Mary E. Post, MBA, CAE, is the chief executive officer of the American Academy of Neurology, the world’s largest association of neurologists with more than 40,000 members. Leading a team of more than 200 staff with locations in Minneapolis, MN, and Washington, DC, Post is responsible for the AAN achieving its mission of enhancing member career fulfillment and promoting brain health for all., as well as the AAN’s vision of being indispensable to its membership.
Post began her position as CEO of the AAN in April 2020. She is the fourth CEO since the AAN was established in 1948. Post was selected for the role based on her extensive experience leading a major nonprofit medical specialty organization as well as her broad prior experience at the AAN, where she served for 16 years in many leadership roles, including as deputy executive director.
Post is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), the highest credential in the association management industry. She also holds a Post-Master’s Certificate in organizational leadership, a Master of Business Administration Degree in human resources, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration. She has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit medical specialty industry. She has led meaningful, sustainable, programmatic, operational, and financial growth within organizations while increasing value for stakeholders and creating an award-winning, resilient culture.
In Post’s most recent position as the executive director for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), she established a strong and collaborative partnership with its board of directors and 700 volunteer physicians to innovate and transform the organization’s programs.
Under Post’s leadership, the ABA became the first US medical specialty certifying board to successfully implement an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) into the ABA’s initial certification program. In 2014, the ABA also reimagined its Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program (MOCA) and incorporated learning and assessment of knowledge into its physicians’ daily practice through MOCA Minute®.