The invention includes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) comprising at least one fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between an anode separator and a cathode separator. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a proton exchange membrane interposed between an anode and a cathode, each electrode comprising an electrocatalyst. The anode and cathode separators contain the flow field features necessary to communicate the fuel and oxidant, respectively, to their respective electrodes. A heat transfer separator may be integrated into the fuel cell assembly. Each separator is made up of a series of conductive compression gaskets that distribute fuel, oxidant and heat transfer fluid throughout the fuel cell. Under mechanical load, the respective series of compression gaskets are consolidated into fuel cell separators with sufficient structural integrity to seal the PEMFC fluids.