Herbert Peterson

Sixty-five new members and four foreign associates were inducted into membership this year. An additional sixty five new members and five foreign associates were elected--bringing the IOM's total active membership to 1576 and the number of foreign associates to 89.

Peterson at the induction ceremony

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute serves as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on human health issues.  Members from a variety of fields, including the health professions, the humanities, law, administration, engineering, and the natural, social and behavioral sciences, provide significant volunteer service to IOM committees, which engage in a wide range of studies about health policy issues.

"We are so pleased that Dr. Peterson has been recognized in this way for his exemplary contributions," said Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, dean of the Gillings School of Global Public Health. "Recognition by the Institute of Medicine is one of the highest honors accorded to a scientist."

Peterson is known nationally and internationally for his work in women's reproductive health, epidemiology, health policy, and evidence-based decision-making.  Before he joined the School of Public Health and School of Medicine faculty in 2004, he held various research and administrative positions with the World Health Organization, U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the course of 20 years. 

A Distinguished Service Medal he received in 1999 from the U.S. Public Health Service recognized his "exemplary service in providing visionary leadership and in conducting and translating reproductive health science to promote national and international health." He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

In addition to joint appointments in the Schools of Public Health and Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Peterson is a fellow at the Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC.

"I really appreciate this [honor] and am even more grateful for the role that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has played in making it possible," said Peterson. "From my first days as an OB/GYN resident until today, Carolina has had a profound positive impact on my life."

William L. Roper, MD, MPH, dean of the School of Medicine, CEO of UNC Health Care, UNC's vice chancellor for medical affairs and fellow member of the IOM, said he is "delighted that the Institute of Medicine has recognized Dr. Peterson's outstanding contributions to public health, women's health and medicine." 

# # #

Note: Dr. Peterson can be reached at (919)966-5981 or herbert_peterson@unc.edu.

Institute of Medicine contact: Christine Stencel, Media Relations Officer, (202) 334-2138 or news@nas.edu.

School of Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.