Health technologies leader recognized for innovation and entrepreneurship
Seattle, WA, July 28, 2011 – Dr. Michael J. Free, who serves on the VillageReach board of directors and is vice president and senior advisor for technologies at PATH, has been named as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. The recognition was noted on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2011. The Queen herself will be presenting medals to the honorees at an investiture to be held at Buckingham Palace in the next few months.
Established in 1917, the Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry comprised of five classes in civil and military divisions. The award recognizes people who have provided exemplary service and demonstrated innovations and entrepreneurship. Dr. Free is being recognized for his achievements in and dedication to improving global health and the availability of health technologies designed specifically for resource-poor settings.
Dr. Free played a leading role in the establishment of VillageReach in 2000 and has served on the board of directors since then. Under his visionary leadership, PATH has developed and advanced more than 85 health technologies for low-resource settings. More than 20 of these health technologies are being manufactured, sold, and used in developing country health systems today. In addition, Dr. Free has invented a number of health technologies that have directly influenced global health policies and are saving lives and reducing illness throughout the world.
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About VillageReach
VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone, so that each person has the health care needed to thrive. We develop solutions that improve equity and access to primary health care. This includes making sure products are available when and where they are needed and primary health care services are delivered to the most under-reached. Radical collaboration with governments, the private sector and other partners strengthen our ability to scale and sustain these solutions. Our work increases access to quality health care for 46 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
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