Doug Ulman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pelotonia
Improving the Lives’ of Cancer Patients
At just 37 years old, Doug Ulman has already survived cancer three times. And his experience as a patient has only pushed him all the harder to help others diagnosed with the disease.
He was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma at the age of 19 while attending Brown University, and then malignant melanoma twice since. Frustrated by the lack resources to support the needs of young adults affected by cancer, Doug and his family created The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults in 1997 and he served as Executive Director until 2001. Doug then joined the LIVESTRONG Foundation as Director of Survivorship and was later named the foundation’s President and CEO. During his 14 years at the organization, Doug garnered global accolades as the driving force in the foundation’s global fight against cancer and the advancement of survivorship support. Some highlights of his success:
- The LIVESTRONG wristband, which revolutionized charitable giving and allowed others to show their support.
- Secured passage of Prop 15 in Texas which established the largest fund for cancer prevention outside of the federal government.
- LIVESTRONG at the YMCA partnerships which got patients and survivors up and moving at their local Y’s.
- Launched LIVESTRONG’s Big C Competition, a global competition open to anyone with an idea for a product, service or innovation that helps those facing cancer today.
- Partnership with The University of Texas Dell Medical School establishing the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes.
Currently, Doug is the President & CEO of Pelotonia, the largest cycling fundraiser in the U.S. for life-saving cancer research. Pelotonia’s operating expenses are covered by funding partners so that 100% of every dollar raised by Pelotonia Riders, Virtual Riders and Volunteers goes directly to fund cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Pelotonia has already raised more than $1.3 million this year.
With a Twitter following of more than one million, Doug is also known for his innovative use of social media to spread awareness and knowledge about the world’s leading cause of death—Fast Company even called him the “Most Savvy Healthcare Leader in Social Media.”
