ACEP hires Michael Fraser to boost advocacy and protect emergency physicians' clinical autonomy

The American College of Emergency Physicians has appointed Michael Fraser, PhD, MS, CAE, as its next executive director, the organisation announced on 7 August 2025. The college said Fraser will be responsible for driving ACEP’s advocacy, education, and policy agenda with an emphasis on supporting emergency physicians and strengthening the specialty’s national voice. The appointment comes as ACEP frames leadership change as central to confronting what it describes as mounting challenges to clinicians’ autonomy and capacity to care for all patients.

Fraser joins ACEP from leadership roles at major health organisations. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the College of American Pathologists and earlier led the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; his CV also includes senior leadership at a state medical society. The release highlighted Fraser’s academic affiliations and publication record, noting doctoral and master’s degrees in sociology and a master’s in management, and cited his affiliated faculty roles at a university's public health college. ACEP characterised him as a leader with more than two decades of public health and association management experience.

The College of American Pathologists has confirmed Fraser will depart its CEO role later in the year, with his last day set for 27 October 2025. CAP’s board has said it will appoint an interim chief executive and begin a search for a permanent successor, emphasising continuity of operations while it manages the leadership transition. CAP’s announcement frames Fraser’s move as an internal leadership change and thanks him for his service and strategic contributions.

ACEP’s president described the hire as timely. The college said its president argued now is the moment to address pressures that complicate emergency physicians’ duty to treat and to protect clinical autonomy; she cast Fraser’s blend of public health and management experience as a fit for that mission. Fraser himself said he was “honoured” to take the role and intends to bring experience from leading medical and public health societies to advance the specialty and support members. Those comments were presented by the organisation as part of the formal announcement.

Observers of association leadership note the move fits a pattern of cross‑sector executive mobility between state and national medical and public health bodies. Fraser’s record at his previous organisations included efforts to increase member engagement, raise media visibility, and expand organisational capacity; coverage of his earlier moves cited work on public health priorities such as substance use responses and infectious‑disease preparedness. For ACEP members, the appointment signals a leadership profile focused on policy, advocacy infrastructure and external partnerships rather than clinical practice per se.

For ACEP and for CAP, the coming months will involve parallel transition work: implementing ACEP’s strategic priorities under new executive leadership while CAP manages its succession planning. ACEP reiterated in the announcement that it represents roughly forty thousand emergency physician members and underlined the role the organisation plays in continuing education, research and advocacy. How quickly Fraser moves from CAP responsibilities to steering ACEP’s programme delivery and member services will be closely watched by association executives who monitor governance continuity and the operational risks associated with executive turnover.