Washington and Essien receive highest recognitions from National Academy of Medicine

The CTSI congratulates Donna Washington, MD, MPH, FACP, professor of medicine at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, and Utibe Essien, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine in residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, on their recent recognitions from the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Dr. Washington is among 100 new members elected to NAM, a prestigious honor that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service in the fields of health and medicine. Dr. Essien is recognized as one of NAM's 10 Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars for his proven leadership and outstanding professional accomplishments in healthcare. 

Washington is now the 48th UCLA faculty member elected to NAM, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. In her role with the CTSI, she leads the UC END DISPARITIES Center Investigator Development Core, which administers pilot awards that are co-funded through the CTSI, and also sits on the CTSI Internal Advisory Board. She also serves as director of the VHA Health Equity-Quality Enhancement Research Initiative National Partnered Evaluation Center and director of health services research for the VA Greater Los Angeles Department of Medicine, Women’s Health Focused Research Area Lead for the VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP). Dr. Washington is a leader in health disparities research, and has dedicated her professional career to meeting the needs of underserved racial and ethnic minority populations.

Dr. Essien is a previous CTSI/RCMAR-CHIME pilot awardee ("Frailty, Race and Inequitable AnticoaguLation in Atrial Fibrillation (FRAIL-AF)). In addition to serving as assistant vice chair of equity, diversity, and inclusion at the UCLA Department of Medicine, Essien is an investigator with the Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. His innovative research focuses on racial disparities in the use of novel medications and technologies in the management of cardiovascular diseases, leading him to coin the term “pharmacoequity” in 2021.

Photo source: UCLA Health