Peking University, Oct. 21, 2014: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies announced the names of 70 new members and 10 foreign associates during its 44th annual meeting on October 20, 2014. Professor Ke Yang, also executive vice president of Peking University and Peking University Health Science center, was elected foreign associate. 

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 with great enthusiasm that we welcome our esteemed colleagues to the Institute of Medicine," said IOM President Victor J. Dzau.  "These leaders' tremendous achievements have contributed significantly to advancing health and medicine.  The expertise and knowledge they bring to the IOM will encourage and enhance its success."

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 1,798 and the number of foreign associates to 128.  With an additional 86 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 2,012.

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 on meeting the needs of those nearing the end of life, determining what is known about and how to reduce sport-related concussions in youth athletes, analyzing the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in military and veteran populations, enhancing governance and accountability in graduate medical education, and examining long-term health effects of blast exposures. 

Source: Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
http://www.iom.edu/Global/News%20Announcements/2014-New-Members.aspx

Edited by: Zhang Jiang