ACEP Names New Executive Director

April 24, 2020

As the next step in a career dedicated to improving health care, Susan Sedory, MA, CAE, will assume the role as the American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) next Executive Director. Ms. Sedory will build on the foundation laid by Dean Wilkerson, JD, MBA, CAE, who will retire as ACEP’s Executive Director on July 31, 2020.

Ms. Sedory has been the Executive Director of the Society of Interventional Radiology since 2011, leading the association of more than 8,100 interventional radiology physicians, scientists and clinical professionals in the shared goal to optimize minimally invasive patient care.

Ms. Sedory will be ACEP’s fourth executive director—and first female in this position—in the College’s more than 50-year history.

“I am honored to help the passionate leaders and members of ACEP, as well as all emergency physicians, achieve their vision for the future of emergency care,” Ms. Sedory said.

“Each day brings new opportunities and new pressures on physicians. But when those who are most passionate about their profession and their patients find their voice and community in their professional association, the momentum to sustain positive change is powerful.

This is true now more than ever as we face the public health crisis of the century. Together, we must ensure patients, systems, policymakers and physicians have the answers and resources they need.”

Ms. Sedory also spent 10 years at the American Academy of Otolaryngology in various positions, including Chief Strategy Officer, and started her career as a researcher at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at the National Institutes of Health.

“Sue brings abundant experience as the leader of medical associations, as well as a significant background in research to the College,” said ACEP President William Jaquis, MD, FACEP. “Her thoughtful and incisive leadership style will serve us well as we move through and beyond this current COVID-19 crisis to a newly defined era of emergency medicine.”

In September 2019, Mr. Wilkerson announced his decision to retire as ACEP’s Executive Director after 16 years. Shortly after his announcement, the ACEP Board of Directors retained the services of Association Strategies, Inc., an executive search and organization development firm, to partner in a nationwide search, selection and transition of a new executive director.

Additionally, the Board formed a Search Committee that included Committee Chair Arlo Weltge, MD, MPH, FACEP; Immediate Past President Vidor Friedman, MD, FACEP as Board Liaison; Nancy Auer, MD, FACEP; Jordan Celeste, MD, FACEP; Ramon Johnson, MD, FACEP; Robert Malinowski, MD, FACEP; Omar Maniya, MD, MBA; Lynne Richardson, MD, FACEP; Jennifer Stankus, MD, FACEP; Elena Lopez-Gusman, Chapter Executive from CAL/ACEP; and General Counsel Leslie Moore, a non-voting staff representative.

More than 300 potential candidates were initially identified when the position was opened in December 2019. The field was narrowed down to 75, followed by extensive interviews of the top 23 candidates. After additional review and assessment, eight applicants were presented to the Search Committee for consideration.

Hindered travel and availability challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Committee to adapt to a more virtual approach, but the search process carried on in the true spirit of emergency medicine.

The Search Committee members conducted candidate interviews via video conference call on March 26 and 27, and ultimately recommended two finalists to meet with the ACEP Board in mid-April. The Board members conducted a series of two-and-a-half hour video conference calls with each finalist that included a 30-minute presentation by the candidate, as well as virtual “happy hours” to facilitate small group discussion.

Mr. Wilkerson said he plans to work alongside Ms. Sedory, who begins with ACEP on July 20, for a short period of transition.

“Sue has been successful throughout her career. She’s a terrific person who I greatly respect,” Mr. Wilkerson said. “I’m pleased ACEP will be in good hands after I retire.”