On Jan. 20, 1971, the Institute of Medicine, now the the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), began operations. The NAM is one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) in the U.S. Operating under the 1863 Congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that work outside of government to provide objective advice on matters of science, technology, and health. began operaions.