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Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, Director of Mailman School’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) Elected to Membership of IOM
October 12, 2009 -- The Institute of Medicine announced that Wafaa El- Sadr, MD, MPH, professor of Medicine at Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and the global director of the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) at the Mailman School of Public Health, has been named a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. IOM recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
As director of ICAP, Dr. El-Sadr leads a staff of more than 800 people around the world who are providing technical assistance to resource-limited countries for HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs, as well as related conditions. Supporting hundreds of sites across 13 countries in Africa, its services have reached more than 750,000 persons. In addition, she has led research studies that aimed at identifying effective prevention and management interventions for HIV and tuberculosis. For two decades, Dr. El-Sadr led the Division of Infectious Diseases at Harlem Hospital where she was instrumental in the development of an internationally recognized comprehensive HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) program focused on service, training and research.
Dr. El-Sadr has been the principal investigator for a large number of grant-funded projects through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, New York State and New York City Departments of Health, which have advanced understanding of the epidemiology of HIV and TB as well as led to the identification of effective strategies for their prevention and treatment. Dr. El-Sadr also serves as director of the Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiologic Research (CIDER) whose goal is to expand teaching, research, and training efforts in the epidemiology of infectious diseases.
Dr. El-Sadr holds a medical doctorate from Cairo University, a master's of public health degree in Epidemiology from the Mailman School, and a master's in public administration degree from the Kennedy School for Government at Harvard University. She is Board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She also serves on a number of U.S. and international public health and research committees.
In 2008, Dr. El-Sadr was named a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellow in recognition of her creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions for the future. In addition, in 2009, Rolling Stone magazine named Dr. El-Sadr to its list of "100 People Who Are Changing America."
"It is a great pleasure to welcome these distinguished and accomplished individuals to the Institute of Medicine," said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. "Each of these new members stands out as a professional whose research, knowledge, and skills have significantly advanced health and medicine and who has served as a model for others. The Institute of Medicine is greatly enriched by the addition of our newly elected colleagues."
Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM has become recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. New members are elected by current active members through a highly selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.
About the Mailman School of Public Health
The only accredited school of public health in New York City and among the first in the nation, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting millions of people locally and globally. The Mailman School is the recipient of some of the largest government and private grants in Columbia University’s history. Its more than 1000 graduate students pursue master’s and doctoral degrees, and the School’s 300 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as infectious and chronic diseases, health promotion and disease prevention, environmental health, maternal and child health, health over the life course, health policy, and public health preparedness. www.mailman.columbia.edu
For more information on ICAP, visit http://www.columbia-icap.org
Wafaa El- Sadr, MD, MPH
"It is a great pleasure to welcome these distinguished and accomplished individuals to the Institute of Medicine. Each of these new members stands out as a professional whose research, knowledge, and skills have significantly advanced health and medicine and who has served as a model for others. The Institute of Medicine is greatly enriched by the addition of our newly elected colleagues."
— IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg