Christine McSherry

Recipient of the John Hancock ADmiration Award

Christine McSherry just wants to be a nurse. She was an extremely successful RN who played a key roll in treating patients during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s. However, Christine was taken out of her nursing position in 2001 when her son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Thrust into the role of Executive Director and patient advocate, she has established one of the leading Duchenne organizations in the world and changing the paradigm for how patients and caregivers can be involved with the drug development process. In 2001, she founded the Jett Foundation to raise funds for research, build awareness of the disease and fulfill the unmet needs of the community.

The Jett Foundation has made life better for thousands of children, young adults, caregivers and paretns affected by the disease through camps, support groups and programs.

After years of steady progress in the fight against this dreadful disease, Christine is known throughout the country as a leader in funding promising research, advocating for patient and caregiver rights, and as a key spokesperson in this battle.  She has presented to Congress, to the FDA, and to Parliament. She has also been featured numerous times in the media including the Boston Globe, Business Week, Bloomberg, the Boston Business Journal, Chronicle, ABC and Fox News.

Her fight for Duchenne has expanded beyond just Duchenne and she is an advocate for the entire rare disease community. Her work has resulted in revolutionary changes in the drug approval process. Learn more at www.jettfoundation.org.