Dr. Bonnie W. Ramsey, a leader in cystic fibrosis clinical care and research, has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Medicine.  Ramsey is a UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s pediatrician specializing in lung diseases.
 
A University of Washington professor of pediatrics and vice chair of research for the UW Department of Pediatrics, Ramsey directs the Center for Clinical and Translational Research at Seattle Children’s.  She holds a UW Medicine Endowed Chair in Cystic Fibrosis Research named in her honor.
 
The National Academy of Medicine advises the nation on medical and health issues.  Originally called the Institute of Medicine, it was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences.  Members are elected by their peers in recognition of their distinguished contributions to medicine and health.
 
Ramsey is one of 70 new U.S. members and 10 international members announced today, Oct. 19, at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C.  The election raises the total number of U.S. members to 1,826 and international members to 137.  There are now 35 members at UW Medicine.
 
Ramsey is noted for testing new therapies for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that causes breathing difficulties, susceptibility to respiratory infections, and other serious medical problems.
 
When Ramsey started in this field three decades ago, it was a time when most children with the condition died in their teens.  Now, as a result of better treatments, many patients are living into their 40s. Among the latest advances Ramsey helped lead was a clinical trial for a drug combination that could benefit patients with the most common genetic mutation linked to cystic fibrosis.
 
With support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Ramsey developed the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Network Coordinating Center.  It has provided clinical, statistical, data management and regulatory support for more than 90 multi-center therapeutic trials.
 
Ramsey also heads child health research programs that assist other medical scientists in a variety of pediatric disease studies.
 
Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered to be one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.  Current active members elect new members from among candidates nominated for their outstanding professional achievements, for their commitment to public service, and for their role in advancing medical sciences, health care and public health. 

See the National Academy of Medicine news release.  Also among those elected this year were Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center President and Director Dr. Gary Gilliland and former UW Medicine researcher Alexander Rudensky, now an immunologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.