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Washington, DC
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) recently announced the election of 5 Indian Americans to this prestigious academy. These 5 Indian Americans namely, Nina Bhardwaj, Reshma Jagsi, Monika Kumari Goyal, Uma M. Reddy, and Avindra Nath are part of 90 regular members and 10 international members elected during its annual meeting.
The election to NAM 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. The newly elected members bring NAM’s total membership to more than 2,400, which includes nearly 200 international members.
Commenting on the occasion, NAM President Victor J. Dzau said, “Their expertise will be necessary to support NAM’s work to address the pressing health and scientific challenges we face today. It is my privilege to welcome these esteemed individuals to the National Academy of Medicine.”
Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine, and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors.
Brief details of the newly elected 5 Indian Americans as regular members of NAM are:
Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD
Nina holds the Waldman Chair in Cancer Research and is a professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City. She has pioneered the discovery and function of human dendritic cell subsets, essential for the approval of a cell-based vaccine for cancer.
Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil
Reshma is Lawrence W. Davis Professor and chair, department of radiation oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta. Her pioneering work includes empirical research that has identified targetable drivers of disparities in cancer outcomes, particularly for women.
Monika Kumari Goyal, MD, MSCE
Monika is a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at George Washington University. She is a national leader in research in pediatric firearm injury prevention. Her research focuses on the impact of firearm violence on child health and is a leading pediatric equity scientist.
Uma M. Reddy, MD, MPH
Uma is a professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City. Her work includes paradigm-shifting research in developing the understanding of stillbirth, neonatal morbidity and mortality, and labor management. She is driving improved outcomes for pregnant people and their children.
Avindra Nath, MD
Avindra is the chief of Section of Infections of the Nervous System and clinical director, at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH. His research focuses on studying emerging and persistent infections of the nervous system and developing treatments for retroviruses, Ebola, Zika, COVID-19 and others.
