The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) announced that Melanie J. Wells, MPH, CAE, the college’s current Chief Operations Officer, has been selected by the ACMG Board of Directors to become its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following a thorough national search.

Wells is the first African American and first woman to lead the organization, which was founded in 1991 and represents medical genetics professionals, including clinical geneticists, laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other health care professionals.

Wells will succeed ACMG’s Interim CEO, Robert G. Best, PhD, FACMG.

Susan Klugman, MD, FACMG, FACOG said, “It is an exciting time for the college as the practices of clinical and laboratory genetics are both at critical junctures. Collaboration with nongenetics professionals will become increasingly important in the years to come. Wells is well positioned to lead our talented and hardworking staff to achieve our goals in the areas of education, research and advocacy as genetics will have a much broader presence in all health care. I have worked with Wells since my initial years on the ACMG board and have always appreciated her organizational and interpersonal skills. She has also been the staff liaison to our diversity, equity and inclusion committee and has been involved in many of its initiatives. Her years of experience as an association professional and her knowledge of the inner workings of the college, combined with her commitment, make her an outstanding choice for this role.”

Wells takes the helm at a pivotal time in the field of medical genetics.

“Associations are operating during unprecedented times, as we integrate lessons learned during the pandemic and develop new business strategies to meet member and partner needs,” said Wells. “As our lives have evolved, similarly ACMG and ACMGF must continue to demonstrate the value of the work we do in innovative ways. I am honored to continue my service to the college and look forward to collaborating with our board of directors, volunteers and our dedicated staff to position the college and foundation for transformational change that expands our reach, establishes pathways for equitable access to genetics and genomics services and resources, while solidifying our future service to the greater medical community.”

Wells received a Master of Public Health in health policy and management with a concentration in healthcare organizations and management from the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a designated Certified Association Executive by the American Society of Association Executives.

Wells joined the ACMG and the ACMG Foundation in 2016 as director of administration and has been the chief operations officer since 2020. In this role, she worked closely with the chief executive officer to fulfill the college’s mission by overseeing budgets, staff, human resources, information technology and operations.

Wells also worked closely with the board of directors for both ACMG and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine on strategic planning and implementing board initiatives.

Previously she was chief operating officer for the Society for Public Health Education and executive director of Capital City Area Health Education Center in Washington, D.C.

“Since its inception, the ACMG has had a scientist and Fellow as its leader,” said Chair of the CEO Search Committee and Immediate Past President of the ACMG, Marc S. Williams, MD, FACMG. “At the initiation of this search, the board endorsed expanding the criteria to include association professionals, reflecting that the college has grown so much in its 30+ years of existence, that leadership by a professional trained in the management of complex organizations could offer opportunities for transformation. Based on her training and experience with the college and other associations, Wells impressed the search committee with several innovative ideas involving membership, educational offerings and financial management that separated her from the other candidates. The board is looking forward to working with Wells to realize these ideas to strengthen the college now and in the future.”

Reprinted from an ACMG press release