Three UW Department of Pediatrics leaders have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the most prestigious honors in health, medicine, and biomedical science. Congratulations to Drs. Leslie R. Walker, Dimitri A. Christakis, and Christopher A. Longhurst, who were selected for their extraordinary professional achievements and commitment to service.
“I am thrilled to welcome these outstanding health and medicine leaders into the National Academy of Medicine,” said NAM President Monica M. Bertagnolli. “Their extraordinary talent and commitment to advancing evidence-based guidance and solutions for our country’s greatest health care challenges will strengthen our efforts to improve health for all.”
Dr. Walker, professor and Ford/Morgan Endowed chair of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Seattle Children’s, was recognized for her leadership in child and adolescent health, including substance abuse prevention advocacy, and in addressing maternal health with doula capacity building. Nationally and locally, she is leading system change in academic pediatrics and leading community-centered upstream systems across sectors to spark programs for children to flourish.
Dr. Christakis, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and principal investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, was honored for his expertise on child development and digital media and its effects on children's social, emotional, and cognitive health. As the chief health officer for Special Olympics, he is working to improve assessment and health care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
Dr. Longhurst, chief executive officer at Seattle Children's and affiliate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, was recognized for contributions to the computer and information sciences underlying clinical decision support, health-system data architecture, and the evaluation and governance of AI-enabled tools. His work supports computational systems in clinical environments and informs national policy on patient safety and AI oversight.
Announced on October 19, the newly elected NAM members were selected by current active members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. As members, they will contribute to committee studies, advisories, and national initiatives addressing some of the nation’s most pressing health challenges.
Congratulations to Drs. Walker, Christakis, and Longhurst on this distinguished achievement. Their election to NAM reflects a sustained commitment to advancing child health, research, education, and innovation in pediatrics.