St. Louis, Oct. 30, 2003 — Richard H. Gelberman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon-in-chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, has been elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine.

As a component of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine advances and disseminates scientific knowledge to improve human health. Election to the institute is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health care. Members are chosen for their professional achievement and commitment to service. With election, members devote time on committees engaged in a broad range of studies on health policy issues.

Gelberman joined the Washington University School of Medicine in 1995 as the first head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He also is chief of hand and wrist surgery and director of the medical school''s hand and upper extremity fellowship training program.

Gelberman is a leader in hand and wrist microsurgery. He studies dense regular connective tissue — the ligaments, tendons and muscles that allow us to move. He also investigates radius fractures, carpal instability and nerve injuries. Gelberman has received numerous honors for his research, including the Kappa Delta, Nicolas Andry, Emmanuel Kaplan, Sumner Koch and Marshall Urist awards.

He is a former president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and has served on numerous executive committees for several national and international academic orthopedic associations.