MLA President 2002/03

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Medical Library Association

Linda A. Watson, AHIP
President, Medical Library Association
www.mlanet.org

R!A What public outreach do you do to promote investment in medical and health research?

Watson We recently signed on to a coalition letter asking Congress to pass the health-related budgets. We testify before Congress annually and visit legislators twice a year about the need for increased investment in the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine (NLM)—which funds much of the research in health information. We recently established a Lindberg Research Fellowship, named for NLM Director Donald A. B. Lindberg, M.D.

We award public service honors to national leaders who have greatly supported biomedical research and NLM outreach programs.

We conduct health writers' seminars to teach journalists about medical research and how to define quality information.

We encourage our members to get involved with local outreach and partner with public librarians to help them provide better health information resources.

R!A What are the results of your public outreach?

Watson We have created more public awareness about how to connect with medical information professionals who have the latest research on disease prevention and health.

We have formed partnerships with organizations such as The Pew Charitable Trusts, which have helped us teach the public how to identify the "good from the bad" health information on the Internet and elsewhere.

Our media relations have resulted in coverage in Consumer Reports, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the trade publication Lancet. The online version of HeathLeaders ran our story about the importance of information and medical research to prevent medical errors.

R!A What is your biggest challenge?

Watson Many of our members will retire within the decade, so we must work to recruit new medical librarians, preferably with a science and computer background. Our biggest challenge now is to convince more students that being a medical librarian is an exciting profession with a real value to society!

R!A What are pressing medical library needs requiring additional research and investment?

Watson Research that demonstrates the value of accurate information provided at the moment a medical decision is made.

R!A How does your organization benefit from your Research!America membership?

Watson We have more opportunities to engage in partnerships with other R!A members. We use Membership Matters and your polling results to provide information to our members that help them make the case for their own medical and health research initiatives. Perhaps future R!A polls might include Medical Library Association-related questions that will help us even more, such as "are you aware that your local community might have a medical library that can help you answer health questions?"

Watson is also director of the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia Health System–Charlottesville.