2021 Effective Practices Conference

Keynote Speaker

 Reshma Kewalramani, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer & President

Vertex Pharmaceuticals  

Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., FASN, is the Chief Executive Officer and President at Vertex. Dr. Kewalramani has dedicated her career to improving the lives of patients, including the last 15+ years through the development of new medicines. She joined Vertex in 2017 and was previously the Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Medicines Development and Medical Affairs. During that time, Vertex made remarkable progress to bring new medicines to more people with cystic fibrosis (CF) around the world, including the approval of SYMDEKO/SYMKEVI and the rapid approval of TRIKAFTA/KAFTRIO to potentially treat up to 90% of all people with CF. Under Dr. Kewalramani’s leadership, Vertex also advanced several programs outside of CF into the clinic, including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, APOL1-mediated kidney diseases, sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia and type 1 diabetes.

Prior to Vertex, Dr. Kewalramani spent more than 12 years at Amgen where she held a variety of roles across research and development, including as Vice President, Global Clinical Development, Nephrology & Metabolic Therapeutic Area and Vice President, U.S. Medical Organization, a group she established and grew to assume responsibility for the full portfolio of molecules.

Dr. Kewalramani is passionate about developing and supporting the next generation of scientists and giving back to her community. She is a member of the board of directors of the Biomedical Science Careers Program, an organization dedicated to supporting underrepresented students to pursue a career in STEM, and RIZE Massachusetts, a nonprofit foundation focused on ending the opioid epidemic. She is also a member of the Boston University School of Medicine Dean’s Advisory Board, the Massachusetts General Hospital Board of Trustees, and the Ginkgo Bioworks board of directors. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and was on the inaugural board of directors of the Kidney Health Initiative.

She is the recipient of the American College of Physicians Associates Council Award, the American Medical Women's Association Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation and the Harvard Medical School Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2019, she was the recipient of the TiE Boston Healthcare Leadership Award and named one of Boston Business Journal’s Power 50. In 2020, Dr. Kewalramani was named to the inaugural Business Leaders list by Indiaspora, Business Insider’s list of 10 people transforming health care, the PharmaVOICE 100 list of the most inspiring and influential leaders in the life sciences, and Boston Business Journal’s list of Women Who Mean Business. In 2021, Dr. Kewalramani received the Golden Door Award from the International Institute of New England and was named a New Englander of the Year by the New England Council.

Dr. Kewalramani completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and her fellowship in nephrology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined program. She received her medical degree, with honors, from the seven-year medicine program at the Boston University School of Medicine and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.