Annual Report 1999/2000 

Joseph Leiter NLM/MLA Lectureship Committee

The Leiter Lectureship Committee relates to the Professional Development goal of MLA’s Strategic Plan. Goal 1A – Professional Development provides for continuing education opportunities for members’ professional growth. The objective is to provide a speaker to deliver a thought-provoking presentation on biomedical communication.

The lecture committee invited Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress to present the Leiter Lecture in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the Library of Congress. Unfortunately, Dr. Billington was unable to accept because of significant other commitments.

Fortunately, Dr. Scott Ratzan was able to accept our invitation to be the Leiter lecturer this year. Dr. Ratzan is the Executive Director of Health Communication Technology and Educational Innovation at the Academy of Educational Development in Washington, DC. Dr. Ratzan has an MD degree (1988) from USC medical school, a Master in Public Administration (1987) from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, an M.A. from Emerson College (1986) in Communication Studies, and a BA from Occidental College (1983) in Rhetoric. He has many publications and has spoken frequently on health communication issues. He is editor in chief of the Journal of Health Communication and has many honors including being candidate for both a Rhodes Scholar and a Marshall Scholar in 1982. Dr. Ratzan’s primary area of research is health literacy.

MOTION
This report is informational and requires no action by the Board of Directors.

Alexa T. McCray, Ph.D., Chair

Leiter Lectureship Committee
Eric Albright
Ann Campbell
Carla Funk, MLA Liaison
Suzanne Grefsheim
Alexa T. McCray, Chair
Julie Johnson McGowan, MLA Board Liaison