Mike McGovern has devoted a considerable part of his career to finding ways to improve children's health.

One project he is involved with is I4Learning, a company which trains teachers to teach interactive programs dealing with the science of nutrition, exercise and tobacco as part of schools' science curriculum. This enables children to learn and experience the science and habits of a healthy lifestyle, which is the greatest prevention against Type 2 diabetes, tobacco addiction and the adverse medical consequences associated with each.

To further this cause Mike co-founded The Institute for America's Health in 2003. This is a public foundation whose mission "is to inspire, motivate, and educate youth to make healthy lifestyle choices."

Another important goal in Mike's life is the search for a better way to deliver insulin to people who have acquired diabetes.

He is a founding investor in and director of the pharmaceutical company CPEX, with the primary goal of obtaining regulatory approval for the nasal delivery of insulin. CPEX is currently undertaking Phase II clinical trials.

Before turning his attention to children's health issues, Mike had a successful career in tax consultancy and investment.

Mike was born in Dublin to parents who both hailed from Co. Cavan. A strong work ethic was incubated at an early age when Mike started doing chores during extended visits to his grandparents' farm.

Praised for being industrious in these tasks, he decided to try working for himself when his family moved to New Jersey during the summer before he started the sixth grade. Mike bought a used bicycle and worked his own paper route for the Jersey Journal until he finished grammar school.

He enjoyed all the traditional American sports during his school years, but also found time to work as a stock boy in a local grocery store and as a caddy at Englewood Country Club.

On graduating Don Bosco High School, Mike enlisted in the Army. After his tour of duty was over, he enrolled at the University of Illinois, where he received his B.S. and M.A.S. in accounting as well as his law degree.

Today, he and his wife, Elizabeth reside in Sandy Springs with their two children, Isabella and Michael, Jr. Isabella is a graduate student at the University of Chicago and Michael attends The Paideia School.

For the last four years, Mike has been serving on the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board to the Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland.

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