Countdown is proud to announce Julie Teer as its Chief Executive Officer, marking an exciting new chapter as the organization continues to accelerate its mission to transform the future of health through mitochondrial science.
A nationally recognized leader in healthcare, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and public affairs, Julie has spent her career building organizations, leading transformational growth, and bringing bold visions to life. From expanding national movements to building high-performing teams and forging strategic partnerships, she has earned a reputation for leading organizations at pivotal moments of inflection.
Now, she brings that experience to Countdown.
Julie joins the organization at a defining moment in its evolution. From its inception, Countdown was envisioned as something fundamentally different- not simply another nonprofit, but a global platform that brings together scientists, clinicians, innovators, philanthropists, investors, brands, and consumers around one shared mission: accelerating mitochondrial science and bringing cellular energy to the center of human health. As CEO, Julie will help lead the next chapter of that vision, expanding Countdown’s impact nationally and globally.
Most recently, Julie served as Senior Vice President of Wellstar Health System and President of the Wellstar Foundation, where she built the Foundation into a nationally respected philanthropic organization generating more than $20 million annually. Previously, she served as Chief Development and Public Affairs Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, leading a historic $584 million campaign while expanding philanthropy, advocacy, and national partnerships. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles with Susan G. Komen, working alongside founder Nancy Brinker to expand the organization’s global impact in breast cancer research, public policy, and advocacy. She also served as a Presidential Appointee to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
While Julie’s career has been defined by leading some of the country’s most respected organizations, Countdown represents something entirely different.
It represents the opportunity to help build one of the most important movements in the future of health.
Julie was drawn not only to Countdown’s mission, but to the bold vision behind it.
She saw an organization willing to challenge conventional thinking, rethink the traditional model of philanthropy, and help bring mitochondrial medicine- long overlooked and underfunded despite its central role in human health- to the forefront through scientific discovery, innovation, philanthropy, consumer engagement, and visionary brands.
She also saw something remarkable in Countdown Founder and President Mitzi Solomon.
“What struck me immediately about Mitzi was her extraordinary courage, conviction, and unwavering belief that we can fundamentally change how the world thinks about health. She isn’t simply funding research or building another nonprofit. She is building a movement- one that brings together scientists, clinicians, innovators, philanthropists, investors, brands, and consumers around a shared vision for the future. That kind of founder is incredibly rare, and I knew I wanted to be part of helping turn that vision into a global reality.”
As CEO, Julie will focus on scaling Countdown into a globally recognized platform that accelerates breakthrough research, expands awareness of mitochondrial science, builds transformational partnerships, inspires philanthropy, and helps usher in a new era of health centered on cellular energy.
“I believe we’re standing at the beginning of one of the most important shifts in modern medicine. For far too long, mitochondrial medicine has remained on the sidelines, despite the central role mitochondria play in nearly every aspect of human health. As we continue to understand cellular energy as the foundation of health, we have an extraordinary opportunity to change how we prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Countdown has the opportunity not only to accelerate this science, but to redefine how philanthropy, innovation, and public engagement come together to improve human health. It is an honor to join this remarkable team and help lead what comes next.”
Julie joins Countdown with a deep belief that the next frontier of medicine will be shaped by a better understanding of cellular energy, prevention, resilience, and longevity. As CEO, she will help guide the organization’s next phase of growth- expanding its reach, accelerating scientific breakthroughs, forging transformational partnerships, and helping position Countdown as a global leader at the forefront of a new era of health.
