The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) is pleased to welcome David M. Vulcano, MSW, MBA, CIP, RAC, FACRP, a long-time volunteer and supporter of the Association and thought leader in the clinical research enterprise, as its new Chief Executive Officer. He started his duties in this role on May 4, following his selection by the Association Board of Trustees to oversee the staff and volunteer operations of the 50-year-old organization and its more than 22,000 members worldwide.
Vulcano has been a member of ACRP since 2002, served as Chair of its Board of Trustees in 2009, became an ACRP Fellow (FACRP) in 2020, and has served on a variety of committees contributing to the life of the Association. He has been active for decades in the drug and device research and development industry as a change agent through numerous speaking and volunteer engagements and has authored more than 70 publications. David most recently served as Vice President for Clinical Research Compliance & Integrity for HCA Healthcare, assisting its portfolio of hospitals, physician practices, and healthcare technology companies with their research endeavors.
In addition to speaking at numerous ACRP conferences, Vulcano has presented at most major research and other healthcare-related associations and organizations on topics related to the clinical trials industry and has served as an expert witness for matters in clinical trials matters. He recently developed a joint ACRP-Society of Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) white paper, “A Pragmatic Guide for Migrating Investigator Sites to ICH E6(R3),” and an ACRP white paper on “Responsible Oversight of Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Research Professionals.”
Born and raised in New Orleans, La., he holds master’s degrees in both Social Work and Business Administration and maintains his Certified IRB Professional (CIP) status and Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC). He was an Honorary President for SCRS and served as an Advisory Board member for the Society for Clinical Data Management. He and his wife are the parents of two grown children and live south of Nashville, Tenn. Among other activities outside the realm of research, he sits on several business and charitable boards.
“We are excited to have David step into this new role with ACRP following his many impactful contributions to the Association as a volunteer across nearly 25 years,” said Mo Ali, Chair of the Association Board of Trustees for 2026. “He well understands the Association’s mission of providing global leadership to promote integrity and excellence in the clinical research profession, and we look forward to working with him as he champions ACRP’s many initiatives and services for the betterment of our stakeholders across the spectrum of this important enterprise.”
