Jean H. McKay, M.L.S. was selected as director for the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation within the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ms. McKay will serve as senior advisor to NCCAM's director on science, science policy, and other strategic issues, as well as oversee the planning, evaluation, and reporting activities for the Center.

Ms. McKay comes to NCCAM from the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation at the National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) where she served as the Director of the Office of Program Planning, Operations, and Scientific Information.

"Ms. McKay is bringing invaluable experience, skill, and knowledge of NIH to NCCAM’s leadership,” said Ruth L. Kirschstein, NCCAM Acting Director. “I am looking forward to working with Ms. McKay who, in this role, will have the opportunity to take a vital role in the planning and appraisal of the Center's investments across complementary and alternative medicine research."

Ms. McKay’s career at NIH spans more than 20 years. She has worked at a number of institutes in addition to NIAID, including the National Library of Medicine, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Human Genome Research Institute. She has also worked in the Office of AIDS and Special Health Issues at the Food and Drug Administration.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s mission is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM’s Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit nccam.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.