AUSTIN – Five faculty members from three University of Texas System institutions have been named to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies.
The 65 new members were elected to the organization by current members in recognition for their professional achievement and commitment to service. The IOM serves as an advisor concerning health and science policy to lawmakers, health professionals, and the general public. The total number of active members in the IOM is now 1,538.
“The election of these outstanding scientists and faculty members is wonderful news and further evidence of the excellent research and patient care provided by the health institutions within the UT System,” said Dr. Kenneth I. Shine, executive vice chancellor for health affairs for the UT System and immediate past president of the Institute of Medicine.
The five faculty members elected to the prestigious organization are:
- Ellen R. Gritz, Ph.D., professor and chair, department of behavioral science, and Olla S. Stribling Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston
- Luis F. Parada, Ph.D., chair, department of developmental biology; director of the Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration; and holder of the Diana K. and Richard C. Strauss Distinguished Chair in Developmental Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., professor, department of epidemiology and biostatistics; Dielmann Chair in health disparities and community outreach research; and director, Institute for Health Promotion Research, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
- Thomas C. Südhof, M.D., investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; chair, department of neuroscience; and holder of the Gill Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience and the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Cynthia D. Mulrow, M.D., deputy editor, Annals of Internal Medicine, American College of Physicians, San Antonio; Dr. Mulrow is a part-time faculty member at The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
The election of the new members brings the total number of IOM members currently affiliated with the UT System to 34.
About the University of Texas System
The University of Texas System is one of the nation’s largest higher education systems, with nine academic campuses and six health institutions. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $10.7 billion (FY 2008) including $2.3 billion in research funded by federal, state, local and private sources. Student enrollment exceeded 190,000 in the 2006 academic year. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates nearly three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually. With more than 80,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state. END Background Material
