Scott L. Rauch, MD, McLean Hospital’s president, psychiatrist in chief, and the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Chair of Psychiatry, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Rauch’s tenure begins this month, and he will be formally welcomed to the NAM during its 50th anniversary celebration next October.
The NAM elects approximately 80 national and international members each year, making induction into the academy a prestigious honor recognizing the highest level of professional achievement and commitment to service.
“Under Scott’s extraordinary leadership, McLean has improved the lives of patients and families affected by mental illness around the globe,” said Carol Vallone, chair of the McLean Hospital Board of Trustees. “Scott is a gifted mental health clinician, researcher, teacher, and advocate, and McLean is privileged to have him as its president. He personifies the very values on which the NAM was founded and, like all esteemed members, will add great value to the academy.”
Anne Klibanski, MD, president and chief executive officer of Mass General Brigham noted Rauch’s commitment to patients and families.
“This honor is a fitting tribute to Scott and the many decades of work he has dedicated to improving the lives of patients and to advancing the field of psychiatry,” said Klibanski. “Scott’s work has undoubtedly enhanced the quality of life for countless patients and families.”
Rauch, a pioneer in psychiatric neuroimaging research, who is also a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has been at the helm of McLean since 2006. During his time at McLean, he has grown the hospital’s domestic and international footprint by expanding clinical services within and beyond Massachusetts, fostered fruitful research collaborations, and invested deeply in professional training and mental health advocacy.
Beyond McLean and Harvard, Rauch’s impact on the field of psychiatry is widespread, having held leadership roles in key professional and advocacy organizations, including being the past president and current secretary of the Society of Biological Psychiatry and current secretary of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Rauch has won numerous awards for his mentorship and research accomplishments.
“I am deeply honored to join the NAM and look forward to future opportunities to contribute to our shared mission,” said Rauch.
Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
New members 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.
“These newly elected members represent the most exceptional scholars and leaders whose remarkable work has advanced science, medicine, and health in the U.S. and around the globe,” said National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau. “Their expertise will be vital to addressing today’s most pressing health and scientific challenges and informing the future of health and medicine for the benefit of us all. I am honored to welcome these esteemed individuals to the National Academy of Medicine.”
The National Academy of Medicine, established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as an adviser to the nation and the international community. Through its domestic and global initiatives, the NAM works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors. The NAM collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
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