CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Advocate Health has announced that Ebony Boulware, M.D., M.P.H., has been named chief academic officer, effective January 2026. Dr. Boulware will continue to serve as dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, a role she has had since January 2023.
As chief academic officer, Dr. Boulware will provide strategic vision and leadership for Advocate Health’s academic enterprise, advancing education, research and clinical innovation across the organization’s multi-state footprint.
"Advocate Health's mission to redefine care requires unprecedented coordination between medical research, clinical innovation and education, and we have just the right person to deliver on that promise, in Dr. Ebony Boulware," said Eugene A. Woods, CEO, Advocate Health. "Ebony is a brilliant doctor and strategist, and her dual role ensures that knowledge and expertise flow in both directions between our academic core, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and our nearly 70 hospitals across six states. The advances made through our national academic model will serve our six million patients, from our most urban to most rural communities, who will see the benefits of medical discovery that too often was out of reach, in the past."
Dr. Boulware succeeds Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than three decades of leadership in academic medicine. Dr. Freischlag also served as dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine from February 2018 to February 2023.
“This transition reflects the unique position of Wake Forest University School of Medicine as the academic core of Advocate Health – expanding upon the health system’s national impact on education, research and clinical innovation,” said Dr. Boulware. “As chief academic officer and dean of the school of medicine, I’m honored to build upon Dr. Freischlag’s legacy, leading the vision and strategy to progress the academic medical programs across our multi-state system.”
Dr. Boulware is a general internist, physician-scientist and clinical epidemiologist, and internationally recognized for research focused on improving health, for all. To achieve this vision, Dr. Boulware has introduced the outstanding clinical and educational leaders who will serve alongside her as members of her leadership cabinet.
“Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of discovery, foster innovation and uphold the highest standards of excellence, ensuring that our collective work improves health and creates opportunity for generations to come,” said Dr. Boulware.
As dean, Dr. Boulware will continue to lead all aspects of both the Winston-Salem and Charlotte campuses of the medical school, including programs to advance the clinical, research, education, innovation and community engagement missions.
“Dr. Ebony Boulware is an incredible leader and innovator,” said Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente. “As Dean of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, she has built an environment of collaboration, curiosity, and service, preparing the next generation of medical professionals and researchers to lead with excellence and integrity. As Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Boulware will undoubtedly extend this commitment further to ensure learning and discovery are catalysts that benefit the broad base of patient communities served by Advocate’s national network.”
In summer 2025, Wake Forest University School of Medicine opened its second campus in Charlotte, as the academic anchor of The Pearl Innovation District. Its first class of students started in July, with enrollment expected to increase to 100 students per class over the next five years.
“United by a shared vision, Advocate Health is poised to become the nation’s largest academically integrated health system, advancing innovation, clinical excellence and improved health, for all, across every community we serve,” said Dr. Boulware.
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