The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) announces the departure of President and CEO Douglas B. Fridsma, MD, PhD, FACP, FACMI, FAMIA, effective January 1, 2020. Fridsma had served in the role since 2014.
“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,” said outgoing AMIA Board Chair, Peter J. Embi, MD, MS, FACP, FACMI, FAMIA, and incoming AMIA Board Chair, Patricia C. Dykes, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, in a joint statement. “As we begin our strategic planning process that will anchor AMIA’s critical role advancing informatics over the next decade, we will build upon the strong foundation that has been expanded under Doug’s leadership. In particular, we look forward to continuing important work across AMIA’s educational offerings, impacts on policy, advancements in applied informatics, and focus on AMIA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. On behalf of the Board, we extend our appreciation to Doug for his years of service and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“Serving as CEO of AMIA has been a highlight of my career,” said Doug Fridsma, “and I am thankful for the support the AMIA Board and staff have shown me during my time at AMIA. I respect the board’s decision to go in a different direction as they begin their strategic planning process, and I am proud of what we all have achieved together in the past five years. The organization is in a strong position financially and programmatically.”
As president and CEO of AMIA, Fridsma worked with leading AMIA members to introduce a new philanthropic mission for AMIA through the LEAD Fund – Leadership Education and Awards Donation fund. This fund was put forth to strengthen the upcoming leaders of the field. The fund was able to provide travel stipends for eight students to AMIA’s Annual Symposium this year.
Fridsma has raised the visibility and importance of AMIA nationally and internationally through policy engagement and workforce development activities. He has worked to support the development of digital education, the applied informatics community, and the health informatics certification program, set to launch in 2021. Fridsma, a longtime member of AMIA and ACMI, joined the organization from a post as Chief Scientist in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. He has not decided on what is next after AMIA.
Karen Greenwood, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will serve as interim CEO while the Board of Directors begins the search for a replacement.
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AMIA, the leading professional association for informatics professionals, is the center of action for 5,400 informatics professionals from more than 65 countries. As the voice of the nation’s top biomedical and health informatics professionals, AMIA and its members play a leading role in assessing the effect of health innovations on health policy and advancing the field of informatics. AMIA actively supports five domains in informatics: translational bioinformatics, clinical research informatics, clinical informatics, consumer health informatics, and public health informatics.