Two GW Faculty Members Receive National Recognition

Two George Washington University faculty members were elected members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) this month, achieving one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Dayna Bowen Matthew, dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law at GW Law, and Monika Kumari Goyal, professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, were elected in recognition of their outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

"This is one of the greatest distinctions in health and medicine and is evidence of Dean Matthew and Professor Goyal's commitment to tackling crucial issues affecting society," Provost Christopher A. Bracey said. "We are extremely proud of their much-deserved recognition and their continued and distinguished contributions to our academic enterprise."

Goyal, an emergency medicine physician and co-director of the Center for Translational Research at Children's National Hospital, was recognized for her national leadership in research focused on pediatric firearm injury prevention. She has spotlighted the burden of firearm violence on child health and advanced pediatric equity science. Her research in has led to the development of interventions to address healthcare inequities.

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine," Dr. Goyal said. "I am committed to NAM's mission of using science to inform policy for the achievement of health equity."

Matthew, who in addition to holding the GW Law deanship is also the founder of GW's Institute for Racial, Ethnic and Socioeconomic Equity, was recognized for advancing understanding of the ways policies and legal systems have produced health inequities. Her work as a scholar and a public policy professional-with roles including senior adviser to the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and health policy team member for Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)-has resulted in actionable federal policy change.

"I am excited to have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for so many reasons," Matthew said. "Chief amongst them is the fact that this membership places me among a community of scholars who believe as I do that '[t]he problems related to human health are so large, complex and important as to require for their solution the concern and competence not only of medicine, but also of other disciplines and professions.' Receiving this honor means joining in that prestigious effort. This is not only one of the most exciting moments of my career, but it really opens a whole new phase of collaboration and problem solving for my work. I am thrilled!"

New NAM members are elected by current members, with a diversity of talent assured by NAM's stipulation that at least one-quarter of the membership be selected from fields outside the health professions.