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March 9, 2020

Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation Names New Vice President To Lead Philanthropic & Strategic Mission

by Zara Jethani

SANTA MONICA, CA, March 9, 2020 – Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI) is pleased to announce Melissa B. Coleman, Esq., as their new Vice President at Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation.

Ms. Coleman will lead PNI Foundation’s strategic planning and philanthropic efforts, in partnership with Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, to support the growth of the neurosciences at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and its affiliates.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Ms. Coleman join us given her extensive 15-year experience in healthcare development,” said Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, Director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute and President and CEO of PNI Foundation. “With our tremendous growth over the last two years, now with over 30 physicians and 8 clinical centers of excellence, and with plans for further expansion of clinical services, clinical trials, and educational efforts, Ms. Coleman is coming at an exciting time when our PNI strategic vision and need for philanthropic support is accelerating,” he added.

Ms. Coleman will work closely with the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation team, PNI co-founders, Chester F. Griffiths MD, Howard R. Krauss MD, and Santosh Kesari MD PhD, the PNI Foundation board of directors, the PNI Director of Marketing, and with the leadership of Saint John’s Cancer Institute.

About Melissa Coleman

An accomplished development executive, Ms. Coleman joins PNIF after fifteen years of various development and fundraising leadership roles at Cedars-Sinai, most recently as the Chief Development Officer at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital and the Chief of Development Strategy and Operations.

Melissa Coleman

In her latter role, she oversaw the campaign strategic planning, design and implementation for Cedars-Sinai’s consecutive successful fundraising campaigns – $350 Million and $600 Million – as well as the planning of their current $1 Billion effort. In addition, Ms. Coleman led the capital fundraising effort for the new Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital and oversaw the entire fundraising operation for Cedars-Sinai including the data management, reporting and analytics, prospect research, gift administration, donor relations, annual giving and direct response, development communications and the special events teams.

During her tenure, Ms. Coleman closed millions of dollars in philanthropic gifts for various programs and was instrumental in building an efficient and scalable operational infrastructure to support increased volumes of giving and managing an effective gift pipeline to satisfy campaign goals. She also led the creation of several strategic programmatic enhancements such as caregiver engagement, grateful patient fundraising, donor relations, employee giving and digital fundraising,

Ms. Coleman is a lawyer by training and began her career twenty years ago as a law clerk with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. Thereafter, she moved into program management at the City of Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women and transitioned into fundraising and development at New Economics for Women (NEW) and Arroyo Vista Family Health Center.

About the Author

Zara Jethani, MS, MBA

Zara Jethani

Zara is the marketing director at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Her background is in molecular genetics research and healthcare marketing. In addition, she is a graphic designer with more than 20 years experience in the healthcare, education and entertainment industries.

Last updated: April 4th, 2020