Meet Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, FAMIA, FASA

Meet Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, FAMIA, FASA, the president of the American Medical Association and a senior associate dean, tenured professor of anesthesiology, and director of Wisconsin’s largest statewide public health philanthropy organization, the “Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment” at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Ehrenfeld is the first openly gay president of the AMA. For more than two decades, Dr. Ehrenfeld has advocated on behalf of LGBTQ individuals. In 2018, in recognition of his outstanding research contributions, he received the inaugural Sexual and Gender Minority Research Investigator Award from the director of the NIH.  

Board certified in both anesthesiology and clinical informatics, Dr. Ehrenfeld divides his time among clinical practice, teaching, research and directing a $560-million statewide health philanthropy. His research—focused on how digital technology can improve surgical safety, patient outcomes, and health equity—has been funded by the NIH, the DoD, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research, and RWJF. Dr. Ehrenfeld also is a combat veteran who deployed to Afghanistan during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Resolute Support Mission, Dr. Ehrenfeld, was recognized in 2015 with a White House News Photographers Association award and an Emmy nomination for his video work supporting the lives of LGBTQ+ people. 

Dr. Ehrenfeld’s long commitment to improving health outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community and to advancing health equity, as well as his testimony before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in favor of lifting the ban on transgender service members—earned him special recognition from GLMA in 2018.

Don’t miss his Samuel Pang LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education and Research Keynote titled Standing up for LGBTQ+ Health-My Journey to the Presidency of the American Medical Association on Wednesday, October 23, 8:00 – 8:45 AM. Upon his inauguration, Dr. Ehrenfeld made AMA history as the first openly gay president of the organization. For more than two decades, Dr. Ehrenfeld has advocated on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. In 2018, in recognition of his outstanding research contributions, he received the inaugural Sexual and Gender Minority Research Investigator Award from the director of the National Institute of Health. In his plenary session, he will describe progress and barriers to improving health outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community and to advancing health equity.

Click here to learn more about this plenary lecture.  https://asrm.confex.com/asrm/2024/meetingapp.cgi/Session/6096