Translating Research to Policy: Judy Salerno of the Institute of Medicine BACK

Published by AFAR

Judy A. Salerno, MD, MS, is the Leonard D. Schaeffer Executive Officer of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide advice to the nation on matters related to health and health policy. Dr. Salerno has served extensively in the field of aging research throughout her career, working to improve geriatric care and opportunities for scientists and clinicians.

Tell us about the Institute of Medicine
Many are surprised to learn that the IOM operates outside of government and receives no appropriation for its work. Established in 1970, the IOM is the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was chartered under President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. As our President, Harvey Fineberg, often says, IOM's only job is "to speak truth to power." That's a tall order in Washington, DC! We have a proud tradition of developing authoritative recommendations through our consensus process—all volunteer expert committees—in subject areas as diverse as the first studies on health quality and medical errors, the need for HIV/AIDS policy, conflict-of-interest policies for biomedical research, and global health, to recent recommendations for coverage for women's preventive services under ACA (Affordable Care Act), and the need for reform of the FDA medical device clearance process.

How did you get involved with the organization?
As with most of my positions, I was enticed to apply for the executive officer (executive director and chief operating officer) position when a good friend was retiring from the job. The "old girl network" at its best. I miss the day-to-day of biomedical research but am thrilled to see the translation of research to practice and policy as the IOM EO.

What do you view as major barriers for women entering and staying in scientific fields? Did you encounter any in your career path? If so how did you overcome them?
Currently, the greatest barriers to the advancement of women in the sciences are those which are subtle and create invisible barriers. They are very real but not as blatant as I experienced early in my career. I changed career paths and entered medicine and research in my early to mid 30's; this was the very same time that I was thinking about starting a family. Having children during my medical internship, residency and fellowship did not make me the most popular trainee with my clinical and lab chiefs. During that time, sleep was lacking and nerves were often frazzled. I was lucky to have found several mentors, both men and women, who continued to encourage me when discouragement was the norm. I am grateful to them for believing in me.

Any advice for women entering into science?
I recall volunteering several years ago as a mentor for a junior faculty research program. In our break-out sessions, I was inundated with questions from young women, not about research, but about finding balance in their lives. My best advice to them was, first, to find great mentors who can offer guidance and support, and get you through the dark days, and, then, to remember that not everything can be on the front burner at once—sometimes it will be research, sometimes family, and sometimes "me time"—but something will always be on the front burner!

 

Learn more about the Institute of Medicine at their website.