National Psoriasis Foundation Elects New Leaders to Board of Directors

To recognize their dedication in helping people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as volunteers, members, and donors, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) elected Jerry Bagel MD, MS of East Windsor, NJ, Mike Refermat of San Diego, CA, and Jodi Wood of San Antonio, TX to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Bagel is Director of the Psoriasis Treatment Center of Central New Jersey and is affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and has been in practice for more than 30 years. Dr. Bagel has worked with NPF for over 15 years and is a four-term member of the Foundation’s medical advisory board. Dr. Bagel will join NPF’s research and outreach committees. Dr. Bagel is also a member of the Practical Dermatology® magazine editorial board.

Mike Refermat is a retired executive with 39 years of experience in various financial, accounting and business leadership capacities. Living with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Mr. Refermat became involved with the NPF in 1986. He has served as the San Diego Community Division chair since 2010 and has supported numerous NPF events. In 2018, Refermat was a Team NPF Cycle captain in San Diego and most recently served on the NPF Strategic Planning Task Force.

Jodi Wood’s son, Michael, was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis at age 12; in 2018 Wood was diagnosed with the disease as well. Through Michael’s involvement with NPF as a Junior Ambassador, Ms. Wood became an advocate to help those living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis gain better access to medications and provide doctors more say in how they treat their patients. Ms. Wood is now the chair of NPF’s advocacy committee.

As members of the NPF Board of Directors, Dr. Bagel, Mr. Refermat, and Ms. Wood will help direct the organization by determining goals, evaluating and approving long-term plans, and by working closely with NPF President and CEO, Randy Beranek to accomplish the organization’s overall goals.