New Board Member Jennie Starr: A Builder with a Big Heart
We’re pleased to announce our newest board member, Jennie Starr. Starr started her career as a lawyer, then worked for both tech and biotech companies. She also ran a nonprofit while raising her children. Now she’s bringing all of that experience to help support our mission.
About Jennie Starr
Starr has always liked building new things. At the beginning of her career, she worked at law firms in Chicago. But soon, she wanted to create and grow new ideas. “I’ve always been a builder at heart,” she says. “And shifted from practicing law with two firms in Chicago to building new products.”
Later, Starr worked with tech startups. Then, when she started her family, she took time off from the industry and gave back to her community. “I chose to take a hiatus from industry and take the opportunity to give back to my community and founded a nonprofit managing it while I raised my children.”
When she was ready to return to work, she moved from tech to biotech. She wanted to help patients in a more direct way. “I pivoted as I came back into industry from tech to biotech to leverage my skills and make a difference supporting innovative health treatments for patients with serious disease.”
Joining FPN’s Board of Directors
Starr’s work with FPN is very personal. Her mother was diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) after getting treatment for breast cancer. “I remember being so grateful her treatments resolved her cancer yet devastated to see the debilitating pain from CIPN and progression that has since challenged her daily life,” Starr shares.
She learned about FPN after her mom’s diagnosis and felt strongly about our mission. “The combination of patient advocacy, education and grant making to support scientific advancements is critical to healthcare and I’m grateful the Foundation exists to support those journeys and stakeholders.”
When asked why she joined the board, her answer was clear: “I joined the FPN Board because I learned about the Foundation early after my mother’s diagnosis and hoped I would be able to leverage my experience to support the Foundation’s work to identify future treatments.”
Starr is especially passionate about new technologies that help with drug development, and also about STEM education. As a board member, she plans to help the Foundation grow. “I intend to offer support with marketing, outreach and fundraising to support growth and reach of the Foundation. I also will support outreach with research institutions and scientists to nurture and support continued studies.”
What the future holds
What is she most excited about working on in her role on the board? “I’m excited to support the outreach strategies into each of the stakeholder communities for FPN including partners collaborations.”
Looking ahead, she hopes the Foundation will grow even more. “I would love to see the biobank vision expanded to support research, identify additional partners for greater reach and continued advocacy in relation to pain management.”
More about Jennie Starr
Outside of work, she’s a runner and a native Chicagoan. She and her family now live in San Diego for the sunshine. “I’m privileged to have a beautiful family; a husband of 30+ years and enjoy my two young adults who I thoroughly enjoyed raising. Family plus meaningful work and California sunsets keep me happy. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
When asked if she has a favorite quote, she simply says: “No quote or life motto beyond believing we need to be the light for those around us in every way and take advantage of the life we’ve been given to make a difference.”
Starr brings heart, experience, and a strong personal mission to everything she does—and we’re lucky to have her on board.
