Wagoner Johnson invited as Emerging Leader to National Academy of Medicine forum

Professor Amy Wagoner Johnson recently participated as an Emerging Leader in the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) 2025 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Emerging Leaders Forum, a nomination- and invitation-only event held in Washington, DC.

The forum is one component of the Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Program, which aims to increase NAM’s engagement with exceptional, interdisciplinary early-to mid-career professionals working across the fields of health and medicine – in biomedical science, population health, health care, health policy, and related fields.

Wagoner Johnson and other invited colleagues explored their shared challenges in health and medicine, working to identify novel approaches to these challenges and spark transformative change across fields.

“This was an exceptional and timely opportunity to participate in discussions on topics ranging from AI in health care, women’s health, and health care in conflict with panelists and other participants, to hear about experiences in science communication with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD, and to be inspired by leaders in the field.”

Wagoner Johnson is a professor and Andersen Faculty Scholar in mechanical science and engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering. She also holds an affiliate appointment in bioengineering and is a theme member in the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. She recently finished her five-year term as the first head of the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.