Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd(Hon), DFSVS, MAMSE, is chief executive officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, chief academic officer of Advocate Health and executive vice president for health affairs of Wake Forest University. As a member of the executive leadership team, she is responsible for the academic core of Advocate Health, the third largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States. In this role, she oversees research and discovery for the entire Advocate Health System, including all educational and research programs at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Health Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, and Atrium Health Carolinas College of Health Sciences. As CEO of Wake Forest Baptist, Freischlag has overall responsibility for the health system’s clinical, academic, and innovation enterprises and its annual operating budget of more than $4 billion.
With more than 15 years of leadership experience, Freischlag—who has been CEO of Wake Forest Baptist since 2017—joined Atrium Health in October 2020, when Atrium Health underwent a strategic combination with Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. A practicing vascular surgeon specializing in the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome, Freischlag has led education and training programs at top medical schools in her role as professor and chair of surgery and vascular surgery departments. Freischlag also has more than 30 years of experience leading patient-care services as chief of surgery or vascular surgery at nationally ranked hospitals. Previously, she served as professor, chair of the surgery department and surgeon-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Additional leadership positions held throughout her career include vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at UC Davis.
Her national leadership includes serving as the 2021-2022 president of the American College of Surgeons, a former governor and secretary of the Board of Governors and a regent and past chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons. She is the past president of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation, and past president of the Association of VA Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Chairs. Freischlag was the editor of JAMA Surgery for 10 years (2005-2014) and is currently a member of the JAMA Oversight Committee and the editorial boards of the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, British Journal of Surgery, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Currently, Freischlag serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for American Medical Colleges, National Institute of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital Board, and Aga Khan University Board of Trustees. She is also chair of the Health Services Committee, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Board of Visitors, and the University of Illinois Health Advisory Council. Most recently, the Association of American Medical Colleges named Freischlag as chair-elect of its board of directors, with her term to begin in November 2024.
Freischlag has received numerous teaching and achievement awards, including an achievement award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2015. Freischlag holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois and a medical degree from Rush University. She completed her general surgery residency and fellowship training in vascular surgery at UCLA Medical Center. She also holds a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons credential, a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery designation, and a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons.
The host for the Fireside Chat is Mohsen M. Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, MAMSE, Vice President/Chief Medical Officer of the Wellspan Surgery Service Line, York, PA. Dr. Shabahang joined Wellspan in the summer of 2021. He serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Novel Teaching and Assessment Methods and Educational Resources for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.
Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, Director of the ACS Division of Education and Co-Chair of the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Steering Committee, will give welcoming remarks.
