Celebrating Dr. Ruth Karron’s Election to the National Academy of Medicine

The CIR is celebrating a well-earned honor for Dr. Ruth Karron, who was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) class of 2026. An election to NAM is recognized as one of the highest distinctions in the fields of health and medicine for many reasons which include being part of the National Academies of Sciences, its distinguished roster, cross-disciplinary diversity, real world impact and elite peer election process. 

Dr. Karron has been an integral part of the CIR for more than 30 years. 

Dr. Ruth Karron

She worked closely with CIR's founder, Dr. Mary Lou Clements-Mann and served as the Center's 3rd director from 2007-2021. Dr. Karron is also the director of the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative (JHVI) and a professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (with a joint appointment in Pediatrics at the School of Medicine). Her career represents a powerful bridge between laboratory science, clinical trials research and global public health policy.

Among her many achievements, Dr. Karron's work stands out for:

  • Pioneering RSV Protection: Dr. Karron's RSVPed team at the CIR has been a driving force behind critical research into respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. As the PI for many RSV studies, she has contributed invaluable data that continues to drive the global effort forward.
  • Advocating for Maternal Inclusion: She has been a vital voice in championing the ethical and necessary inclusion of pregnant individuals in vaccine clinical trials, ensuring mothers and babies are considered in preventive healthcare research.
  • Shaping Global Health Standards: Through her active leadership on numerous national and international advisory and policy committees, her insights have contributed to the development and rollout of life-saving vaccines.
  • Engaging the Vaccine Research Community: Through the JHVI, Dr. Karron hosts Vaccine Day, an annual event that brings together students, peers and leaders in the vaccines and infectious diseases community to discuss new and important topics related to vaccine trust, safety, policy and implementation. Previous Vaccine Day keynote speakers include Walter Orenstein, MD, DSc, Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Dr. Paul Offit, Dr. Roger I. Glass and Dr. Jerome Adams.

Dr. Karron's profound impact makes her a wonderful addition to the Academy. Congratulations to Dr. Karron on this incredible milestone!