Professor Lukoye Atwoli, Dean, AKU Medical College, East Africa and Associate Director, Brain and Mind Institute has been elected as an international member to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
“It is my honour to welcome this truly exceptional class of new members to the National Academy of Medicine," said NAM President Victor J. Dzau. “Their contributions to health and medicine are unparalleled, and their leadership and expertise will be essential to helping the NAM tackle today's urgent health challenges, inform the future of health care, and ensure health equity for the benefit of all around the globe."
Prof Lukoye was elected for his contributions to mental health care, policy, education, and epidemiology globally, for leading African and global medical and psychiatric associations, for leading two innovative medical schools in Africa as dean, and for co-chairing the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Board on Global Health, among other achievements.
“It is an incredible honour for me to be elected to the US National Academy of Medicine. This election is in recognition of the work we do here in Africa and globally, hopefully impacting our populations by meeting them at their point of need," said Prof Lukoye.
“As a member of the Academy I hope to support the institution with my knowledge and experience, but perhaps more importantly to also benefit from the knowledge and experience of other esteemed colleagues at the Academy. I must acknowledge all the colleagues I have worked with and continue to work with here at AKU, and elsewhere in Africa and globally, whose support and collaboration have enabled me to attain this noble recognition. As we say here on the continent, it truly does take a village!"
New members to NAM are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. A diversity of talent among NAM's membership is assured by its Articles of Organization, which stipulate that at least one-quarter of the membership is selected from fields outside the health professions — for example, from such fields as law, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. The newly elected members bring NAM's total membership to more than 2,400, which includes 198 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. With their election, NAM members make a commitment to volunteer their service in National Academies activities.
