PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Frederick Rivara, one of the deputy editors of Injury Prevention and head of the University of Washington Division of General Pediatrics, is one of 64 new members elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies. The IOM, a component of the US National Academy of Sciences, was established 35 years ago to honor professional achievement in the health sciences and to serve as a national resource for independent analysis and recommendations on issues related to medicine, biomedical sciences, and health. The IOM’s 1461 active members are elected on the basis of their demonstrated interest, concern, and involvement with problems and critical issues that affect the health of the public. Fred Rivara’s career has been devoted to the study of methods of controlling injuries, specifically in such areas as bicycle and pedestrian injuries, motor vehicle injuries, alcohol-related trauma, and intentional injuries. His current interests include examining the cost-effectiveness of trauma care, the impact of domestic violence on women and children, and how intervention in childhood and adolescence influences later health outcomes. His goal is to turn the attention of public policy to the implementation of programs that can have a long-term impact on the health of children and adults.

Injury Prevention editor Barry Pless has been similarly honored by his election in September as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The aim of the Academy is to provide advice on and assessments of key issues relevant to the health of Canadians. Fellows elected to the Academy are recognized nationally and internationally by their peers for their contributions to the promotion of health science. They have demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advancing academic health sciences.

STUDY OF 100 000 CHILDREN IS DUE TO START

A US study of 100 000 children that will look at environmental influences on their health took a …