Health IT, Medical Education

CEO of medical informatics group steps down

Douglas Fridsma, CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association, resigned on January 1. He had led the organization for five years.

 

Douglas Fridsma stepped down from his role as CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association on January 1. In a blog post on Friday, Fridsma said that he respected “…the board’s decision to move in a new direction.”

Fridsma had led AMIA for five years, making him the organization’s longest running CEO. AMIA represents 5,400 informatics professionals and has put forward guidance on policies related to healthcare records, such as the 21st Century Cures Act.

During his time with AMIA, Fridsma helped raise the organization’s visibility and helped develop a new health education certification that will launch next year. He also wrote that AMIA had reached record membership numbers.

“Serving as CEO of AMIA has been a highlight of my career and I am thankful for the support the AMIA Board and staff have shown me during my time at AMIA,” Fridsma said in a news release.

In a joint statement, AMIA’s outgoing board chair Dr. Peter Embl and incoming board chair Patricia Dykes said the organization would focus more on its educational offerings, policy impact, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and advancements in applied informatics. The nonprofit launched a new five-year strategic plan.

“Doug’s leadership as AMIA’s longest serving CEO over the past five years has resulted in significant positive impacts to the association, our members and the profession,” Embl and Dykes stated in a news release. “On behalf of the Board, we extend our appreciation to Doug for his years of service and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Fridsma hasn’t decided what he will do next. Prior to joining AMIA, he served as chief scientist for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Karen Greenwood, AMIA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO while the nonprofit’s board searches for a replacement.

 

Photo credit: ipopba, Getty Images

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