The October 15-16 annual meeting of the Institute of Medicine was the scene of an award ceremony recognizing three individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Institute and to the nation's health. One of the three was Walter McNerney, Kellogg's Herman Smith Professor Emeritus of Health Policy.

Walter McNerney was presented the Adam Yarmolinsky Medal, awarded to a member of the Institute of Medicine from a discipline outside the health and medical sciences. McNerney was awarded the medal for his role as a valued adviser to the Institute of Medicine over three decades. The medal recognizes distinguished service by a member who, over a significant period of time, has contributed in many ways to the mission of the Institute. The award is named for Adam Yarmolinsky, a charter member and primary author of the Institute's charter and bylaws.

The IOM described his career thusly: "McNerney is the Herman Smith Professor Emeritus of Health Policy in the Program in Health Industry Management at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Illinois. A widely known and respected leader in the health care field, he has served as a professor, consultant, and executive. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Minnesota, McNerney was president of the Blue Cross Association from 1961 to 1978 and of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Associations from 1978 to 1981. He also was founding director of and a professor in the program in health administration at the University of Michigan Graduate School of Public Health. Elected to IOM membership in 1971, McNerney was in its first elected class of members and a member of its Council of Management. He has served as a member of the program committee and chair of the Board of Health Services. His many committee assignments have included chairing the committee that authored the landmark book For-Profit Enterprise in HealthCare."

Nominations for the three membership awards were solicited from IOM members and staff. The Institute of Medicine is a private, nonprofit organization that provides health policy advice under a congressional charter granted to the National Academy of Sciences.