The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies awarded Arthur Garson, Jr., University executive vice president and provost, one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health, electing him to its membership?. Garson, who is a pediatric cardiologist in addition to serving as a University administrator, is one of 65 new members elected to the organization.
"This is a group of people that are going to be tremendous colleagues as we start down the road of health reform, and I am very much looking forward to working with them," Garson said.
Garson is one of four new members who will serve in the area of health policy and administration, which will involve reviewing and advising studies within the area and participating in committees to discuss proposals.
The Institute of Medicine was formed in 1970 as a part of the National Academy of Sciences. Not just an honorific, part of its mission is to advise the nation on matters of health and medicine.
Election to the institute requires undergoing a highly competitive selection process. Candidates are nominated by current members and go through a vetting process before coming to a final ballot within the membership committee.
"The criteria we look for are excellence and outstanding professional achievement within the candidate's discipline," according to Judith Shamir, director of council and membership services at NIH. "Another part of our requirements is a willingness to serve the organization, and in that the Institute is unique within the National Academies."
Garson said he is especially interested in health care reform and improving the nation's health insurance programs. He has helped author two health care bills currently in Congress, including the Health Partnership Act. He noted, however, that the Institute deals in policy, not politics -- providing principles and analysis on proposals.
Because many requests for studies by the Institute come from government or regulatory agencies, Garson said he suspects the topic of health insurance might come up in the near future.
"It would not surprise me if the Institute of Medicine did look at policies involving the health care system," he said. "They did in the past and I expect they will in the future. I would be honored to be a part of those discussions"
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