Photo: People's Daily)

Washington (People’s Daily) – The annual meeting for the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) held Monday announced its new members. The academy elected 75 new members, six of whom were Chinese Americans, along with 10 new international members. 

Acceptance into the academy is one of the highest honors in the health and medical sectors which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding achievements and have shown a commitment to service. 

“This distinguished and diverse class is truly a remarkable set of scholars and leaders whose work has advanced science, improved health, and made the world a better place for everyone,” said National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau. 

“Their expertise in science, medicine, health, and policy in the US and around the globe will help our organization address today’s most pressing health challenges and inform the future of health and health care,” he said.

The new members include Dr. Yang Chai, Craniofacial Biology at the University of Southern California; Dr. Ying-Hui Fu, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco; Dr. Linda M. Liau, Neurosurgery Department chair at the University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Xihong Lin, chair and professor of Biostatistics and Statistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Dr. Xiaobin Wang, Director for the Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and professor of pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Children's Center, Baltimore; Dr. King-Wai Yau, Neuroscience - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Gabriel Matthew Leung, Population Health professor and Dean of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong received international membership.

New members are elected by academy members through a voting process that recognizes the most dedicated individuals who have made major contributions in medical care and public health. Talent diversity is assured by the academy’s Articles of Organization, which stipulate that at least 25 percent of the total membership come from fields beyond the health sector and include law, engineering, social sciences and humanities. NAM’s total membership stands at 2,178, with 159 international members.  

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. 

NAM works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions.