Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year
The Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year recognizes an academic health sciences librarian at mid-career level who demonstrates significant achievement, the potential for leadership, and continuing excellence. This award honors Estelle Brodman’s exemplary career as educator, seminal thinker, able administrator, technological innovator, and skillful practitioner. The Brodman Award was established in 1986 and is sponsored by a bequest of Irwin H. Pizer. The award name was updated in 2021 to reflect growing shift in the field away from the term “medical librarian” to “health sciences librarian.”
Criteria
The Brodman Jury will review nominations and award points based on professional accomplishments, impact of work, service to the profession, visibility and recognition, and major current undertaking.
- The nominee must:
- be a member of MLA;
- in “mid-career” at the time of the award, defined as someone working at least 5 and not more than 16 years as an academic health sciences librarian;
- NOT be a library director.
- The nominee's most recent or current position must be as an academic health sciences librarian.
- The nomination may be made for outstanding national or international contributions to academic health sciences librarianship as demonstrated by excellence in performance (leadership), publications, research, service, or a combination of these 4 elements.
- The nominee must show potential for leadership and continuing excellence at mid-career in the area of academic health sciences librarianship.
Nominations
- The online submission must be completed and supporting documentation uploaded.
- The nomination must contain at least the following elements:
- a precise description of the nominee’s achievements, including impact and recognition of work;
- a current curriculum vitae; and
- any further information which may assist the jury in the evaluation of the nomination and the selection of the recipient.
- Up to three letters of support may be included with the nomination.
- Late and incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Recipient
- Up to three recipients may be chosen in one year, with a $1000 prize each.
- Award recipient(s) will be notified in March and will receive a cash award of $1,000 in June, after the annual conference.
- The recipient(s) will be asked to share a photo and video for the virtual awards ceremony held in April.
- If there are no appropriate nominees, the association may elect not to present the award in a given year.
Ready to Submit a Nomination?
- Choose the 2024 online nomination form.
- Once saved, the nomination form remains open for changes or to upload supporting documents until October 15, 11:59 p.m. (CDT).
- Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.
Past Award Recipients
- 2023: Emily J. Hurst and Elizabeth C. Whipple, AHIP
- 2022: none awarded
- 2021: Karen Gutzman
- 2020: Joey Nicholson
- 2019: Mark MacEachern
- 2018: Holly K. Grossetta Nardini
- 2017: Diana Delgado, AHIP
- 2016: Blair Anton, AHIP
- 2015: Melissa Rethlefsen
- 2014: Julia Esparza
- 2013: Gurpreet Rana
- 2012: Bart Ragon
- 2011: Nancy Tannery
- 2010: Stephanie Fulton
- 2009: none awarded
- 2008: none awarded
- 2007: Jan LaBeause
- 2006: Linda Walton
- 2005: Michele Tennant
- 2004: Kathyrn Nesbit (posthumously)
- 2003: Susan London
- 2002: Judith F. Burnham
- 2001: T. Scott Plutchak
- 2000: Jeanette C. McCray
- 1999: E. Diane Johnson
- 1998: Anne Wood Humphries
- 1997: M.J. Tooey
- 1996: Gale G. Hannigan
- 1995: David W. Boilard
- 1993: Julia Sollenberger
- 1992: Carolyn Anne Reid
- 1991: Richard E. Lucier
- 1990: Kathryn J. Hoffman
- 1989: Gail A. Yokote
- 1988: Audrey Powderly Newcomer
Have a question? Contact Awards Manager