[Skip to Content]
Visit us on Facebook Visit us on FacebookVisit us on Linked In Visit us on Linked InVisit us on Twitter Visit us on TwitterVisit us on Facebook Visit us on InstagramVisit our RSS Feed View our RSS Feed
Region 5 Blog March 28th, 2024
CategoriesCategoriesCategories Contact UsContact Us ArchivesArchives Region/OfficeRegion SearchSearch

Oct

03

Date prong graphic

Dr. Patricia Brennan, the new Director of the National Library of Medicine

Posted by on October 3rd, 2016 Posted in: News from NLM


On September 12, 2016, Patricia Flatley Brennan, RN, PhD, was sworn in as the 19th director of the Library and the fourth person to serve as director since the institution became the National Library of Medicine 60 years ago. She is not only the first woman but also the first nurse to hold this position.

In her remarks, Dr. Brennan addressed a number of health and information issues. She relayed that her focus, while working as a nurse and an industrial engineer, was of reaching into the home because the place where most health occurs is in the home. But since most people do not want strangers traipsing through their private domain, addressing the health needs of individuals at the point of when they need it presented a challenge and required innovative solutions. She made further comments about the role of NLM and the need to make health information accessible at the point of need for both professionals and for consumers and innovative solutions will be required to meet those needs. Dr. Brennan remarked that by looking at the past  it can become part of our present. She recognized the work of past NLM leaders which has led to some wonderful contributions over the years and even will continue to influence the present and the future. Dr. Brennan’s speech illustrated her knowledge and awareness of the present needs of researchers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare consumers but also emphasizing that NLM be ready for what lies ahead.

Dr. Brennan mentioned she would be working with the NLM Board of Regents on a one-year strategic planning initiative to create a vision for the future of the National Library of Medicine. She looks forward to working with all those associated with the National Library of Medicine to work together in achieving future goals so that NLM can continue to be a vital component in the world of research, information, and health. Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health,  shared “We’re on your team and want to make this dream turn into something really spectacular and you’re just the right leader to make this happen.”

We all welcome Dr. Brennan as she takes the helm of NLM and leads it into the future. Watch the full swearing in ceremony https://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?Live=19671&bhcp=1

Image of the author ABOUT Carolyn Martin
Carolyn Martin is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the NNLM Region 5. She works with various libraries and community organizations to increase health literacy in their communities.

Email author View all posts by
Developed resources reported in this program are supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH) under cooperative agreement number UG4LM012343 with the University of Washington.

NNLM and NETWORK OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE are service marks of the US Department of Health and Human Services | Copyright | HHS Vulnerability Disclosure | Download PDF Reader