Kerry Morgan Hughes, M.Ed
Founder, President
Kerry combines her passion for working with children and love for music to shine the spotlight on Rare Disease. Through the power of music, the goal is to raise research money for countless orphan diseases profoundly affecting children and their families and to build community while offering heartfelt compassion to youth impacted by the isolation that oftentimes accompanies a diagnosis. Kerry began her journey in Rare Disease Activism as a spokeswoman for The Hope 4 Bridget Foundation, which exists to advance research to find a cure for Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses, more commonly known as Batten Disease. The daughter of Kerry’s close friend, inspired her to make a difference in the lives of those facing the challenges of living with rare diseases. Harmony 4 Hope was established in 2014 as result of this passion.
Kerry is an alumna of Marquette University where her philanthropic work had its beginnings. An accomplished educator holding a Master’s Degree in Reading Instruction, Kerry tutors young children experiencing literacy challenges. She is a community activist, volunteering her time to teach art history and appreciation to children, comforting sick children in local hospitals & coordinating community outreach initiatives such as school supply drives, are some of Kerry’s passions for giving. Creating and implementing the Dollar Denim Days Campaign for Global Genes is another cause Kerry holds dear to her heart. When she is not volunteering, Kerry enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two children and her Golden Retriever, Walter.
Raul A. Urrutia, MD
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Raul A. Urrutia joined the Medical College of Wisconsin in July, 2017, as the Director of the Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), the Warren P. Knowles Endowed Chair for Genomics and Precision, and Professor of Surgery and Biochemistry, and also holds the position of Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Program and Co-Director of the Discovery & Developmental Therapeutics Program in the MCW Cancer Center. His role is to promulgate, design, and support the implementation of Genomics Science and Precision Medicine at MCW and the region bringing to bear the concepts and methodologies of this transformational discipline to research, education, medical practice, and community wellness.
Prior to MCW, Dr. Urrutia was a founding member of the Mayo Clinic Center of Individualized Medicine. He served as Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (Rochester, MN) and Director of Epigenomics Education and Academic Relationships in the Epigenomics Program, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine.
Dr. Urrutia is an experienced teacher and has served in the Editorial Boards or Editor-in-Chief of several Journals. His work on pancreatic diseases led him to become the President of the American Society of Pancreatology and Chairman of the Pancreatic Disease Section of the American Gastroenterological Association. He has been inducted into the American Society of Clinical Investigation and elected as the Chief-Scientific-Officer of the Cancer Epigenetic Society. Dr. Urrutia publications have appeared in the top scientific journals as highly cited original articles and didactic reviews as well as books.
Mark Vages
Treasurer
Mark Vages has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. During his career, Mark has held various positions including pharmaceutical sales, managed care marketing, strategy development, regional and national account management, most recently in the oncology specialty area. These positions have been an integral part of the company’s growth strategy, collaborating closely with Sr. Leadership, Legal, Compliance, Health Economics, Government, Clinical and Sales Support teams. He is currently the Director of Payer Relations at Home Healthcare Solutions, Philips Healthcare responsible for leading the Philips Home Healthcare organization in efforts to promote, protect and support the business in the North American market by establishing relationships and directing strategic engagements with public and private owned health plans, employer-sponsored plans, benefits management/managed care companies, and integrated provider entities (e.g. ACOs). Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Norwich University and a Master of Science Professional Communication from Clark University. He resides in Hawthorn Woods, IL with his wife & three children.
"I am drawn to Harmony 4 Hope because of the strong leadership, dedicated focus and advocacy for children with rare disease. The individuals involved with H4H bring a unique understanding of the challenges facing providers, caregivers & patients with rare disease. There is a strong passion for the work in this area and for empowering others to succeed."
Scott Pape, CFA, CIC
Director of Operations
Scott started his working career as an engineer at Amoco Oil. After obtaining his MBA, he joined Commonwealth Edison as an equity analyst in the Office of the Manager of Investments, which was responsible for managing the company's pension fund.
