Celebrating Excellence: Award Recipients
MLA is proud to recognize the outstanding individuals selected as recipients of the 2025 MLA awards. Their achievements reflect a deep commitment to excellence in our field.
Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year
Rachel Hinrichs and Hilary Jasmin are the 2025 recipients of the Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year. This prestigious award honors mid-career academic health sciences librarians who demonstrate significant achievement, leadership potential, and a sustained commitment to excellence. Named in memory of Estelle Brodman, a pioneering medical librarian and scholar, the award recognizes individuals whose work has made a lasting impact on the profession.
Rachel Hinrichs, Associate Librarian at Indiana University Indianapolis, has distinguished herself through a robust portfolio of scholarly contributions, professional service, and mentorship. A former Production Editor for Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, Rachel has advanced evidence-based practice through numerous peer-reviewed publications and evidence syntheses. Her leadership within MLA includes service in the Research Training Institute (RTI) as a Fellow and Peer Mentor, as well as active involvement in AHIP, caucuses, and special project groups. Her work reflects a deep commitment to research, education, and the advancement of health sciences librarianship.
Hilary Jasmin, now a Research Associate Informational Specialist at Oregon Health & Science University, previously served at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she became the first librarian to hold a dual academic appointment. Her dedication to evidence-based practice and professional development is evident in her extensive research output, service in MLA’s Rising Stars program, and leadership roles in multiple caucuses and juries. Hilary’s work has been recognized with multiple research awards, underscoring her visibility and influence in the field.
Both recipients exemplify the values of the Brodman Award through their scholarship, service, and leadership. Their achievements not only reflect personal excellence but also elevate the profession as a whole.
Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship
Shannon Glover, AHIP, of the Northeast Georgia Health System-Fraser Resource Center & Health Sciences Library, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship. This distinguished award honors a hospital librarian who demonstrates leadership, innovation, and excellence in advancing hospital library services. Named after Lois Ann Colaianni, a visionary in hospital librarianship, the award recognizes individuals whose work significantly enhances patient care, education, and community engagement through exemplary library service.
Glover’s achievements reflect the spirit of this award through her leadership in health literacy, community outreach, and DEI initiatives. She has led innovative programs such as the “Pause for Paws” wellness initiative and a redesign of her hospital library to foster collaboration. Her national presence is evident through her active involvement in MLA caucuses, committees, and regional chapters, as well as her widely recognized scholarship and service. Glover’s commitment to inclusive, patient-centered information services makes her a model of excellence in hospital librarianship.
Chapter Project of the Year Award
The Midcontinental Chapter of the Medical Library Association (MCMLA) is the 2025 recipient of the MLA Chapter Project of the Year Award for its Early Career Librarian Initiative Task Force (ECLI TF). This award honors excellence, innovation, and contributions to the profession through special chapter projects that go beyond routine programming. The ECLI TF was established to support and empower students, early-career librarians, and professionals new to health sciences librarianship—groups traditionally under-supported in the field.
The task force launched a series of impactful initiatives, including a “buddy” mentorship program, a professional development panel, CV-building resources, and a widely shared resource guide. These efforts have fostered inclusivity, accessibility, and belonging, aligning with MLA’s core values and mission. Participation in the program doubled within a year, and the task force’s work has already inspired cross-chapter collaboration and scholarly outputs. MCMLA’s ECLI TF sets a strong example for how chapters can nurture emerging professionals and strengthen the future of health sciences librarianship
Consumer Health Librarian of the Year Award
Sydni Abrahamsen, AHIP, of Mayo Clinic, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Consumer Health Librarian of the Year Award. This award honors a librarian who demonstrates excellence in providing consumer health information, advancing health literacy, and promoting access to reliable health resources. It recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the delivery of health information to the public, particularly through innovation, outreach, and service.
Abrahamsen serves as Librarian for the Patient and Health Education Libraries at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where she is known for her patient-centered approach and dedication to high-quality consumer health services. In addition to her institutional work, she contributes to the broader profession as editor of the Consumer and Patient Health Information Services (CAPHIS) newsletter and through active leadership in both local and regional MLA chapters. Her commitment to empowering patients and supporting the professional community exemplifies the values of this award
Darling Award for Distinguished Achievement in Collection Development in the Health Sciences
Megan Inman, of East Carolina University, William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Louise Darling Award for Distinguished Achievement in Collection Development in the Health Sciences. Named in honor of Louise Darling, a pioneer in medical librarianship and collection development, this award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in building and managing health sciences collections. It honors individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field through innovation, leadership, and scholarship.
Inman’s contributions exemplify the spirit of this award through her extensive service, scholarship, and leadership in collection development. She co-edited the MLA award-winning handbook Building Health Sciences Library Collections, a vital resource for both new and experienced librarians. Her work with Doody’s Review Service, the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), and MLA committees reflects her commitment to collaboration and professional growth. Inman’s efforts to enhance library services through strategic purchasing, cross-institutional partnerships, and education have made a lasting impact on the profession
Ida and George Eliot Prize
Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA, Distinguished Librarian Emerita, University of California, Irvine; Jodi Philbrick, AHIP, University of North Texas; and Lori Kloda, McGill University, have been awarded the 2025 Ida and George Eliot Prize. Their article, “MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) 2018 and 2019: Participant Research Confidence and Program Effectiveness,” published in the Journal of the Medical Library Association, exemplifies the highest standards of scholarship in medical librarianship. The Eliot Prize honors a work published in the preceding calendar year that significantly advances the field through its contribution to the profession, impact, clarity, and content quality.
