington�s health sciences industry

October 15, 2008

AS WRITTEN

Good afternoon, and thank you for the introduction.

I first want to thank Senator Brown for all the work she did to make this day a reality � and Mayor Verner, thank you as well.

I�m excited to be here this afternoon to announce that I�m appointing three very accomplished Eastern Washington women to Spokane�s new Health Sciences and Services Board to serve with the other appointees.

But before I get to that, I want to talk about what it means.

And what it means is that Spokane now has yet one more tool in its toolbox to grow and strengthen this region�s already growing presence in the exciting new world of health science and global health�

�A board to promote and foster health sciences to benefit the regional economy, to improve the health of Washingtonians, and indeed, to be part of our state�s growing presence in improving health around the globe.

In Spokane alone, the health sciences industry is now a billion-dollar business sector.

We have in this city and region a cross-section of the life sciences, health care, and medical diagnostics industries.

Spokane alone is home to more than 1,000 businesses, including six major hospitals, all providing health care jobs to an estimated 30,000 Washingtonians.

The industry accounts for nearly 13 percent of local employment with a total annual payroll of more than $1.2 billion.

And health sciences are expanding in this region -- with both private and public sector projects, and more than 500 research studies and clinical trials currently underway.

�Just a few examples of many�Washington State University is currently collaborating with Queensland Australia to develop a cattle vaccine for e-Coli. Success will have ramifications not just for this region and this state � but for global health�

�And Signature Genomics � recently named the number one fastest growing company in Spokane � which is on the cutting edge in the realm of disease diagnosis.

So today, I am very pleased to put the finishing touches on the creation of the brand new Spokane Health Sciences and Services Board by appointing three top-notch Spokane women -- who I know will help carry out the board�s mission�

�To foster and promote growth in the global health industry in Spokane and this region in myriad ways � from promoting bioscience-based economic development to advancing new therapies and procedures to fight disease and improve health.

The three are:

  • Wendy Schneider -- Wendy is the Foundation�s Relations Director for Eastern Washington University; and formerly was E-W-U�s Director of College Advancement for the College of Education and Human Development. Wendy previously owned Innovative Education Solutions Group in Spokane, a consulting firm.


  • Patricia Butterfield of Spokane � Patricia is the Dean and Professor at W-S-U�s ICN College of Nursing. She is a member of the American Public Health Association, the American Nurses Association, and the American Academy of Nursing. She served on the EPA�s Children�s Health Protection Advisory Committee for five years.


  • And Nancy Isserlis - Nancy is an attorney in Spokane since 1981 and is Principal of Winston & Cashatt Lawyers. She previously was the Regional Directing Attorney for Columbia Legal Services Eastern Washington Office. Nancy is a board member of Spokane Neighborhood Action Program and Chairs the Spokane City Ethics Committee.
    I know these three women will very work hard to promote and foster growth of the health sciences industry in this city and region..

And I want to thank each of you � Wendy, Patricia, and Nancy � for agreeing to serve.



Thank You.

And now, here�s Mayor Verner with her appointees.

Mary?