Three researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
NAM recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and a commitment to advancing medical science and public health. The newly elected members from Penn are CHOP pediatrics professor Gerd Blobel; biostatistics, epidemiology and informatics professor Enrique Schisterman; and nephrology and genetics professor Katalin Susztak.
NAM’s election process is selective, with current members nominating individuals whose work has made an impact on medicine and public health.
Blobel, co-director of Penn’s Epigenetics Institute, was recognized for his work on the 3-D organization of the genome and hemoglobin gene regulation, which advanced understanding of blood disorders such as sickle cell disease.
"This recognition by the National Academy of Medicine honors the many wonderful team members I have had over the years," Blobel wrote to Penn Medicine.
Schisterman was honored for his research on biomarkers in maternal and child health and his commitment to addressing health inequities.
"It is an honor that I receive with enormous gratitude and with the conviction that science must serve equity in health,” Schisterman wrote. “From my beginnings in Argentina to my current work in the United States, I have always sought to generate knowledge that impacts people's real lives, especially in the most vulnerable populations.”
Susztak, director of the Kidney Innovation Center, was selected for her discoveries on the genetic mechanisms driving chronic kidney disease.
“Being part of the National Academy of Medicine is a reflection of how we have sought to redefine [how] kidney disease is understood: by shifting the paradigm from descriptive pathology to molecular precision,” Susztak wrote. “I am excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what kidney medicine can become — more precise, more personalized, and more impactful for patients.”
Penn faculty have historically been NAM elects. In 2024, The Daily Pennsylvanian reported that six Penn professors were elected to NAM for their advancements in health equity, neuroscience, and clinical research.
“Science must serve equity in health,” Schisterman wrote, emphasizing the broader implications for millions of patients worldwide.
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