The coauthors’ research addresses a critical need in health sciences librarianship: building research capacity among professionals. Their evaluation of the RTI program offers compelling evidence of its effectiveness in boosting participants’ research confidence and scholarly productivity. The article stands out for its methodological rigor and practical relevance, with reviewers noting that it not only informs best practices in professional development but also reinforces the value of structured, evidence-based training programs. This recognition highlights the importance of investing in research training to empower librarians as contributors to scholarly and institutional advancement
Mark Hodges International Service Award
Kristi Holmes, Associate Dean and Director, Galter Health Sciences Library, Northwestern University of Northwestern University and Anne Seymour, Associate Dean of the Welch Medical Library, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, are the joint recipients of the 2025 T. Mark Hodges International Service Award. This distinguished honor recognizes exemplary international contributions that advance health sciences librarianship across borders, cultures, and communities. Holmes and Seymour have demonstrated sustained leadership and global engagement, embodying the spirit of international collaboration and service that defines this award.
Holmes and Seymour are honored for their collaborative efforts in advancing data science, fostering global communities, and promoting open access—efforts that have profoundly impacted the profession. Notably, their 2023 workshop with the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa provided strategies for implementing data services and created a sustainable community for ongoing collaboration. Their combined work has elevated the visibility and influence of health sciences librarianship worldwide, inspiring peers and shaping the future of the profession.
Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award
Marie Ascher, of the New York Medical College, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award. Named in honor of Lucretia W. McClure, a legendary educator and mentor in medical librarianship, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field through teaching, curriculum development, mentoring, leadership, and scholarship. Ascher’s career exemplifies these values through her dedication to evidence-based practice education and her leadership in professional development initiatives.
Ascher is the creator and director of the Critical Appraisal Institute for Librarians (CAIFL), a nationally recognized workshop that has trained over 200 librarians in evidence-based practice. Her work has been supported by multiple NIH grants and has had a lasting impact on the profession. In addition to her instructional leadership, she has served on the MLA Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee, and currently contributes to the AI Imperative Task Force. Her extensive publication record, national presentations, and mentoring efforts reflect a career committed to elevating the educational standards of health sciences librarianship
Rittenhouse Award
Hripsime Mantecon, University of North Texas, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Rittenhouse Award for the project titled A Complementary Technological Solution as a Preventive Measure for Maternal Mortality in Black Women in Rural America. This award honors the best unpublished paper or web-based project in health sciences librarianship or medical informatics by a student in an ALA-accredited program or a trainee in a health sciences librarianship internship. Mantecon’s work stood out for its originality, relevance, and potential to address a critical public health disparity through innovative informatics solutions.
The award jury praised the project’s thoughtful integration of technology to mitigate maternal mortality risks among Black women in underserved rural areas—a population that continues to face disproportionate health outcomes. By proposing a scalable, data-driven intervention, Mantecon’s work exemplifies the forward-thinking and socially responsive scholarship that the Rittenhouse Award seeks to elevate. This recognition not only highlights the importance of inclusive, equity-focused research in medical librarianship but also affirms the vital role of emerging professionals in shaping the future of health information services.
Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award
The Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award recognizes organizations whose exemplary actions have served to advance health information research and evidence-based practice in health sciences libraries. MLA are pleased to present the award to two institutions this year: the London Health Sciences Centre, Health Sciences Library and the NYU Langone Health, Health Sciences Library. Both institutions have demonstrated outstanding commitment to integrating librarians into the research, clinical, and educational missions of their organizations, setting a high standard for innovation and scholarly impact in the profession.
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is recognized for its strong commitment to the Health Sciences Library and its clinical librarians. Despite having only four librarians, their expertise fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, informs clinical decision-making, and elevates research quality. LHSC supports librarian research through integrated job responsibilities, financial backing, and training opportunities, highlighting their dedication to advancing health information, scholarship, and knowledge dissemination. Their contributions include over 670 evidence synthesis projects and hundreds of literature searches for quality improvement initiatives, directly impacting patient care and institutional outcomes.
The NYU Health Sciences Library at NYU Langone Health is integral to the institution’s research, clinical, and educational missions. With 20 librarians, the library dedicates 20% of job duties to research, emphasizing scholarly activities. Langone Health supports librarian research with financial backing, professional development, and sabbaticals. Their efforts in data management, collaborative research, and education highlight their essential role in advancing health sciences librarianship. Notably, their librarians have co-authored more than 75 publications since 2022 and secured nearly $500,000 in grant-supported research funding, underscoring their leadership in scholarly productivity and institutional impact.
MLA congratulates all 2025 award recipients. Their achievements reflect the innovation, leadership, and scholarly excellence that continue to shape both the future of health sciences librarianship and the advancement of our association.