Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg

Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Medicine

Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg is the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine (IOM). In this part-time position, she serves as a senior adviser on international matters to the NAM President and Council, and as liaison officer to foreign academies of medicine and science. As NAM engagement in matters of global public health expands, so does the importance of the Foreign Secretary’s role.

Immediately prior to her current appointment, Dr Hamburg held the post of Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Other past roles have included Senior Scientist at the Nuclear Threat Initiative; Assistant Secretary for Policy and Evaluation in the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Since her election to the IOM membership in 1994, Dr Hamburg has actively contributed to the mission of the IOM as chair of the Board on Global Health (2005–2009) and as a member of the IOM Council (2005–2009) and through participation in various consensus and convening activities. Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the IOM provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policy-makers, health professionals, the private sector and the public.