Cara Hesse

Cara Hesse serves as the Director of Patient Advocacy and Engagement at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals since July 2019. Prior to this role, Cara worked as an Advocacy and Communications Consultant from September 2016 to June 2019, assisting biotechnology firms in establishing and enhancing patient advocacy functions. At Genzyme, from 2010 to 2016, Cara held the position of Associate Director, Global Patient Advocacy, focusing on fostering relationships with global rare disease organizations and integrating patient perspectives within the company. Cara's extensive background also includes serving as Director of Public Affairs at Pathfinder International, where responsibilities included government relations for a $100 million global health-focused non-profit organization, and various leadership roles in democratic development initiatives in Ghana and Guyana with the National Democratic Institute. Cara's educational credentials include a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from Bowling Green State University.