Give Back for Special Equestrians, an all-volunteer 501C3 providing therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for disabled children and veterans through its partner stables in Florida, New York and Colorado, is pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Ph.D., a partner at the international law firm of Duane Morris, has been appointed to its Board of Directors.
Based in Boca Raton, Dr. Gallagher co-chairs Duane Morris’ IP Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Practice Division. An equine enthusiast, he previously served as president of PCG Equine Research, Inc. after earning his doctorate at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, where he researched the genetic basis for spinal skeletal disorders in horses.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Dr. Gallagher will share his passion for horses alongside the organization’s members to provide much-needed scholarships and access to equine-assisted therapy to those facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.
“Patrick is a wonderful addition to our organization and we’re thrilled to have him join our Board of Directors,” said Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, co-founder of Give Back for Special Equestrians. “As an equine-enthusiast and horse owner, Patrick is passionate about giving a leg up to deserving special needs riders so they can experience the joy of horses and horsemanship. His love for horses, coupled with his experience, legal and scientific knowledge, makes him a wonderful addition to the board.”
Co-founded in 2013 by Sissy De Maria-Koehne, Dr. Heather Kuhl and Isabel Ernst, Give Back for Special Equestrians, formerly known as Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, has provided scholarships to children and veterans enduring emotional and mental challenges, including Autism, Paralysis, Spina Bifida and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, that allow them to fully experience the life changing and healing benefits that horses have through its Young Ambassador program and various fundraising events held in South Florida, New York and Colorado. Transformative benefits of equine-therapy on individuals with disabilities include improvement of balance, posture, hand-eye coordination as well as self-esteem, self-confidence and self-control.
“I am honored to join and contribute to Give Back for Special Equestrians,” added Gallagher. “I look forward to serving alongside my fellow board members and continuing the impactful work they have been doing for so many deserving individuals by sharing the power of horses.”
As a partner in Duane Morris’ Boca Raton office and chair of the firm’s IP Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Practice Division, Dr. Gallagher assists pharmaceutical companies, compounding pharmacies, and others in the agricultural, chemical, and biotechnology industries in a variety of intellectual property and regulatory law matters, including developing and executing intellectual property and regulatory strategies, prevention and resolution of disputes, patent and trade secret litigation, and compliance with applicable Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations as well as applicable state laws and regulations enforced by State Boards of Pharmacy.
Additionally, Dr. Gallagher advises veterinary compounding pharmacies with respect to differences in applicable regulations for compounded medications intended for veterinary use, and the development of business practices to comply with regulations. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law, and his Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the University of Kentucky. He also earned his bachelors of science in genetics from the University of Wisconsin.
For more information on Give Back for Special Equestrians, please visit www.giveabuckeq.org and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
About Give Back for Special Equestrians
Give Back for Special Equestrians, formerly Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, is a Florida-based nonprofit 501©3. The all-volunteer organization founded by Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, Dr. Heather Kuhl and Isabel Ernst in Vero Beach, Florida in 2013, provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine assisted scholarships for disabled children and veterans through its partner stables in New York, Florida and Colorado. Give Back for Special Equestrians aims to share the joy of horses and horsemanship with those facing some of life’s most difficult physical, emotional and mental challenges and enable them to experience the life changing benefits of horsepower that heals. Through its Young Ambassador program, youth between ages 7-17 are encouraged to pay forward their blessings through active volunteerism. Young Ambassadors meet monthly during the school year and assist with a variety of fund and “friend” raising activities. For more information please visit www.giveabuckeq.org
