SCbio Welcomes Anaïs Deïdon and Wendi Huff to its Strategic Advisory Board

SOUTH CAROLINA – December 13, 2024 – SCbio is pleased to welcome Anaïs Deïdon, senior director of excellence acceleration for Becton Dickinson (BD), and Wendi Huff, director of local affairs and economic engagement at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), to its Strategic Advisory Board.

Deïdon is known for her collaborative approach and strong commitment to BD’s mission of advancing the world of health, including efforts to improve medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care.

Since joining BD in 2016, Deïdon has held various roles with increasing responsibility. She began her career in Europe before relocating to BD’s manufacturing site in Sumter, South Carolina, in 2019. Deïdon is recognized for her expertise in leadership, operational planning, budgeting and forecasting, business transformation and change management.

She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from Ecole de Management in Lyon, France. Deïdon also studied at the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands and East China Normal University in Shanghai.

As the director of local affairs and economic engagement at MUSC, Huff oversees strategic partnership development and economic engagement with key stakeholders in the Lowcountry and MUSC’s four hospital markets across South Carolina. She collaborates with academic, clinical and administrative leaders, focusing on building partnerships with life sciences companies, nonprofit organizations and community businesses.

Throughout her career, Huff has built successful partnerships with global biopharmaceutical companies to support scientific discovery and improve patient access to equitable healthcare, with an emphasis on health equity and inclusive clinical trial engagement.

Before joining MUSC, Huff held leadership roles with rare disease research and patient advocacy foundations, including the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, the National Brain Tumor Foundation and the Morehouse School of Medicine. She implemented programs supporting research, public policy and disease education for women’s health. Huff also specialized in connecting patients to clinical research, patient registries and real-world evidence programs to promote scientific innovation and inclusive clinical trial engagement.

SCbio is the definitive, unifying leader in South Carolina’s life sciences sector, fostering authentic collaboration and innovation across academia, startups, government and established enterprises. As a member-driven economic development organization, SCbio represents more than 1,000 organizations employing more than 87,000 professionals. Our members are unified by a mission to positively impact humanity through science across the ecosystem of advanced and specialty manufacturing; digital health and the data frontier; and cutting-edge health specializations. For additional information about SCbio and the life sciences industry, or to become a member, visit www.SCbio.org.

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Paige Durham

SCbio is pleased to welcome Paige Durham to the team as communications coordinator to creatively and effectively communicate the value of the life science association’s programs and initiatives.

Durham will be responsible for developing and distributing high-quality content across multiple communications channels to build, advance and grow South Carolina’s life sciences industry, a key business sector for economic prosperity for the Palmetto State.

“SCbio is excited to welcome Paige to our team as our new communications coordinator. Paige brings fresh ideas and a strong background in communications that will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our engagement with our audience,” said SCbio President and CEO James Chappell. “We are confident that her skills and experience will be crucial in advancing our communication strategies and supporting our mission.”

Before joining SCbio, Durham was the Membership and Communications Manager at the South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA), where she used her photography, design and writing skills to create content tailored to pharmacy professionals. Durham’s effective communication skills guaranteed the delivery of brand-specific material that captured the eye of her audience.

During her time at SCPhA, Durham created and edited the Palmetto Pharmacist Journal, using her creative vision to showcase members, educational institutions and industry news. Her communications efforts successfully gained new followers for the organization over the course of a year, increasing brand visibility and promoting the pharmacy profession.

Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in hospitality and tourism management and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the College of Charleston.

Tamia Sumpter

Tamia is a driven senior undergraduate Bioengineering student currently enrolled at Clemson University. With a strong foundation in her field, she has honed her skills through hands-on experience in research and development at Eli Lilly & Company. During her time in the ADME department, Tamia contributed significantly by working on siRNAs and their applications in finding In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation (IVIVC). Looking ahead, Tamia has set her sights on a promising career in law. She aspires to specialize in Intellectual Property Law, with a particular focus on serving as in-house counsel for leading medical device or pharmaceutical companies. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable as she prepares to embark on her legal journey! She is also a proud member of the Omicron Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PEER Mentor for Clemson PEER/WiSE, and currently serves as the President of Clemson Bioengineering Organization (CBO). With her unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal interests, Tamia is poised to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and life sciences industries.