I Am Black History

Submitted by: Katrina Holland, Executive Director, MLA

Black History Month is a time to honor the generations of Black leaders, clinicians, researchers, librarians, and innovators, whose brilliance and resilience have advanced healthcare and expanded access to knowledge—often while working to dismantle the very inequities they faced. Their legacy reminds us that progress is not accidental.  It is built by people who choose to lead, to advocate, and to open doors so others can walk through.  

Representation, equitable clinical research, and access to trusted health information profoundly shape health outcomes. Who is included in discovery matters. Who can access reliable information matters. Knowledge is not just power—it is prevention, protection, and possibility. 

When communities are excluded from research or disconnected from credible health information, disparities grow. But when we design systems with equity at the center, we create healthier futures for everyone. 

Black History Month is both a celebration and a call to action. It challenges us not only to reflect on the past, but to be intentional about the future we are building. 

This Black History Month, I am honored to join the Medical Library Association as its Executive Director. I am committed to leading with vision, courage, and equity—supporting our members as champions of access, advocates for evidence, and trusted guides in their institutions. I hope to inspire our field to think boldly about what’s possible: to reimagine how health information reaches people, to strengthen inclusive research practices, and to ensure that every person can benefit from the knowledge they need to live healthier lives.   

Together, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to shape a more just, informed, and equitable healthcare landscape. And together, we will. 

I look forward to working with you. 

Best regards,  

Katrina Holland
Executive Director
Medical Library Association