The board of directors at the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced on Oct. 17 the appointment of Wayne A.I. Frederick, the former president of Howard University, as interim chief executive officer of the main organization and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, as of Nov. 2.
Frederick served as president of Howard from 2014-2023 and is presently the president emeritus.
Brian Marlow, chair of the ACS Board of Directors, said: “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.”
Frederick said he is “deeply honored” to have been given the assignment.
“I look forward to working full-time with the incredible teams at ACS and ACS CAN, and more than a million 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,” he said.
The board’s search for a permanent CEO remains ongoing.