“While hope is a powerful thing, hopelessness can be equally powerful. We play a small but critical role in helping NIH—and all the amazing research it conducts—provide hope to patients and their families, and to take away hopelessness by offering what others cannot.”
— Jay Shah, President, Friends of Patients at the NIH
A Journey of Service and Dedication
Friends of Patients at the NIH plays a vital role in supporting families navigating the complexities of medical treatment and research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For Jay Shah, his involvement is deeply personal and professional. He joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and became President of the Board in 2022.
Jay describes Friends as “the last resort for families who must choose between receiving life-saving treatment at NIH or being able to afford basic necessities like housing and food.” The organization’s mission is clear: to provide crucial support, including housing and other services, to patients at NIH facing financial hardship. “Without these patients, we have no research. And without research, we have no NIH discoveries,” says Jay.
Jay has made generous donations to Friends. Most impactful have been two donations of $30,000 each, one in 2023 and one in 2024. As Friends’ CEO Heidi Williams explains, “Each of those gifts covers the cost of one of our patient apartments for an entire year! We are grateful to Jay for these donations which are above and beyond all he does in his leadership role as Board President. Jay is a gem.”
The Power of Raising Awareness
One of the most rewarding aspects of Jay’s leadership is raising awareness about the organization’s mission. Although Friends is small, it makes a significant impact by easing the burdens of NIH patients and their families.
“The biggest challenge is simply getting the word out,” Jay explains. “Once people understand our mission, they’re eager to help.” This was evident at the recent Friends Night Out fundraiser, where the organization exceeded its fundraising goal and gained new supporters.
A Professional and Personal Commitment to Service
Jay’s professional career included working with NIH since as far back as 2004. In his most recent role, Jay was Chief Operating Officer at Octo, a technology solutions company which is now part of IBM. However, his connection to NIH is not just professional. “I’ve always had a connection with NIH,” says Jay. “First professionally, and later as a provider of health information for my family.”
In 2023, Jay took a break from work to focus on family and community service. In addition to leading Friends, Jay is actively involved with the Associates Board at Wolf Trap, the Board of Loudoun Hunger, and the Board of Advisors for Technomile.
Jay lives in Ashburn, VA with his wife and three children: an 18-year-old daughter in college, a 15-year-old son in high school, and a 12-year-old son in middle school. Outside of his professional and board duties, Jay is passionate about music, having attended 50 live concerts in one year.
A Message of Hope for NIH Patients
For many NIH patients, the institution represents a last resort. “Their journey is hard, taxing, and emotional,” Jay says. “If we can help by providing a warm bed to sleep in, taking care of food bills, and reducing their worries, it makes a huge difference in their recovery.”
Through this support, Friends of Patients at the NIH not only eases patients’ burdens but also enables groundbreaking research at NIH. Jay’s leadership emphasizes the importance of community support. “In a world where hope is precious, we provide comfort and assistance during the toughest times,” he says.
Through awareness, fundraising, and direct support, Friends remains a critical resource for NIH patients and their families.
We are deeply grateful for Jay and his family’s dedication to our mission.
Please join us in providing HOPE for patients and families in need…