After 3 years at Commonwealth Edison, he spent 4 years at Sears Investment Management where he began managing midcap growth portfolios. He managed a midcap portfolio for the Illinois State Investment Board from 1987 - 1991, before joining Loomis, Sayles, where he also managed midcap growth portfolios.
Scott continues to manage the midcap growth product for CastleArk Management LLC, while also providing input to the large and small cap growth teams. Scott brings his love of live music to Harmony 4 Hope and is inspired by the power of music to make a voluminous difference in the landscape of Rare Disease.
Mr. Brendan Paul Miller
Indiana University
Executive Director of Technology
Brendan joined the Harmony 4 Hope Band as a Director of Technology in 2013. He started off his career in technology working at a computer repair shop at the age of 13 as a back-room technician responsible for the troubleshooting and repair of various computers and phones. Today, Brendan is employed by Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 as a Technologist, where he is responsible for setup, deployment, supervision, and support of over 2,000 iPads.
In addition to being a computer technician, throughout middle school and high school Brendan has worked as a theatre technician as well, independently managing several theatrical productions at Middle School North. Brendan was a member of the Technical Theatre Club at Lake Zurich High School where he served as a stage technician for the Lake Zurich Performing Arts Center. Brendan is also a recognized member of the International Thespian Society. "With a wide variety of extracurricular commitments, I find my work with H4H most rewarding and meaningful. I am honored to be a part of this cause."
Mary Pat Miller
Rare Storyteller Director
Mary Pat is an accomplished senior manager with over 20 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies. Her career covers various functional areas, including sales, marketing and operations. She started in consumer sales with Revlon and Rubbermaid falling naturally into a consultative approach with clients and quickly being promoted to managing multi-million dollar accounts. After completing her MBA from Temple University, Mary Pat was recruited by W.W. Grainger and relocated to Chicago to complete their 3 year Leadership Development Program. She successfully gained cross functional experience in roles executing and leading key initiatives in marketing, field operations and the international areas. Always passionate about learning, Mary Pat thrived with the diversity of challenges and was known for her integrity, logical approach to problems and someone who will expend a lot of energy helping others embrace their accomplishments.
While career minded, Mary Pat made the decision to take a break to spend time with her young children. It is at this point, she started collaborating on community programs and non-profit initiatives. Mary Pat continues these efforts and now utilizes her talents in the speaking and management consulting industries.
> As the Rare Storyteller Director, Mary Pat is honored to part of the Band that conducts the Harmony 4 Hope mission with passion, integrity and perseverance. She is inspired by the patients and parents in this community and is eager to use her diverse experience to support the initiative to educate the medical community and share the personal stories of those impacted by Rare Disease.
Trapper Schoepp
Musical Ambassador
As a Musical Ambassador for Harmony 4 Hope, Trapper Schoepp merges his storytelling, musicianship and decade long battle with chronic back pain. He offers a voice of solace in the ongoing struggles faced by those suffering from rare diseases. Schoepp is honored to raise awareness and funds with Harmony 4 Hope to help combat rare diseases worldwide.
Trapper Schoepp, a young man who’s befriended a strange and diverse cast of characters during his 27 years. That small army of rogues and rebels, drifters and dreamers, soldiers and schemers populate his songs, their tragedies and comedies, their lives and deaths recalled in his finely etched musical vignettes.
The Minnesota-born, Wisconsin-based tunesmith and teller of tales (both tall and true), latest record is Rangers & Valentines produced by Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs. The record follows his critically acclaimed 2012 debut Run Engine, Run, which earned notices in Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and Paste, with the folks at Huffington Post calling him a “master storyteller” and PBS hailing his “story songs that explore and explode the conventions of rock and roll.”
Schoepp – who’s already crisscrossed the world sharing stages with fellow travelers like The Wallflowers, The Jayhawks and Old 97’s - will spend 2017 on the road in support of his new release, Bay Beach Amusement Park. The six song, rock ’n’ roll concept album is centered around the 125 year-old Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, which is home to Elvis's favorite rollercoaster the Zippin Pippin.
