Four individuals with Montgomery County affiliations are among 100 new members elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2026.
NAM announced the election of 90 regular members and 10 international members during its annual meeting on October 19. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in health and medicine and recognizes individuals for outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
The Montgomery County-affiliated honorees are:
Anthony Letai, director of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, was recognized for research that has helped advance cancer treatments.
Daniel S. Reich, a neurologist and researcher at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, was recognized for his work involving multiple sclerosis and neurodegeneration.
Swee Lay Thein, an NIH investigator in Bethesda, was recognized for discoveries that have helped enable gene-editing treatments for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.
Susan Coller Monarez, founder and CEO of Heartland Global Strategies and a Potomac resident, was recognized for contributions to biomedical innovation and public health leadership.
New members are elected by current NAM members based on major contributions to medical sciences, health care and public health.
“I am thrilled to welcome these outstanding health and medicine leaders into the National Academy of Medicine,” NAM President Monica M. Bertagnolli said. “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.”
The 100 newly elected members bring NAM’s total membership to more than 2,600, including more than 200 international members. Originally established as the Institute of Medicine in 1970, the National Academy of Medicine works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent analysis and advice on issues involving health, science, medicine and public policy.
