Frank Cerra, the senior vice president of the Academic Health Center, now has influence on academic health centers nationwide.

Cerra recently was named chairman of the board of directors for the Association of Academic Health Centers.

In October 2004, Cerra became the chair-elect of the association, which is based in Washington, D.C.

More than 100 academic health centers across the country are members of the Association of Academic Health Centers.

Steven Wartman, president of the association, said Cerra will have ultimate oversight over the organization.

“I am absolutely thrilled to work with someone of Dr. Cerra’s leadership,” Wartman said.

The mission of the Association of Academic Health Centers is “to improve the health of the people by advancing the leadership of academic health centers in health professions’ education, biomedical and health services research and health care delivery.”

This year will be formative for the organization because of the association’s new strategic plan, Wartman said.

Part of the tentative plan is to work hard in Washington, D.C., to advance the interests of the American health care system and to collectively bring the nation’s academic health centers together, he said.

“Frank is really insightful and we are excited to have him as chairman of the board,” said Elaine Rubin, vice president for program and communications for the Association of Academic Health Centers.

All academic health centers in the association have an allopathic or osteopathic school of medicine, at least one other health professional school or program and at least one owned or affiliated teaching hospital.

Wartman said Cerra will put in as much time as necessary to get the job done as chairman of the board.