Wayne A.I. Frederick

Wayne A. I. Frederick, MD, MBA is the interim CEO of both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). In this role and alongside the organization’s Board of Directors, he guides both organizations – and their more than 3,000 team members and 1.3 million volunteers – toward a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Also president emeritus of Howard University, Dr. Frederick served as the institution's 17th president from 2014 to 2023. Under his leadership, Howard University made significant strides in student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability.

Dr. Frederick remains a practicing cancer surgeon at Howard University Hospital, where he continues to see patients and perform surgeries. He was recently appointed by the Howard University Board of Trustees as the distinguished Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery.

Dr. Frederick graduated from Howard University’s dual BS/MD program at age 22. He later earned an MBA from Howard University's Business School in 2011. 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.

Throughout his career, Dr. Frederick has received numerous recognitions, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2021, he was recognized by the Carnegie Corporation of New York as one of 34 naturalized citizens honored for their contributions to strengthening the United States.

Dr. Frederick currently serves on the boards of Humana and Insulet and served on the American Cancer Society Board before taking on this role. He is an active member of several professional associations, including the American Surgical Association and the American College of Surgeons. Recently, he was appointed senior independent director of Mutual of America and serves as an advisor for Boston Consulting Group (BCG).