Fellows and Honorary Members

Throughout its history, the Medical Library Association (MLA) has consistently sought to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to further the vision, values, and mission of the association. For many decades, the term "Honorary Member" was utilized for this purpose. In 1976 MLA introduced a distinction to recognize both members and non-members who had significantly enriched the association. Two categories were created:

• MLA Fellows are members and elected by the Board of Directors for sustained and outstanding contributions to health sciences librarianship and to the advancement of the purposes of MLA. Fellows may use "FMLA" following their names.

• See the complete listing of Fellows and Honorary Members (prior to 1976) for selected biographical information that illustrates each Fellow's contributions to MLA. 

• Honorary Members are individuals who are not regular members of MLA. 
• The listing below includes Honorary Members since 1976.

MLA Fellows  

Criteria

• Nominee must be a current Regular member of MLA and must have held Regular or Institutional membership for at least fifteen (15) years prior to the nomination for Fellowship. (see below)
• Nominee must possess an ALA-accredited MLS, or Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) accepted post-baccalaureate degree.
• Nominee must have at least ten years of professional experience in health information science.
• Nominee must have five or more years of notable leadership in MLA, demonstrated by one or more elected or appointed offices in the national MLA as a committee, task force, or board member; or one or more elected or appointed offices in an MLA caucus or chapter; or a position as an elected or appointed officer in an allied national association such as ALA, SLA, HeSCA, etc.
• Nominee must have demonstrated outstanding achievement as evidenced by a highly significant contribution to the goals of the association in a relatively short period of time; or durable achievement by a sustained level of commitment to the goals of the association over a long period of time.
• Nominee must have demonstrated significant scholarship as evidenced by publication of one or more refereed publications in the area of health sciences librarianship; teaching or development of a course over a sufficient period of time for professional recognition of subject expertise; or research documented by grant funding, publication, or invited presentation of a paper.
• Nominee must have garnered a professional reputation as evidenced by letters of support or commendation from professional colleagues; being cited by colleagues in the literature; or evidence of adherence to the MLA Code of Ethics.

 Nominations 

• Nomination form, including all supporting documentation, must be completed no later than October 15.
• Nominations are accepted from the membership-at-large and from members of the Fellowship and Honorary Members Jury.
• Nominations should include documents or web links verifying the criteria noted above, plus any other pertinent information regarding suitability of the nominee for Fellowship.
• Up to three letters of support may be included with the nomination. 
• Nominee's MLA membership history may be confidentially confirmed by contacting MLA Member Services.
• "Model" Nomination Portfolio - this sample serves as a guide to what the jury expects to use for considering nominees for this prestigious honor.

Recipients

• The recipient will be notified in March and will receive a fellows pin.
• The recipient will be asked to share a photo and video for the virtual awards ceremony held in April. 
• If there are no appropriate candidates, the association may elect not to present the award in a given year.

Ready to submit a nomination for an MLA Fellow?

• 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.

Honorary Member 

Criteria

• Nominee must be a non-member of MLA who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the purposes of the Medial Library Association.
• Nominee must be outside of the library profession.
• Nominee must have demonstrated outstanding achievement in an appropriate field, such as library/health science education; medical informatics; legislation; information services; or systems development/management/administration.
• Nominee must have demonstrated notable leadership in his or her chosen field, such as positions held; honors/awards received; refereed publications; adherence to/promulgation of standards; or educational attainments.
• Nominee must have demonstrated impact on the advancement of MLA’s mission as evidenced by acceptance of advocated philosophical tenets; adoption of new/modified methodologies in information management; promulgation of standards of performance; or influence on educational/service programs.
• Nominee must have garnered a professional reputation as evidenced by letters of support or commendation from professional colleagues; being cited by colleagues in the literature; or evidence of adherence to a professional code of ethics.

Nominations 

• Nomination form, including all supporting documentation, must be completed no later than October 15.
• Nominations are accepted from the membership-at-large and from members of the Fellowship and Honorary Members Jury or the MLA Board of Directors.
• Nominations should include documents or web links verifying the criteria noted above, plus any other pertinent information regarding suitability of the nominee for Honorary Membership.
• Up to three letters of support may be included with the nomination.  

Recipients

• The recipient will be notified in March.
• The recipient will be asked to share a photo and video for the virtual awards ceremony held in April. 
• If there are no appropriate candidates, the association may elect not to present the award in a given year.

Ready to Submit a Nomination for an Honorary Member?

• 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.

Honorary Members

Those listed below have received the award Honorary Member, since the term was redefined in 1976.

• Marion Ball, 1996
• William G. Cooper, PhD, 1999*
• Nicholas E. Davies, 1990*
• Michael E. DeBakey, MD, 1997*
• Lois DeBakey, PhD, 1989*
• Dale P. Dirks, 2003
• Carla J. Funk, CAE, Hon. FCLIP, 2009 (See Oral History)
• Laura Shane Godbolt, 2000*
• R. Brian Haynes, MD, Phd, 1998
• Frances Humphrey Howard 1990*
• Edward Janavel Huth, MD, 1993*
• Henry M. Kissman, PhD, 1992*
• Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD, 2013* (See Oral History)
• William Harcourt Majors, 1998*
• John Albert Majors, 1998*
• John P. McGovern, MD, 1985*
• Ray Naegele, 2019 (See Oral History)
• Harold M. Schoolman, MD, 2000*
• Paul M. Schyve, MD, 1995
• Norman F. Stearns, MD, 1978*
• David W.C. Stewart, 1997*
• Kelly McGuffin West, 1977*
• Marjorie P. Wilson, MD, 1984*

* Deceased

Have a question? Contact MLA.