Christine Petersen was elected to the National Academy of Medicine earlier this month.

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A University of Iowa prof is 1 of 100 members elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Christine Petersen is simply a prof of epidemiology and the manager of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases astatine the UI. Petersen specializes successful zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that dispersed betwixt radical and animals.

“I felt excited and a spot astonished and precise humbled,” Petersen said astir her acceptance.

Petersen received the quality connected Oct. 7, but the process was overmuch longer. In January, Petersen was contacted by Michael Lairmore, the erstwhile dean of the University of California Davis Veterinary School of Medicine, who asked if she wanted to beryllium nominated to the National Academy of Medicine.

Lairmore, alongside James Roth, a prof successful the section of veterinary microbiology astatine Iowa State University, created a bundle with her credentials for the nomination.

“They asked maine for a small spot of information, particularly due to the fact that you person to benignant of physique the candidacy with your scholarships, truthful the articles you’ve written, the enactment you’ve done — those sorts of things. So, I provided immoderate of that info for him,” Petersen said.

To beryllium selected for the NAM, an idiosyncratic indispensable beryllium nominated by 2 existent members who are well-acquainted with the candidate’s work, according to its website.

She is the 2nd epidemiologist to ever beryllium selected from the UI.

Robert Wallace, the UI Irene Ensminger emeritus prof of epidemiology and interior medicine, was the archetypal assemblage epidemiologist elected to the NAM successful 2001.

Wallace has served connected the NAM for 21 years. As an progressive member, helium is connected a committee that evaluates the information effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Wallace said being a subordinate is astir taking his experiences astatine the NAM and integrating them into the UI to payment the epidemiology department.

“It’s not truthful overmuch that it benefits us, but it benefits the radical astir america arsenic we enactment successful academies activities and past bring those experiences backmost to the different faculty, and to the students and staff,” Wallace said.

Elizabeth Chrischilles, prof and caput of the section of epidemiology astatine the UI, said she believes Petersen’s predetermination volition boost the epidemiology department’s enrollment.

“We person a just fig of students who applied to our programme who are truly funny successful infectious diseases, and she’s decidedly 1 who they truly similar to enactment with, truthful I would ideate we would person much students who are interested,” Chrischilles said.

Chrischilles believes Petersen’s predetermination volition bring thing but progress.

“I’m precise blessed for Christy. She does unthinkable work,” she said. “It’s truly important, and we’re truly thrilled that she’s received the honor. I truly look guardant to much large things from her successful the future.”

Petersen hopes to grow her enactment connected what she calls “one health,” which is the thought of interconnectedness betwixt people, animals, and what makes up their environment. Coming from a veterinary inheritance allowed her to spot wellness successful an inclusive, transdisciplinary way.

“So, being capable to assistance punctual everybody that we’re not conscionable looking to assistance ourselves, but we request to support everybody astir america steadfast excessively is thing I truly anticipation that radical bash instrumentality home, and I deliberation that connection is thing that each of america epidemiologists would admit much radical understanding,” she said.