2 ASU faculty members elected to prestigious National Academy of Medicine
Sally C. Morton (left), executive vice president of ASU Knowledge Enterprise, and Jennifer Carlson, a professor of sociology and director of the Center for the Study of Guns in Society, have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Courtesy photos
Two distinguished Arizona State University faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
Sally C. Morton, executive vice president of ASU Knowledge Enterprise, and Jennifer Carlson, a professor of sociology and director of the Center for the Study of Guns in Society, join a select few ASU faculty members elected to the academy. Their election marks the first time two ASU faculty members have been elected in the same class.
Election to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is a prestigious honor, considered one of the highest in the fields of health and medicine, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Founded in 1970, NAM is one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The body elects no more than 100 members each year.
Current members elect individuals through a process of recognition for those who have made major contributions to the advancement of medical sciences, health care and public health, and at least one-quarter of selected members are selected from outside fields such as law, engineering, social sciences and the humanities. With this year's inductees, NAM’s total membership sits at just above 2,400 members.
Morton was elected for her preeminent leadership in statistics, health policy and science in both academic and nonprofit research institutions. Her work on clinical practice guidelines and health care interventions has helped contribute to reduced morbidity and mortality. Morton is also a professor of statistics in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and the College of Health Solutions and holds the Florence Ely Nelson Chair.
“Sally is a world-class scientist and tremendous leader of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. She advances research, oversees our institutes and initiatives, and leads economic development, corporate engagement and strategic partnerships, to name a few,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “From that foundation of experience, she is a proven, extraordinary academic leader.”
Morton is an internationally recognized scholar for her use of statistics and data science to help patients and health care providers make improved health decisions. She has worked with the National Academies since 1996 and is a member of several groups including the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities' Council on Research. She served as the president of the American Statistical Association and received honors such as the Norwood Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in Statistical Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Such a humbling recognition can never be achieved alone. The surprising notification made me reflect on my incredible collaborators, as well as the support of my family,” said Morton. “I am energized to provide information so that patients can make better decisions about their health care, as well as to support researchers across ASU in my role in Knowledge Enterprise.”
Carlson’s election recognizes her leadership in fostering an understanding of how guns shape American lives. The T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics professor founded the Center for the Study of Guns in Society at the start of 2024. It is a first-of-its-kind center that fuses social sciences and humanities for a novel approach to the gun debate.
“Professor Carlson is an innovator in public health and social science. Being elected to the National Academy of Medicine is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the high caliber of ASU’s faculty members,” Crow said.
Carlson also helped establish the BRIDGS Emergent Scholar Fellowship to give graduate students from across the country access to resources and funding to advance their studies. She received the MacArthur Fellowship in 2022 and has been a principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant to investigate gun violence experiences in Florida.
“Social science perspectives are particularly well suited to unpack the complexities of gun ownership and laws and are crucial for moving the conversation forward on firearms,” said Carlson. “I am excited about the kinds of innovative collaborations, particularly between social science and public health, that my election to the National Academy of Medicine may open up.”
Sandra Leander and Pete Zrioka contributed to this story.
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