Kim McCleary has been at the forefront of patient engagement for more than 30 years. She is a nationally regarded subject matter expert on patient-focused medical product development, patient-centered benefit-risk assessment, and organizational change. Kim has authored scores of publications, served on dozens of steering committees and advisory boards, is a sought-after speaker, and has an extensive network of leadership contacts. She is a member of the faculty for Harvard Medical School’s Corporate Learning executive education program. Her passion for this work is rooted in personal experience, lived and as a family caregiver. Prior to establishing the Kith Collective in 2018, Kim was managing director of FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute, where she led the Patients Count program for five years and also served as interim executive director. Kim was directly involved in FasterCures' response to policy opportunities created through the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act (FDARA). For 22 years she was CEO of a national patient organization, leading patient engagement, research, and public policy for the myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) community. ME/CFS was the first topic selected by FDA for the patient-focused drug development (PFDD) initiative under PDUFA-V. Since then, she has been involved with dozens of PFDD meetings hosted by FDA and by patient advocacy organizations. Kim lives in Arlington, Virginia, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina.