ANN ARBOR, MI - Three members of the University of Michigan Medical School faculty were among 65 new members of the prestigious Institute of Medicine elected on October 27, 2003. William Barsan, M.D., Robert Bartlett, M.D., and Timothy R. B. Johnson, M.D., are the newest U-M members, bringing the total number of U-M Medical School members to 22.

“Our newest Medical School members of the IOM are talented and dedicated leaders in the areas of medical science and the delivery of care,” says Allen S. Lichter, M.D., dean of the U-M Medical School, and the Newman Family Professor of Radiation Oncology. “With its multidisciplinary approach to studying today’s health problems, the IOM provides a rich environment for our members and their peers to examine and recommend changes in care in order to bring about improvements in human health.”

William Barsan, M.D., is professor and chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the U-M Medical School and director of the University of Michigan Health System's Emergency Department. He earned his medical degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1975. He trained in surgery and radiology at the University of Virginia Hospital before completing an emergency medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Barsan was a professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine until joining the U-M Medical School's Emergency Medicine Section in 1992. Under Barsan's direction, the section developed into an academic department, and he became its first chair in 1999. The department quickly became regarded as a national leader in Emergency Medicine research.

A pioneer in emergency stroke treatment, Barsan treated the first patient in an NIH trial with the clot buster t-PA for stroke in 1987. His other research interests include the role of EMS in emergency stroke treatment, and the use of neuroprotective agents for stroke. His clinical interests include emergency care for central nervous system diseases and cardiovascular diseases. He is the past president of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, past president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a recipient of the Hal Jayne Academic Excellence award in Emergency Medicine. He is the author of over 150 abstracts, chapters and books.

Robert Bartlett, M.D., is professor of surgery at the U-M Medical School, director of critical care/general surgery, and director of surgical intensive care at the U-M Health System. Bartlett received his medical degree from the U-M in 1963 and then served his internship and residencies at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital

in Boston. He was also an NIH trainee in academic surgery at Harvard Medical School before joining the faculty at the University of California, Irvine in 1970. Bartlett returned to U-M in 1980 as a professor of surgery.

He is a pioneer in the development of prolonged extracorporeal circulation, including development of the technique for respiratory failure in newborn infants and children. His Michigan seminars on neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) influenced the successful worldwide growth of this technology and led to the establishment of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. Bartlett also practices and teaches general surgery, with particular emphasis on critical care and pulmonary and metabolic disorders. His research activities include medical education, cardiorespiratory physiology, artificial organs, and metabolism.

Bartlett has held leadership roles in most of the professional societies associated with critical care and the development of artificial organs. He has been president of both the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs and the International Society for Artificial Organs. He is a recipient of the Medal of Special Recognition from the National Academy of Surgery of France, the McGraw Medal of the Detroit Surgical Association, and the Medallion for Scientific Achievement from the American Surgical Association. Bartlett also was the recipient of the Jacobson Innovation Award of the American College of Surgeons for the year 2003, in honor of his work in the development and establishment of the first ECMO program. He is the author of more than 450 articles, monographs, chapters and books.

Timothy R.B. Johnson, M.D., is the Bates Professor of Diseases of Women and Children and chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the U-M Medical School, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Professor of Women’s Studies, and Research Scientist in the Center for Human Growth and Development. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from U-M and his medical degree in 1975 from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed his residency at U-M. Johnson also performed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

After service in the U.S. Air Force from 1981-1985, Johnson rejoined the Johns Hopkins faculty and became its director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine in 1988. He returned to U-M in 1993 as chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, where he has worked to position the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Women's Health Program in the top tier of academic, clinical and research programs. In addition, he is active in international teaching and training, especially in Ghana, Africa and is an honorary fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. Johnson’s clinical interests include fetal assessment, prenatal care and women’s health. His research focuses on fetal behavior and women’s primary health care. He is author of over two hundred articles and chapters.

Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health, and is reserved for those who have made distinctive contributions to health through biomedical or social sciences research or leadership in the health professions. Members make a commitment to devote a significant amount of time as volunteers on committees engaged in a broad range of studies on health policy issues.

Contact: Mary Beth Reilly

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