The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has elected Julie A. Freischlag, MD, as chair of its 2024–25 board of directors. Her term will commence on Nov. 12 and extend through the conclusion of the AAMC’s “Learn Serve Lead” annual meeting in November 2025.
Freischlag, a prominent vascular surgeon and healthcare leader, currently serves as chief academic officer and executive vice president of Advocate Health, chief executive officer and academic officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and executive vice president for health affairs at Wake Forest University. She is also the previous dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Throughout her career, Freischlag has broken new ground in academic medicine. She was the first female surgeon-in-chief at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and the first female chief of vascular surgery at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). Her previous roles include vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at UC Davis.
Beyond her administrative and academic roles, Freischlag is an accomplished vascular surgeon specializing in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). She is a past president of the American College of Surgeons and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2015. In 2021, she was inducted into the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.
As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), Freischlag has made significant contributions to the field. She served as 2013-2014 SVS president and received the 2023 SVS Lifetime Achievement Award, the Society’s highest honor. Freischlag also holds the distinction of being the sixth woman in the U.S. to receive board certification in vascular surgery.
“It is an honor to lead the AAMC at such a pivotal time in healthcare. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to advance academic medicine and ensure that we continue to educate the next generation of physicians and healthcare professionals,” said Freischlag.
Freischlag earned her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed her residency at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Her election as chair of the AAMC Board of Directors adds another significant chapter to a career marked by leadership, innovation and service.
