Institute of Medicine

A component of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), acting upon its own initiative to study policy relating to public health, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) began in 1970 under the auspices of the NAS acting through its congressional charter to advise the federal government on matters of science. The IOM undertakes to identify and study matters pertaining to medical care, medical research, and education in its broadest sense.

The IOM´s website describes the IOM as follows:

 The nation turns to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies for science-based advice on matters of biomedical science, medicine, and health. A nonprofit organization specifically created for this purpose as well as an honorific membership organization, the IOM was chartered in 1970 as a component of the National Academy of Sciences….The Institute provides a vital service by working outside the framework of government to ensure scientifically informed analysis and independent guidance. The IOM's mission is to serve as adviser to the nation to improve health. The Institute provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.

Organization of IOM
The IOM has organized itself into seventeen topic areas:


 * 1) mental health
 * 2) child health
 * 3) food & nutrition
 * 4) aging
 * 5) women's health
 * 6) education
 * 7) public policy
 * 8) healthcare & quality
 * 9) diseases
 * 10) global health
 * 11) workplace
 * 12) military & veterans
 * 13) health sciences
 * 14) environment
 * 15) treatment
 * 16) public health & prevention
 * 17) minority health