Institute of Medicine Elects 70 New Members, 10 Foreign Associates

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) today announced the names of 70 new members and 10 foreign associates during its 43rd annual meeting.  Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.  

"It is an honor to welcome our highly distinguished colleagues to the Institute of Medicine," said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg.  "These individuals have inspired us through their achievements in research, teaching, clinical work, and other contributions to the medical field.  Their knowledge and skills will deeply enrich the IOM."

New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.  A diversity of talent among IOM's membership is assured by the Institute's charter, which stipulates that at least one-quarter of the membership is selected from outside the health professions, for example, from such fields as the law, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities.  The newly elected members raise IOM's total active membership to 1,753 and the number of foreign associates to 120.  With an additional 93 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 1,966.

The Institute of Medicine is unique in its structure as both an honorific membership organization and an advisory organization.  Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM has become recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues.  With their election, members make a commitment to volunteer their service on IOM committees, boards, and other activities.  Projects during the past year include studies of the benefits of including physical activity in the school environment, direct health outcomes of sodium intake, regional variations in Medicare spending, child abuse and neglect in the U.S., improved delivery of cancer care, the commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the U.S., post-deployment needs of Iraq and Afghanistan service members, gun violence research priorities in the U.S., and the international problem of illegitimate and substandard medications.