For more information on Trapper Schoepp visit:www.trapperschoepp.com
Cameron James
Musical Ambassador
Cameron James is a singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN. Her songs have been used in international commercials as well as for promos for the hit ABC show “Quantico.” Her music has also been featured in shows like MTV’s “The Hills: New Beginnings,” Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules”, NBC’s “ American Ninja Warrior and “World of Dance.” She co-wrote American Idol alum Danny Gokey’s hit single “The Comeback” which earned her a BMI award for being one of the biggest songs on Christian radio.
Cameron is also a wife and mother to two beautiful children, eight year old Elise and four year old Cade. In November 2014, Elise was diagnosed with an ultra rare kidney/blood disease called Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). For every million there are an estimated two with the disease. Then in May 2017 the unthinkable happened when her husband’s onset of aHUS occurred. They are the only known family in North America where there is a parent and child with this disease. They are the ultra rare of the ultra rare. Both Elise and James have made a complete “comeback” and now do their bi weekly infusions of their life changing medicine together.
Cameron has become a major advocate in the rare disease community. She has traveled with her family to Washington DC on multiple occasions to lobby for legislation that protects rare disease patient’s ability to receive charitable assistance. It is without question that her family’s journey with rare disease has directly impacted Cameron’s music. She loves inspiring others with a message of hope and sharing how she’s gone from fear to faith. "I love the mission of Harmony 4 Hope and its devotion to bringing hope to people through music. I’m honored to be a part of this musical vision for Rare Disease!"
For more information on Cameron James visit:www.cameronjamesmusicofficial.com
Walter
Canine Ambassador
Walter joins the Harmony 4 Hope team as Canine Ambassador. Walter is Kerry’s 3 year old American Kennel Club (AKC) Golden Retriever. He is the “grandson” and “nephew” of Kerry’s beloved Golden Retrievers, Houston and Lily.
Kerry and Walter are members of the Assisted Animal Therapy Program at their local hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where Walter is earning his official therapy dog certification through the nationally recognized Alliance of Therapy Dogs. His other titles include AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy (Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner), AKC Novice Trick Dog and AKC Canine Good Citizen.
When he is not busy delivering smiles and love through his friendly visits with patients and staff at Northwest Community Hospital, Walter enjoys long walks, squirrel watching, playing with his canine cousin Otis and enthusiastic games of fetch with his family.
Dr. Phil Chaikin
Scientific Advisor Emeritus
Dr. Phil Chaikin is an internationally recognized expert in global drug development and regulatory strategy. He currently maintains an active consulting practice and has supported many Pharmaceutical/ Biotech companies. Phil spent over 30 years in Pharma R&D and was most recently Executive Vice President for Drug Development at Kyowa Pharmaceuticals and the Head of International Drug Development for Kyowa Hakko Kogyo. Previous positions include: Vice President of Oncology Research and Development at Elan Pharmaceuticals; Vice President of Worldwide Clinical Development at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer/Aventis Pharmaceuticals; Vice President of Clinical Development at Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals; Director of Clinical Pharmacology at Bristol Myers Squibb; Senior Associate Medical Director and Global Project Leader for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals; and Senior Research Scientist, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation.
During his career in industry, Dr. Chaikin played a pivotal role in the development, registration and successful commercialization of many compounds including: Lovenox, Taxotere, Campto, Azmacort HFA, Intal HFA, Nasocort AQ, Procardia XL, Glucotrol XL, Myocet, Amaryl, Altace, Ebastine, Synercid and Serzone.
Dr. Chaikin holds a Bachelor’s and Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and completed a Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He also holds a M.D. degree from Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School. He performed his internal medicine training at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.
Dr. Chaikin is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and is the author of over 70 manuscripts and abstracts. He is the 2013 recipient of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology Nathaniel Kwitt Distinguished Service Award. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at Rutgers University School of Pharmacy. He also holds an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Florida School of Pharmacy.
Being a former guitar player in bands during the 1960s, plus a career as a research clinical pharmacologist, Phil brings his love of music and interest in rare diseases to help further promote the strategic objectives of Harmony 4 Hope in their mission to focus attention on, and promote advocacy for children, with rare disease.
