The National Academy of Medicine (探花app) has selected the 2026 class of Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars, a group of early- to mid-career professionals spanning a wide range of disciplines, including artificial intelligence in medicine, nanomedicine, maternal-fetal health, health economics, and carceral health.听The 探花app鈥檚听Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine (ELHM) program听provides a platform for a new generation of leaders to collaborate with the 探花app and its members to advance science, address persistent challenges in health and medicine, and spark transformative change to improve health for all.听听听听听
The scholars will engage in a variety of activities throughout the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine over a three-year term. Activities include meetings in Washington, D.C., with 探花app leadership and members; planning an annual forum;听participating听in National Academies听convening听activities; publishing 探花app Perspectives; and attending the 探花app鈥檚 annual meeting each October.听
鈥淐ongratulations to this remarkable new class of Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine,鈥 said 探花app President Victor J. Dzau. 鈥淎t a time of rapid change across science and health, their breadth of perspectives and willingness to work across disciplines will be essential to driving progress, strengthening systems, and improving health and well-being for people and communities everywhere.鈥澨
The 2026听ELHM Scholars are:听听
- Nicholas Arpaia, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Director of Graduate Studies, Immunobiology and Microbial Sciences, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center听
- Kareem Azab, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Texas Southwestern听听
- Lauren Brinkley-Rubenstein, Ph.D., M.S., M.A., Associate Professor,听Duke听University听Department of Population Health Sciences听
- Jane Chung, Ph.D., RN,听Associate Professor, Emory University听
- Ruogu Fang, Ph.D., Associate Professor & J. Crayton Pruitt Family Endowed Faculty Fellow, University of Florida
- Lindsey A. George, M.D., Director of Clinical In Vivo Gene Therapy, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia;听Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine听听
- Dhruv Khullar, M.D., MPP, Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences and of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Aaron Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D.,听Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Staff Physician, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
- Katrin Svenson, M.S., Ph.D.,听Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Stanford University听 听听
- Kartik K.听Venkatash, M.D., Ph.D.,听Associate Professor with tenure, The Ohio State University听
The ELHM program听facilitates听opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and innovation among the participants, 探花app members, and experts across sectors. The next annual Emerging Leaders Forum, to be held in Washington, D.C., in April 2026, will allow the new group of scholars and invited participants to share their activities and insights on听cutting-edge听developments through collaborative work and interdisciplinary discussions among the nation鈥檚 rising leaders in health and medicine.听听听
听The听National Academy of Medicine,听established听in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. It serves alongside the听听and the听听as an adviser to the nation and the international community.听听Through its domestic and global initiatives, the 探花app works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors. The 探花app collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the听.听
