James Tananbaum, M.D.

James Tananbaum, M.D.

Founder and CEO of Foresite Capital Management

Over the last twenty years, Jim has been a healthcare industry leader in identifying macro healthcare trends. As an investor and advisor, Jim was instrumental in establishing a number of enduring organizations to capitalize on these trends. Jim was a founding partner of Prospect Venture Partners II and III and was founder and CEO of Theravance (NASDAQ: THRX).  Early in his career, he was a partner at Sierra Ventures and helped establish their healthcare service investment practice.  While finishing school, he founded Geltex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GENZ).   As a lead investor, Jim has served as a director of numerous healthcare companies. He currently serves on the board of specialty pharmaceutical company, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ-JAZZ), and a drug discovery company, Infinity Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INFI) and several private companies.Jim graduated from Yale University with a BS and BSEE and graduated with an MD from Harvard Medical School and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He has served on advisory boards and/or visiting committees to the Harvard-MIT HST program and Yale School of Engineering. Jim is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco.