Three people smile and hold a commemorative plaque and medal.

Ruth (left) and Victor (right) Dzau receive their Marie Curie and Heritage Society medals from Maureen Lichtveld (center) at the 2024 National Academy of Medicine Society Luncheon.

During the 2024 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Annual Meeting in October, NAM president Victor Dzau and his wife Ruth hosted the annual NAM Society Luncheon in the West Court of the National Academy of Sciences Building. This annual event celebrates the generosity members and friends have shown the NAM over the years.

The nexus of philanthropy and leadership

In their remarks, the Dzaus emphasized that the combination of expertise and philanthropic support provided by the NAM’s members, friends, and partners has a tangible impact across the organization’s programs. In recent years, this support has allowed the NAM to launch vital initiatives focused on clinician well-being, climate, reproductive health, and workforce development in response to the ever-changing landscape of human health.

This powerful nexus was celebrated through the presentation of five giving society medals and statuettes. For lifetime giving of $100,000 to $249,999, an Einstein Society statuette was presented to Charles Sawyers. For lifetime giving of $20,000 to $99,999, Ruzena Bajcsy, Frank Chervenak, and Kelsey Martin were welcomed into the National Academy of Medicine Society. For their documentation of planned gifts, Mitchell Gail and Myron Weisfeldt received Heritage Society medals.

Dr. Dzau also recognized the service of inaugural NAM Heritage Society Chair Barbara Culliton, highlighting that her guidance was critical to the success of the NAM Campaign, and celebrated the passing of the torch to fellow NAM member Susan Scrimshaw. NAM Council Vice Chair, Maureen Lichtveld, expanded on the important role leadership plays at the NAM, presenting the Dzaus with a Curie Society medal for their lifetime giving of more than $250,000 as well as a Heritage Society medal for their bequest to the NAM.

A bright future for human health

The NAM remains agile and responsive to the most pressing challenges in human health thanks to the collective, multifaceted dedication of its members, friends, and partners. Alongside its generous supporters, the NAM continues to advance science, inform policy, and catalyze action to achieve human health, equity, and well-being to achieve the vision of health for everyone, everywhere.


If the NAM is a philanthropic priority for you, contact Kath Sturgeon at KSturgeon@nas.edu or (202) 334-1868.

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