Michael Siegel, PhD
Executive Director, Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA)
HA’s Scientific Advisory Board & Research Committee
Board Member Since 2022
Mike Siegel is the Executive Director of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), a nonprofit research organization pursuing the mission to create, inspire, and sustain research to prevent, treat, and cure childhood skin disease. He joined PeDRA in 2018 following four years in nonprofit research leadership and almost ten years in academic research and teaching. Mike holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, MS in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington.
In 1986, at the age of six, Mike was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and has been living a happy, and some might venture to say productive, life ever since. He navigated four shunt revisions before leaving for college and gratefully only one revision since. While his experience with hydrocephalus has influenced his life trajectory, he’s chosen to focus elsewhere professionally while harnessing his translatable experiences for the benefit of other patient populations in need. As a member of HA’s board of directors, Mike looks forwards to contributing his experience with nonprofit management, research programs, science, and engineering to the hydrocephalus community. He also hopes to responsibly represent the voice of adults who don’t know what it’s like to live without hydrocephalus, with an understanding of the transition to adulthood, and the impact of hydrocephalus on a person’s parents, partners, and children.
Originally from Chicago, Mike left for the Pacific Northwest in 2005 and now lives outside of Portland, Oregon with his wife, daughter, and an evolving lineup of pets. He used to consider himself an avid hiker and trail runner but now spends more time tinkering with wood in the garage and planning his family’s next adventure in their pop-up camper van.