Election of Members

Membership in the Institute of Medicine is based upon:

• distinguished professional achievement in a field related to medicine and health;
• demonstrated and continued involvement with the issues of health care, prevention of disease, education, or research;
• skills and resources likely to contribute to the Institute's tasks of assessing current knowledge, conducting studies, and considering policy issues; and
• willingness to be an active participant in the Institute.

The Institute's charter stipulates that at least one-quarter of the membership 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.

Up to 65 regular members and 5 foreign associates are elected to the Institute of Medicine each year. Only Institute of Medicine members may nominate individuals for election to membership and the nomination material is available only to members. The annual nomination cycle begins on November 1 and closes on February 1. The election takes place in late summer with new members announced in conjunction with the IOM Annual Meeting in October.