Dr. Robert E. Suter is an emergency physician, healthcare executive, academic leader, and retired U.S. Army Brigadier General with more than 30 years of experience in emergency medicine practice, healthcare leadership, academics, and military medicine. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to advancing emergency care delivery, physician leadership, healthcare quality, and patient-centered innovation across both civilian and military healthcare systems.
Dr. Suter completed his medical degree and Master of Healthcare Administration at Des Moines University before completing his Emergency Medicine Residency at Brooke Army Medical Center. Following residency, he served as Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Acute Care at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center and was mobilized multiple times in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan.
During his distinguished military career, Brigadier General Suter commanded the 94th Combat Support Hospital and the 2nd Medical Brigade. In 2016–2017, he assumed command of the 3rd Medical Deployment Support Command (Forward), overseeing medical operations supporting U.S. and NATO forces throughout the Middle East theater. He later served as Deputy Commanding General (Support) for the 807th Medical Command Deployment Support and deployed as the Joint Force Land Component Command (JFLCC) Surgeon for NORTHCOM during the national COVID-19 response.
In addition to his military service, Dr. Suter has held numerous senior civilian leadership and academic positions. Most recently, he served as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Integration at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also served as Vice President for Quality and Health IT at the American Heart Association, where he led national and international initiatives to improve cardiovascular and stroke care quality, certification, and accreditation programs in more than 2,500 hospitals across the United States and more than 200 internationally.
A longtime leader in organized medicine, Dr. Suter has served on the boards of numerous emergency medicine and EMS organizations over the past two decades, including serving as President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM), and President of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP). He has also held academic appointments as Professor of Emergency Medicine, including positions at Uniformed Services University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Suter is the recipient of numerous military, academic, and professional honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the MG Malone Award for Military Academic Excellence, and the AAEM James Keaney Award. He remains a strong advocate for physician leadership, healthcare innovation, emergency preparedness, and the advancement of high-quality emergency care worldwide.