Research and Innovation: Jobs Landed

Yahya Bakdalieh, MD, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, has joined Borgess Spine, a part of the Borgess Brain and Spine Institute. He provides intensive non-surgical treatments for conditions of the back and neck.  Dr. Bakdalieh's special interests include non-operative management of spine and musculoskeletal disorders, spasticity management and general rehabilitation disorders. He is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Neuromuscular Medicine and American Board of Pain Medicine. His previous experience includes serving as director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation for Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kansas. Most recently, he served as chairman of the Neuro-Science Department of King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia. 

Perrigo, a leading pharmaceutical supplier, has hired Sara Schmidt an information systems security engineer. In this role, Schmidt will be working to ensure Perrigo's systems are protected, important processes run smoothly and vital information is maintained.

Schmidt brings to Perrigo seven years of relevant experience gained in her previous position securing federal systems in Information Assurance with the Department of Defense.

Schmidt's original hometown is Rockford, MI, and she recently relocated from Hawaii to Grand Rapids.

Dr. Ali S. Faqi has been promoted to Senior Director of Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) at MPI Research, in Mattawan. He also will continue to serve in his role of Senior Principal Study Director and as a member of the company's Drug Safety Leadership Team.

He will lead initiatives that expand the capabilities of the DART department in nonhuman primate research.
 
Dr. Faqi served on the Board of Scientific Counselors Computational Toxicology Subcommittee (BOSC), a Federal Advisory Committee under the jurisdiction of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

He is also a member of the editorial board for Reproductive Toxicology, a widely respected journal that focuses on the application of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research relative to the influence of chemical and physical agents on reproduction.

In addition to his advanced degrees, Dr. Faqi also earned a diploma of specialization in experimental pharmacology from the University of Milan, Italy, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Toxicology and EmbryoPharmacology at the Free University of Berlin, Germany.

In addition to his prior industry experience at Allergan and IIT Research Institute, Dr. Faqi is also a visiting professor for the Faculty of Science, University of Palermo, Italy.

Diane Mickunas-Ries has been hired as the company's director of product marketing for GRM Recorder. Manatron's GRM Recorder is software for state and local governments seeking to manage records in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

Mickunas-Ries's responsibilities at Manatron will include providing marketing, sales and customer support for the company's GRM Recorder product line. She will be responsible for the ongoing, strategic vision for the GRM Recorder product line.

Mickunas-Ries brings more than 19 years of experience in county government.  Most recently, she served as the recording manager in Snohomish County, Wash.

Gerald Wojtala has been named executive director of the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) in Battle Creek.
Wojtala, who has received the FDA commissioner's citation for his role investigating the outbreak of Heptatis A among school children from the consumption of strawberries, has been acting director since Dec. 1. He previously spent 26 years with the State of Michigan, most recently as deputy director of the Food Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture.

I will be responsible for securing new business for Vicksburg-based PureData Corp., which provides information technology services for high-end hotels such as the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids.