Board Members

Dr. Mickle is a co-founder of KemPharm and has served as a member of our board of directors since our inception in 2006 and chairman of our board of directors since November 2014. Dr. Mickle served as our president and chief scientific officer from 2006 to October 2010, and has served as our president and chief executive officer since October 2010. Prior to founding KemPharm, Dr. Mickle spent five years with New River Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company, where he was a senior research scientist from 2001 to 2002, the director of chemistry from 2002 to 2003 and the director of drug discovery and CMC from 2003 to 2005. Dr. Mickle received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa and his B.A. degree from Simpson College.

Mr. Pascoe has served as a director of KemPharm since January 2014 and as KemPharm’s lead independent director since November 2014. Since January 2019, Mr. Pascoe has served as the president and chief executive officer of Histogen Inc, a biologics company. From March 2013 to January 2019, Mr. Pascoe was the chief executive officer and a director of Apricus Biosciences, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. From August 2008 to March 2013, Mr. Pascoe was the president and chief executive officer and a director of Pernix Sleep, Inc. (formerly known as Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a specialty pharmaceutical company. Prior to Pernix, from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Pascoe worked for ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, where he was most recently senior vice president and chief operating officer. Mr. Pascoe also serves as a director of Seelos Therapeutics, Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company. Mr. Pascoe received his B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Mr. Plooster has served as a director of KemPharm since March 2011. Mr. Plooster co-founded Bridgepoint Investment Banking, a division of Bridgepoint Holdings, LLC and Bridgepoint Holdings NE, LLC, where he has served as Managing Director since March 2012. Previously, Mr. Plooster worked as an investment banker at DeWaay Investment Banking from October 2010 to March 2012, Morgan Stanley from August 2009 to November 2009 and Deutsche Bank from 2004 to July 2009. Mr. Plooster received his Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School and his B.A. degree from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Saluri has served as a director of KemPharm since January 2014. Mr. Saluri served as general counsel and executive vice president for Calyxt, Inc. from June 2017 to March 2018. Prior to his employment with Calyxt, Inc., Mr. Saluri served as general counsel for Stine Seed Company and its affiliates from July 1999 to March 2017.  Mr. Saluri practiced as an attorney and solicitor at law with Nicholas Critelli Associates, PC, in Des Moines, Iowa and London, England from June 1993 to June 1999. Mr. Saluri served as a director of Newlink Genetics Corporation, a public biopharmaceutical company from May 2010 to July 2017. Mr. Saluri received his J.D. degree from Drake University Law School and his B.S.B.A. degree from Drake University.

Dr. Tierney joined KemPharm’s board in March 2015. Since April 2014, Dr. Tierney has served as chief executive officer of Icon Bioscience, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic drug delivery company. From January 2013 until March 2014, Dr. Tierney was a venture partner at Signet Healthcare Partners, a New York City based life science private equity fund. Dr. Tierney served as president and chief operating officer and as a member of the board of directors of Oceana Therapeutics, Inc., a private specialty pharmaceutical company, from its organization in 2008 through its sale to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. in December 2011. Dr. Tierney served as the president and chief executive officer and as a member of the board of directors of Valera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, between August 2000 and April 2007, when Valera completed a merger with Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From January 2000 to August 2000, Dr. Tierney served as president of Biovail Technologies, a division of Biovail Corporation, a Canadian drug delivery company. From March 1997 to January 2000, Dr. Tierney was senior vice president of drug development at Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation and from December 1989 to March 1997, Dr. Tierney was employed by Élan Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, in a variety of management positions. Dr. Tierney is also a director of Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners and Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc. Dr. Tierney received his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland and was subsequently trained in internal medicine.