The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence is a collaborative program designed to develop a cadre of leaders who can drive implementation of national strategies to raise awareness of diagnosis in medicine, support diagnostic excellence, and reduce diagnostic errors.
The program supports participation of up to 11 scholars in a one-year, part-time remote experience that enhances their knowledge and skills in diagnostic quality and safety, and accelerates their career development as national leaders in the field. Awardees benefit from a structured online curriculum, cohort learning activities, professional networking and mentorship opportunities, and a $35,000 grant with an additional $5,000 domestic travel funds.
Now in its fourth year, NAM Scholars have presented at national meetings, received academic promotions, and other grants in diagnostic quality and equity.
2025 Call for Applications
Call for Applications Opens
Applicant Info Session #1
Applicant Info Session #2
Applicant Info Session #3
Applicant Q&A Session
Applications Due
Finalists Notification
Scholars Notification
Audience:
This program supports individuals with a focus is on diagnosis-related work, including but not limited to:
- Physicians and advanced practice clinicians
- Quality experts, informaticians, and researchers
Strong preference is given to candidates whose proposed program objectives advance equity, as well as specific recommendations of the 2015 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus report, Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, when applicable. Underrepresented groups in medicine are encouraged to apply.
Value:
Investing in national diagnostic leaders increases the integrity and visibility of diagnostic excellence, and helps to build future diagnostic programs, faculty, and mentors. The program is a part of CMSS’ commitment to career development of emerging leaders, and to shared learning and collaboration among specialty societies.
Acknowledgement
This program is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. With additional support from the John A. Hartford Foundation, an 11th scholar with a focus on advancing equity and diagnostic excellence for older adults may be selected.
Contact
Julia Peterson, CMSS COO
This is an incredible program hosted by a wonderful community of brilliant people, and both the curriculum and networking opportunities offered by the program are built with deep intentionality towards helping you grow the impact of your work.
I can’t endorse this program strongly enough; if you have an interest in diagnostic excellence and health equity, you should absolutely apply.
Staff Ophthalmologist, Veterans Affairs VISN 23 Clinical Resource Hub
2024 NAM Scholars in Diagnostic Excellence
Carl Berdahl, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor, departments of medicine and emergency medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles“Partnering with Patients and Clinicians to Improve Diagnosis in the Emergency Department”Jessica Gold, M.D., Ph.D
Assistant Professor, department of pediatrics, Northwell Health/Feinstein Institute of Medical Research, New Hyde Park, N.Y.“Mainstreaming Genomic Testing to Increase Diagnostic Accessibility for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities”Andrew A. Gonzalez, M.D., J.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, department of surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis“An Equity-Grounded Approach to Developing Computational Phenotypes for Peripheral Arterial Disease”Bat-Zion Hose, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare, MedStar Health, Washington, D.C.“A Work System Design for Effective Teamwork in the Diagnostic Process”Natalia Khalaf, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor of medicine, section of gastroenterology and hepatology, Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston“Implementing Digital Quality Measures Into Learning Health Systems for Diagnostic Excellence in Cancer Care”Sanjiv Mehta, M.D., M.B.E.
Assistant Professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, department of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia“Transforming Our Approach to Pediatric Clinical Deterioration with Diagnostic Reasoning Interventions”Matthew Nielson, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S.
Rhodes Distinguished Professor and chair of urology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill“Advancing Diagnostic Excellence and Health Equity in Prostate Cancer Through Enhanced Quality in MRI and MRI Fusion Biopsy”Gezzer Ortega, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, department of surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston“Improving Technology-Based Interpreter Services and Resources for Patients with Limited English Proficiency”Verity Schaye, M.D., M.H.P.E.
Assistant Dean for education in the clinical sciences, and associate professor, department of medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City“Diagnosis AId: Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Diagnostic Performance Feedback System”Shazia M. Siddique, M.D., M.S.H.P.
Assistant Professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia“Narrowing Health Disparities in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia”Gary Weissman, M.D., M.S.H.P.,*
Assistant Professor of medicine and informatics, departments of medicine and biostatistics, epidemiology and informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia“Assessing the Safety of an AI-Based Diagnostic Decision Support in Primary Care for Older Adults”
Additional Information
Our partnership with NAM enables CMSS to annually support a remarkable cohort of scholars in diagnostic excellence across a wide range of specialties.
– Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACPCMSS Chief Executive Officer