Julie A. Freischlag is a renowned vascular surgeon and executive leader who has significantly advanced the clinical and academic standing of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist since becoming CEO in 2017. Under her leadership, the organization navigated a transformative strategic combination with Atrium Health and later Advocate Health, creating the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States. A crowning achievement of her tenure is the July 2025 opening of the Julie Ann Freischlag Tower, a $426 million, 327,000-square-foot critical care facility. This landmark investment represents a “promise fulfilled” to the region, providing 28 state-of-the-art operating rooms and 56 intensive care rooms equipped with the latest medical technologies to elevate trauma and surgical care for North Carolina.
Beyond infrastructure, Dr. Freischlag has been a pivotal force in maintaining the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center’s NCI designation, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. She oversaw the integration of cutting-edge therapies, including the launch of the Levine Cancer Proton and Advanced Radiation Center, which began treating patients in late 2024 as the first facility of its kind in the Carolinas. As she prepares to retire at the end of 2025, Dr. Freischlag leaves behind a legacy as a “shatterer of glass ceilings”—including her role as the first female president of the Society for Vascular Surgery—and a champion for diverse, research-driven oncology care that will continue to benefit the community for decades to come.
The 100 CEOs featured here reflect the diversity and complexity of modern oncology leadership. In 2025, some lead the world’s largest cancer institutions; others guide specialized societies or emerging innovators. What unites them is responsibility: for millions of patients, for the integrity of science, and for the future direction of cancer care globally.
This list is not a celebration of power, but a recognition of stewardship, accountability, and impact – and of the leaders whose choices continue to shape the fight against cancer. For the many deserving individuals not mentioned in this list, we will continue to acknowledge, honor and elevate your voices in our daily publications from across the world.
See the full list of The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025, and stay tuned for other special category nominations.
