The National Academy of Medicine honors two IARS Trustees

The National Academy of Medicine recently recognized IARS Trustees George Mashour, MD, PhD, and Beverley Ann Orser, MD, PhD, FRCPC, for their professional accomplishments and service to the field of medicine and health care, electing them as members to its esteemed membership of the top individuals in their field of medicine. Their election to the 2018 class of the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the field.

The mission of the National Academy of Medicine is to improve health for all by advancing science, accelerating health equity, and providing independent, authoritative, and trusted advice nationally and internationally.

Drs. Mashour and Orser’s dedication to the advancement of science and efforts to improve patient outcomes exemplify the mission of NAM. To be nominated and chosen for membership, NAM members, familiar with the candidate’s work, are required to affirm the candidate’s achievements and service to the field.

Dr. Mashour, associate dean for clinical and translational research, Bert N. La Du Professor of Anesthesiology, and director, Center for Consciousness Science and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, was selected for his important research informing current clinical practice in monitoring general anesthesia. His research has led to the identification of a common neural correlate of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness across diverse drug classes.

Dr. Orser, professor of physiology and chair, department of anesthesia, University of Toronto; and staff anesthesiologist, department of anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Toronto, Canada was chosen for her discovery of the unique pharmacological properties of extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors and their mechanistic role in anesthetic- and inflammation-induced impairment of memory. The Academy also highlighted her leadership in academic anesthesiology.

IARS Trustees Emery N. Brown, MD, PhD, from Massachusetts General Hospital, and Laura E. Niklason, MD, PhD, from Yale University, are also members of the Academy. Dr. Brown has been a member since 2007 and Dr. Niklason was elected in 2015.

For more information about the new members of the National Academy of Medicine, visit nam.edu/national-academy-of-medicine-elects-85-new-members/.