Two UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine faculty members were elected to the Institute of Medicine this week.
Geffen Professor of Medicine José J. Escarce and Geffen Professor of Family Medicine William Vega were both elected.
The Institute of Medicine is a division of the National Academy of Sciences and is considered the final point of authority for unresolved issues in medical care and health policy in the United States, Vega said.
“For example, issues that come forward that are controversial or not controversial, policy issues that come from the government,” he said. “They look for a body that doesn’t have any conflicts of interest and can make a final decision using scientific evidence.”
Vega said an example of issues that may be brought to the Institute include the ethics and appropriateness of vaccination, toxicology issues relating to environmental pollution and other big health issues.
“The issue of post-traumatic stress issues was brought forward by the Veterans’ Administration ““ a lot of people are coming from the war arena,” he added, giving an example of a committee he served on. “The question became, what works for treating these people? What works for treating post-traumatic stress disorder?”
Vega said election to the Institute is by nomination.
“You’re nominated and it’s all done confidentially; someone nominates you and (the Institute consists of) a number of different speciality issues and they make up a list of candidates, order them and put them out for general voting.”
The Institute of Medicine has a total membership of 1,736, including 1,576 active members, 89 foreign associates and 71 members holding emeritus status, according to a statement released by the University of California Office of the President.
This year, the Institute of Medicine elected about 65 new members, said Enrique Rivero, a UCLA spokesman.
There were seven total from the University of California this year, he added.
The list included four faculty members from UC San Francisco, one from UC San Diego and two from UCLA.
Dr. Gerald S. Levey, vice chancellor for UCLA medical sciences and the dean of the Geffen School of Medicine, said the Institute of Medicine is among the top prestigious organizations in academic medicine in the United States.
“The Institute of Medicine is focused more broadly at achievements in serving the underserved, contributions to the various medical fields and excellence in research,” Levey said. “And to have two members of your faculty in one year be honored by that organization is truly something special.”
Members of the Institute volunteer on committees that study a broad range of health policy issues, according to the university statement.
Escarce, for instance, is currently in Washington D.C. attending to Institute of Medicine business and was thus unavailable for comment. Escarce joined the university only two years ago, Levey said.
“This is a great honor for UCLA,” Levey said. “We’re delightful, we really are. We all work hard and we like when the faculty of the institution is recognized for being special ““ it’s very satisfying for all of us.”