The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has honored five Indian Americans by electing them to its distinguished membership. These new members—Nina Bhardwaj, Reshma Jagsi, Monika Kumari Goyal, Uma M. Reddy, and Avindra Nath—join 90 other regular members and 10 international members elected in NAM’s annual meeting. This election is seen as a top honor in health and medical fields, highlighting individuals who have made exceptional contributions and shown dedication to their profession. With these new members, NAM’s total membership surpasses 2,400, with nearly 200 members from international backgrounds.
NAM President Victor J. Dzau commented on the elections, expressing confidence in the new members’ abilities to help NAM confront urgent health and scientific challenges. He welcomed the new members, calling their inclusion an “honor and privilege.”
Originally founded in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences as the Institute of Medicine, NAM focuses on pressing issues in health, science, and medicine, fostering progress and policy changes.
Brief profiles of the five Indian Americans joining NAM include:
Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD
As the Waldman Chair in Cancer Research and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, Dr. Bhardwaj has pioneered research on human dendritic cells, key to a cell-based cancer vaccine.
Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil
Dr. Jagsi, chair of radiation oncology at Emory University, has conducted ground-breaking studies on factors affecting cancer treatment outcomes, particularly those impacting women.
Monika Kumari Goyal, MD, MSCE
Dr. Goyal, a pediatrics professor at George Washington University, leads national efforts in pediatric firearm injury prevention and studies the health effects of firearm violence on children.
Uma M. Reddy, MD, MPH
At Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. Reddy focuses on advancing the understanding of stillbirth, neonatal health, and pregnancy care, aiming for better health outcomes.
Avindra Nath, MD
Dr. Nath heads the Section of Infections of the Nervous System at the NIH, researching infectious diseases affecting the brain, including treatments for Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19.
This recognition underscores NAM’s commitment to fostering scientific and medical leadership.
