Dr. Julie Freischlag began her term as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of American Medical Colleges in November 2024. She comes to this role as a seasoned academic leader and a giant in medicine. She currently serves as CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice President of Atrium Health, and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Wake Forest University. Previously, she was the Vice Chancellor and Dean at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Her career has included many notable firsts: the first woman chief of vascular surgery at UCLA and the first woman chair of surgery at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Freischlag has published more than 300 articles, is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, has served as President of the American College of Surgeons, President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, and President of the Association of VA Surgeons, and has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of VA Surgeons.
Dr. Freischlagโs legacy is defined not only by her remarkable leadership but also by her unwavering commitment to mentoring and empowering the next generation of physicians. From students to residents, faculty to senior women, she has been a tireless advocate for their growth and success. At Wake Forest Baptist, the number of women full professors has nearly doubled during her seven-year tenure, as is evident in a pinning ceremony she initiated to recognize their achievements. This is just one of the many lasting impacts of her leadership.
Dr. Freischlagโs vision extends beyond individualsโit is about strengthening the entire medical community for the benefit of all patients and society. As she powerfully states: “I look at how things are accomplished in the best way by using a mosaicโpeople of different backgrounds, experiences and specialties. For example, women make up at least half of the new doctors we are training; therefore, encouraging many women to go into academic medicine is critical in order to get the best involved.” Her words and actions remind us of the importance of creating a vibrant and dedicated workforce that improves the health of all patients and all communities.
During her tenure as leader of the BOD, Freischlag will build on the success of the AAMC, with a focus on enhancing the matching process with signaling and continuing to advance scientific research and medical education. She will also expand membership in the AAMCโs Council of Academic Health System Executives (CHASE) to include CEOs in academic medicine.