INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University School of Medicine’s Chandy C. John, MD, MS, has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.
The group announced its new class of members during its annual meeting on Oct. 20. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors in the field of health and medicine, recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to science, healthcare and public health.
John is the Ryan White Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at IU School of Medicine. John’s research centers on pediatric infectious disease, global health, malaria pathogenesis and neurodevelopment, and translational research — particularly through collaborative partnerships in Africa.
“Dr. John’s work bridges laboratory discovery, field epidemiology and patient care,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of the IU School of Medicine and executive vice president for university clinical affairs at IU. “This election honors not just his scientific achievements, but his leadership and global impact in child health. We are very proud to see him join the National Academy of Medicine.”
John’s research examines how severe malaria impacts children’s long-term cognitive development, mechanisms of malaria pathogenesis and immunity, and interactions between infection and sickle cell disease. He has led clinical and translational studies in Uganda, Kenya and other global settings, collaborating with local institutions to strengthen research capacity and address pressing public health challenges. He was named an IU Distinguished Professor in early 2024, the highest academic rank at the university, in recognition of his scholarly leadership and impact.
“To be elected to the National Academy of Medicine is both humbling and energizing,” John said. “I accept this honor on behalf of all the collaborators — in Indiana, Africa and beyond — whose collective efforts make such work possible.”
With his election, John becomes one of three IU School of Medicine faculty in the Academy, joining D. Wade Clapp, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Richard Miyamoto, MD, emeritus chair of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery.
About the Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2024 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
Writer: Katie Duffey, kaduffey@iu.edu
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