The Institute of Medicine (IOM), one of the United States National Academies, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization chartered in 1970 as a part of the United States National Academy of Sciences.[1] Its purpose is to provide national advice on issues relating to biomedical science, medicine, and health, and its formal mission statement is "Advising the Nation; Improving Health." It works outside the framework of the U.S. federal government to provide independent guidance and analysis and relies on a "pro bono"workforce of scientists and other experts, operating under a rigorous, formal peer-review system.
The President of the IOM is Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D.; the Executive Officer is Dr. Judith A. Salerno, M.D., M.S.
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Each IOM report is evaluated by external experts who remain anonymous until the study is published. Though a majority of IOM studies are requested and funded by the United States federal government, other organizations may also request studies so long as they have no financial conflict regarding the outcome of the study. The IOM itself initiates a small number of studies with internal funds.
The IOM works in a broad range of categories, including: mental health, child health, food & nutrition, aging, women’s health, education, public policy, healthcare & quality, diseases, global health, workplace, military & veterans, health sciences, environment, treatment, public health & prevention, and minority health.
The reports of the IOM are made available online for free by the publishing arm of the United States National Academies, the National Academies Press, in multiple formats.
The Institute of Medicine is both an honorific membership organization and a policy research organization. The Institute's members, elected on the basis of their professional achievement and commitment to service, serve without compensation in the conduct of studies and other activities on matters of significance to health. Election to active membership is both an honor and a commitment to serve in Institute affairs.
The bylaws of IOM specify that no more than 65 new members shall be elected annually. The announcement of newly elected members occurs at the IOM Annual Meeting in October. The number of regular members plus foreign associates and emeritus members is currently about 1,600.[2]
An unusual diversity of talent among Institute members is assured by the charter stipulation that at least one-quarter be selected from outside the health professions, from such fields as the natural, social, and behavioral sciences, as well as law, administration, engineering, and the humanities.