AACOM Names New Vice President of Marketing and Communications

AACOM is pleased to announce Susan Ridge as the Association’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, effective April 13, 2020. 
 
Ridge comes to AACOM with over 30 years of experience in communications, integrated marketing and public affairs. In this newly-created role, Ridge will lead AACOM’s efforts to support our member colleges in the recruitment and growth of a diversified, healthy applicant pool that successfully matches to a residency and practice that incorporates osteopathic principles to improve the health of patients. She will also advance the visibility and programs of osteopathic medical education and osteopathic medicine.

“We are very excited to have Susan join the AACOM team," said AACOM President and CEO Robert Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME, " Her expertise will help us to execute our mission and better connect us to our members, students, the broader osteopathic community, and other organizations.”

Ridge is joining AACOM from Johns Hopkins University where she served as Vice President of Communications, developing the university’s thought leadership, branding and public voice with key stakeholders in Baltimore and around the world. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Ridge provided counsel to university leadership to advance strategic priorities. She also collaborated with communications teams across the university to highlight the impact of the university and its students, faculty and staff.   

Prior to her time at Johns Hopkins, Ridge was Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Save the Children, where she worked to build awareness of the non-profit’s programs to give children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. In that role Ridge led the development of the humanitarian organization’s brand marketing; its creative and content strategy; its social engagement and media relations strategies; its digital marketing campaigns; and its celebrity ambassador program, all targeted to reach supporters in the United States.

Previously, she was, among other positions, vice president for communications at the National Federation of Independent Business and managing director at the New York City-based public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller.