Douglas B. Fridsma, MD, Ph.D., FACP, FACMI, FAMIA
– Douglas B. Fridsma, MD, Ph.D., FACP, FACMI, FAMIA is stepping down as President and CEO of The American Medical Informatics Association (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.
The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) has announced the departure of President and CEO Douglas B. Fridsma, MD, Ph.D., FACP, FACMI, FAMIA, effective January 1, 2020. Dr. Fridsma had served in the role since 2014. 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.
“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.”
Fridsma’s Accomplishments at AMIA
During his tenure as president and CEO of AMIA, Dr. 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.
Dr. 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.
Dr. 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. At the ONC, he was responsible for the scientific and technical strategy for the ONC portfolio of technical resources to support the meaningful use program and health information technology interoperability. A key accomplishment was his coordination across federal agencies through the Federal Health Architecture (FHA), of health IT investments across the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration. He has not decided on what is next after AMIA.
“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.”
