Patricia Devitt Risse is president of Precision Oncology, spearheading the group’s vision to establish an accelerated pathway for companies to develop new and effective compounds to treat patients with advanced cancers.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Pat earned her Pharm.D. from Rutgers University. Currently far from her first job as a librarian’s assistant, she has been named by NJBIZ as one of the Best Women in Business 2014, a PACT Enterprise Healthcare CEO finalist in 2015, and an award winner of the PACT Enterprise Award for Emerging Healthcare Company in 2016.

A third-generation Irish American, Pat has traced her great-great grandfather back to County Donegal, though he migrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s. “He worked hard to establish himself and provide a stable, healthy environment for his six children,” she said. “This hard work ethic was instilled in his children and their generations. Great opportunity exists for those who have the drive to succeed and make a difference.” She is married to Stephen Mark and is mother to Anna Rose and Carter Anton. They live in New Jersey.