CHICAGO ― The American Epilepsy Society has announced the selection of Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, FASAE, CAE, as incoming chief executive officer, effective November 25, 2024. Toyama will succeed Eileen M. Murray, MM, CAE, who announced earlier this year that she would be stepping down from her position after 11 years.
 | Toyama is currently CEO of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a client of the Association Management Center. Her 25 years of association experience include serving the American Dental Association and Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. She is passionate about advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), having served on various DEI committees throughout her career beginning in the 1990s at the Tribune Company. |
Toyama received the 2024 Association Forum Woman of Influence™ award, which honors trailblazers in the association profession who have a record of innovation, impact and giving back through coaching, mentoring and service. The award also honors her commitment to DEI.
“Ms. Toyama is a proven leader with many accomplishments, and we are confident she is the right leader for AES at this pivotal time in our growth,” said AES President William H. Theodore, MD, FAES. “Her extensive executive-level experience with medical societies positions her well to provide critical leadership as we continue to broaden AES’ impact and diversify the specialty in our mission to eradicate epilepsy and its consequences. We owe a great deal to Ms. Murray and her team for positioning AES to move forward, and Ms. Toyama will build on that strong foundation.”
Toyama has served on the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) Nominating and Finance Committees and was part of the CMSS Leadership Development Program Work Group. She also serves as the secretary for the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, vice chair of the American Society of Association Executive (ASAE) Research Foundation Research Committee, vice chair for the ASAE Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Advisory Group and previously chaired the ASAE Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Toyama is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and a Certified Association Executive. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois, and a BFA from Indiana University (IU), Bloomington, where she received the 2018 Leanne Grotke Award, which celebrates women whose service contributed greatly to IU’s Women’s Athletics.
"I am passionate about working with interdisciplinary medical associations that support patients across the age spectrum,” said Toyama. “Two key aspects that attracted me to AES are its dedication to research and deep commitment to health equity, which create the foundation for meaningful change. It is an honor to join the AES Board and professional staff team.”
The search committee was co-chaired by President Emeritus Manisha N. Patel, PhD, FAES, and First Vice President Howard P. Goodkin, MD, PhD, FAES. Search firm Korn Ferry assisted in the national search.