Sarah Quillen, MPA, CFRE
Executive Director
Professional Bio
Sarah Quillen joined ILADS, and its sister organization, ILADEF, in February 2023 as Executive Director. In this role, she is dedicated to strengthening the organizations’ impact, advancing their mission and vision, engaging with members, and cultivating strategic partnerships that build upon ILADS’ longstanding legacy of service to the Lyme and tick-borne disease community.
A native of New York, Sarah holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience spanning fundraising, public relations, community engagement, and program development. Her career includes significant contributions to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Good Shepherd Hospice in Florida, as well as Capital Caring and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its affiliates in the Washington, DC region.
Throughout her professional journey, Sarah has worked extensively within interdisciplinary healthcare communities, collaborating with clinicians, foundations, and advocacy groups to advance patient-centered programs and strengthen organizational sustainability. Her decade of leadership within associations and advocacy organizations further deepened her expertise in mission-driven operations, stakeholder relations, and nonprofit advancement.
Joining ILADS represents a meaningful alignment of her personal experience and professional passion—uniting her commitment to healthcare access, her belief in patient-centered support, and her dedication to improving outcomes for individuals affected by complex medical conditions. She is energized by the opportunity to help shape the future of ILADS and ILADEF, expanding their reach and reinforcing their essential role in educating clinicians and advancing research in Lyme and associated diseases.
A native of New York, Sarah holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience spanning fundraising, public relations, community engagement, and program development. Her career includes significant contributions to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Good Shepherd Hospice in Florida, as well as Capital Caring and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and its affiliates in the Washington, DC region.
Throughout her professional journey, Sarah has worked extensively within interdisciplinary healthcare communities, collaborating with clinicians, foundations, and advocacy groups to advance patient-centered programs and strengthen organizational sustainability. Her decade of leadership within associations and advocacy organizations further deepened her expertise in mission-driven operations, stakeholder relations, and nonprofit advancement.
Joining ILADS represents a meaningful alignment of her personal experience and professional passion—uniting her commitment to healthcare access, her belief in patient-centered support, and her dedication to improving outcomes for individuals affected by complex medical conditions. She is energized by the opportunity to help shape the future of ILADS and ILADEF, expanding their reach and reinforcing their essential role in educating clinicians and advancing research in Lyme and associated diseases.
