Background
Isbister, James David was born on March 31, 1937 in Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States. Son of Russell Lowell and Clara (Wild) Isbister.
pharmaceutical business executive
Isbister, James David was born on March 31, 1937 in Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States. Son of Russell Lowell and Clara (Wild) Isbister.
Bachelor cum laude, University of Michigan, 1958; postgraduate, Princeton postgraduate (Woodrow Wilson fellow), 1958-1959; Master of Arts (scholar), George Washington University, 1966.
Assistant to assistant secretary administration, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, 1963-1965;
Executive officer, National Library Medicine, Bethesda, 1965-1967;
Executive officer, National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, Maryland., 1967-1970;
deputy director, National Institute of Mental Health, 1970-1973;
visiting academic, London School Economics, 1973-1974;
director, United States Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 1974-1977;
vice president, Orkand Corporation, 1977-1978;
associate director, International Comm. Agency, 1978-1980;
executive Washington representative, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, 1980-1982;
senior vice president, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, 1982-1986;
senior vice president, Consolidated Healthcare, Inc., 1986-1989;
president, Combined Technologies, Inc., 1987-1989;
president, Chief Executive Officer, Pharmavene Inc., 1990-1997;
chairman, Pharmavene Inc., 1995-1997;
vice-chairman, Shire laboratories, 1997-1998. Board directors Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation, Flagstar bank corporation, Jackson Ltd., chairman.
Chairman National Advisory Mental Health Council, 1974-1975, National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1974-1975, International Conference on Prevention,1976. Vice president United States Committee Study International Health Care, 1972-1974. Commission on substance abuse Institute Medicine, NAS, 1987-1990, commission on clinical practice guidelines, 1990-1992, commission on dental education, 1992-1997.
Member budget committee Washington Metropolitan Health and Welfare Council, 1965-1970;board directors Bedford Springs Festival for the Performing Arts, 1983-1987. Served with United States Air Force, 1959-1960, 61-62.
Married Jenefir Diane Wilkinson, July 23, 1960. Children: Wendy Jill Kalavritinos, Kirstin Ann Hammond.