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Mona Fouad Elected to National Academy of Medicine
Mona N . Fouad , M . D ., M . P . H ., professor and director of the Division of Preventive Medicine in the UAB School of Medicine , has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine — one of the highest honors given to a physician or scientist in the United States .
Dr . Fouad is nationally recognized as a leader in health disparities research and collaboration . Her work generates and combines research from biomedical , behavioral and social sciences in an interdisciplinary approach to address health disparities . Her impact among the national community of scholars — especially young scholars from diverse , underrepresented backgrounds — has spread beyond her institution to touch others in alleviating these disparities among vulnerable populations .
The National Academy of Medicine , established in 1970 under the name 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 . Membership
Mona N . Fouad , M . D ., M . P . H . in NAM is widely viewed as one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine , and is limited to individuals who have demonstrated both exceptional professional achievements and outstanding commitment to service .
“ In her career , Dr . Fouad has a huge impact in her interdisciplinary approach toward the elimination of health disparities ,” says Selwyn M . Vickers , M . D ., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine . “ As both the dean and a frequent collaborator with Dr . Fouad ’ s research efforts , I ’ m pleased that Mona ’ s career is being honored in a way that truly highlights her accomplishments .”
Dr . Fouad ’ s career at UAB began in 1991 as an instructor in the Department of Medicine . In 2002 , she became the founding director of the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center , a university-wide interdisciplinary research center . In 2009 , she became director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and in 2013 was named senior associate dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Medicine . From 2003 to 2013 , she served as co-leader of the Cancer Control and Population Science Program in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center , and she is currently senior adviser to the Cancer Center director . She is also a member of the Diabetes Research and Training Center , the Nutrition Obesity Research Center , the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education , and the Comprehensive Center for Health Aging .
Fouad has worked tirelessly to establish the validity of health disparities as a national scientific research priority . There has been an unprecedented expansion of health disparities research at UAB and in collaborative relationships with national and international grant partners , as well as an increase in the number of researchers and young scholars pursuing careers in minority health and health disparities .
Her achievements have been recognized nationally as a recipient of the American Cancer Society St . George National Award in 2016 , recognizing her distinguished service to achieving the ACS ’ strategic goals and the 2016 President ’ s Council on Fitness , Sports and Nutrition Community Leadership Award for exemplary service and dedication to improving the lives of others by promoting and fostering opportunities for participation in fitness , sports and nutrition programs . Dr . Fouad was also named one of the 2016 “ Women Who Shape the State ” by the Alabama Media Group .
“ I ’ m tremendously proud of Dr . Fouad and grateful to count her as a colleague and leader at UAB ,” says C . Seth Landefeld , M . D ., chair of the UAB Department of Medicine . “ In her work , in her writing and in her leadership , Dr . Fouad has opened eyes to disparities in health and health care , and she has pioneered efforts to reduce these disparities — contributions that change our world .”
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