Kaufman is now one of nine USC faculty members who are part of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The selections raise the IOM's active membership to 1,461.
"I am truly honored to be elected to the IOM. During the 30 years of my career I have focused on children's health and the emerging epidemics of obesity and diabetes in children, teens and adults, and this is a reflection of that work," says Kaufman, who is head of the division of endocrinology and metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Kaufman also is past president of the American Diabetes Association.
The National Academy of Sciences established the IOM in 1970 to honor professional achievement in the health sciences and to serve as a national resource for independent analysis and recommendations on issues related to medicine, biomedical sciences and health.
With their election, members commit themselves to participate in the work of the IOM, which conducts studies and other activities addressing a broad swath of issues in medical science, health services, public health and health policy.
Examples of current studies include a project to recommend appropriate nutritional standards for foods sold in schools and an evaluation of the nation's system for ensuring the safety of prescription drugs after they have reached the market.
Brian E. Henderson, M.D., dean of the Keck School of Medicine, praised Kaufman's selection. "This honor by the IOM is certainly well deserved and timely because of Dr. Kaufman's work in the area of diabetes and obesity," says Henderson, who also is an IOM member. "Her work relating the two was prescient: She foresaw the coming of this huge social problem we face today."
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Contact: Jon Weiner
jon.weiner@usc.edu
323-442-2830
University of Southern California
24-Oct-2005