NAMMembershipOfficers and Council

About the NAM Officers and Council

The National Academy of Medicine’s NAM Perspectives health periodical provides a venue for leading health, medical, science, and policy experts to reflect on issues and opportunities important to the advancement of our mission.
Optional Button
Optional Button

Role of the President

  • Serves as full-time chief executive officer of the Academy;
  • Appoints members of committees;
  • Chairs the Council and directs the business of the Academy subject to the policies, resolutions, and decisions of the Council;
  • Serves as principal representative of the Academy in all relationships with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) the National Research Council (NRC), and all other institutions;
  • Serves as a Vice Chair of the National Research Council;
  • Submits an annual report of the activities of the Academy to the NAM Council and to the membership of the Academy at its annual meeting;
  • In consultation with the Finance Committee, prepares and presents to the Council the annual budget of the Academy.

Role of the Homes Secretary

  • Oversees the conduct of membership affairs, including the election of members;
  • Serves as principal liaison between the NAM Council and the Membership Committee;
  • Promotes engagement of members in activities of the National Academy of Medicine and other programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine;
  • Chairs membership-related committees at the request of the President;
  • Provides guidance and consultation to the membership staff toward resolution of member concerns; and
  • Serves ex officio on committees related to election and activities of members and officers.

Role of the Foreign Secretary

  • Has responsibility for planning and conduct of the international affairs of the Academy;
  • Establishes and maintains relationships between the Academy and international and/or foreign medical, nursing, public health and scientific academies, international and/or foreign societies and related groups;
  • Establishes and maintains liaison between the Academy and appropriate agencies of the United States government on international health-related activities;
  • Maintains liaison and cooperates wherever possible with the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences and the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Engineering and participates in the planning and conduct of international programs of the National Research Council; and
  • Promotes the nomination and engagement of international members in the activities of the National Academy of Medicine.

Role and Composition of the Council

The Council is the governing body of the National Academy of Medicine and is chaired by the NAM President. Its duties include:

  • Oversight authority over policies, procedures, funds, and activities;
  • Oversight of NAM budget and investments;
  • Consultation to the President and final approval of appointments to the Executive, Finance, and Nominating Committees;
  • Appointment, with the Vice Chair, of a Search Committee when a President is to be elected
  • Establishment of policies and procedures for evaluation of the President’s performance;
  • Amendment of NAM bylaws, subject to membership approval; and
  • Service on Council committees or representing the Council on other bodies of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
  • The Council is composed of the officers (President, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary) and 15 at-large council members, all elected by the NAM membership
  • The President serves as chair of the Council; a vice chair is elected by the Council, upon recommendation of the President, from among its at-large members.
  • At least one-third of Council members-at-large must be from the field of medical and biological research
  • No more than three-quarters of the at-large members may be selected from the health professions
  • The Council meets quarterly: February, April, July, October
  • The October Council meeting occurs on the day following the NAM Annual Meeting

Terms of Office

  • All terms of elected office begin on July 1 and end on June 30 of the designated year.
  • The term of office of the President is six years; no individual may serve for more than twelve years.
  • The terms of office of the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary are four years; their terms overlap each other by two years. No Secretary may serve in this role for more than eight years.
  • The term of office of Council members-at-large is three years; no individual may serve for more than six years.