David Etzwiler Named Executive Director of Minnesota Partnership's Decade of Discovery

Minnesota

David Etzwiler Named Executive Director of Minnesota Partnership’s Decade of Discovery

By
mayonewsreleases

January 19, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — David Etzwiler has been named executive director of the Decade of Discovery, an initiative dedicated to preventing, treating and curing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This collaboration, also known as the Decade, is led by the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics.

Etzwiler will lead the Decade's operations, including strategy development and execution. Etzwiler also will engage stakeholders inside and outside the Decade's partner institutions, Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota.

Etzwiler, former vice president of community affairs and executive director of the Medtronic Foundation, is recognized by his peers as a leader in business, government and philanthropy. During his tenure at Medtronic, he led the foundation through a nearly fivefold annual operating increase and established it as a global leader in patient-centered care. Etzwiler also spearheaded Medtronic's first corporate citizenship initiative and subsequent ranking on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's Top 100 list.

Etzwiler holds a master's degree in public policy and a doctorate in law. Before joining Medtronic, Etzwiler led statewide efforts to address domestic violence, served as interim executive director of a human service and mental health center, and was a member of the executive team of The Family Partnership, a support and advocacy organization for children and families. He has served on numerous boards, including the National Urban Fellows, Sexual Violence Center, Minnesota Private Colleges Council, and Children's Theatre Company. He is a member of the Council on Foundations' board of directors, chairs its Global Committee, co-chairs the 2012 Task Force on the Future of Corporate Philanthropy and is the immediate past chair of the council's Corporate Committee.

About the Decade of Discovery

Decade of Discovery: A Minnesota Initiative to Conquer Diabetes is led by the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, a collaboration among the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic and the state of Minnesota.