Emily’s Entourage Appoints David A. Waltz, MD, as First Chief Medical Officer
Veteran cystic fibrosis physician-scientist and former Vertex Pharmaceuticals senior leader to help accelerate therapies for the final 10% of people with cystic fibrosis
Philadelphia, PA—March 17, 2026—Emily’s Entourage (EE), an innovative 501(c)(3) organization accelerating new treatments and a cure for the final 10% of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) that do not benefit from existing CFTR modulator therapies, today announced the appointment of David A. Waltz, MD, as the organization’s first Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
In this inaugural role—an important milestone reflecting EE’s growth and deepening investment in CF therapeutic development—Dr. Waltz will work closely with Chief Scientific Officer, Chandra Ghose, PhD, to bolster EE’s research and therapeutic development strategy and help propel promising discoveries funded by the organization from early scientific insight toward clinical development, positioning EE for the next era of breakthrough treatments.
An industry leader whose career spans academic medicine, translational science, and clinical research in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, Dr. Waltz most recently served as Vice President and Head of Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he led the advancement of transformative CFTR modulators, including combination therapies that have reshaped the treatment landscape for roughly 90% of people with CF.
“As Emily’s Entourage continues to expand our research portfolio and push toward the next generation of treatments, bringing on our first Chief Medical Officer marks a monumental step forward for our mission,” said Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, MBE, Co-Founder of EE.
“For the final 10% of the CF community that do not benefit from existing CFTR modulator therapies, time matters. Dr. Waltz brings extraordinary experience turning scientific discoveries into lifesaving medicines. His leadership will help advance promising therapies into the clinical space quickly.”
Dr. Waltz began his career as a pediatric pulmonologist and physician-scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he treated people with CF and led clinical research initiatives. He later transitioned to industry leadership roles at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he played a central role in advancing multiple CF therapies through clinical development and regulatory approval.
At EE, he will help guide the organization’s growing research investments with a particular focus on translational medicine—ensuring that promising discoveries move efficiently from the laboratory toward clinical trials and ultimately to people with CF in the final 10%.
“Emily’s Entourage has created an extraordinary engine for innovative CF research with a relentless focus on delivering meaningful progress for the members of the community who have long been left behind,” said Dr. Waltz. “I’m honored to join this mission and help accelerate the translation of groundbreaking science into therapies with the power to transform lives for the individuals and families still waiting.”
In addition to advising on research and clinical development strategy, Dr. Waltz will serve as a key outward-facing scientific leader for EE, strengthening collaborations across academia, industry, and the broader CF community. He will represent EE at scientific forums and apply his clinical and regulatory expertise to help identify and advance new therapeutic opportunities emerging from EE’s research portfolio.
About Emily’s Entourage
Emily’s Entourage is an innovative 501(c)3 that accelerates research for new treatments and a cure for individuals in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) population that do not benefit from currently available mutation-targeted therapies. Since 2011, Emily’s Entourage has awarded millions of dollars in research grants, launched a clinical-stage CF gene therapy company, developed a global patient database and clinical trial matchmaking program to accelerate clinical trial recruitment, and led worldwide efforts to drive high-impact research and drug development. The organization has been featured in national media, including the New York Times, STAT, CNN, People, and more. Learn more at emilysentourage.org.
Media Contact
Hannah Kleckner
Director of Marketing and Communications
hannah@emilysentourage.org
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