Dr. Wayne Frederick will step into the role of interim CEO for the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), effective November 2, the ACS Board of Directors announced Tuesday.
Dr. Frederick, who until recently served on the ACS Board of Directors, stepped down from his position on the Board to serve in this new interim capacity. The Board search for a permanent CEO remains ongoing, Marlow said.
Dr. Karen Knudsen will remain part of ACS, serving as an Executive Strategic Advisor through early 2025 to support the transition. Her final day as CEO will be November 1.
“Dr. Frederick's commitment to improving health care outcomes, particularly as it relates to patient care and research, aligns perfectly with the American Cancer Society's mission," said Brian Marlow, chair of the ACS Board of Directors. “As a proven and collaborative leader, we are confident in his ability to maintain and build upon the incredible momentum across ACS and ACS CAN during this period of leadership transition."
A distinguished health care leader and surgical oncologist, Dr. Frederick is currently president emeritus of Howard University, having served as the institution's 17th president from 2014 to 2023.
A practicing surgeon, Dr. Frederick was recently appointed by the Howard University Board of Trustees as the distinguished Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at the prestigious Howard University College of Medicine. His academic career began as the associate director of the cancer center at the University of Connecticut.
An accomplished scholar, Dr. Frederick has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, abstracts, and editorials, and is a widely recognized expert in the fields of health care disparities and medical education. His medical research focuses on reducing racial, ethnic and gender disparities in cancer care outcomes, with a particular emphasis on gastrointestinal cancers.
“I am deeply honored to join ACS and ACS CAN in this capacity as interim CEO and continue our work to end cancer as we know it, for everyone," said Dr. Frederick. “I look forward to working full-time with the incredible teams at ACS and ACS CAN, and more than a million of volunteers across the country, to advance our shared goals of increasing access to care, reducing cancer disparities and improving the lives of patients and their families."
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