Among Friends
e-Newsletter of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM)
June 1, 2007 • Volume 2, Issue 6
Report of the FNLM Annual Dinner
The annual fundraising dinner of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine was highly successful both intellectually and financially. It was held on May 8th at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. There were 190 participants at 21 tables in the lovely foyer for dinner with the reception being held in the mezzanine. Guests were invited to tour the current exhibit, "Women of the Italian Renaissance".
The evening program was initiated by the Honorable Paul Rogers, Chairman of the FNLM, who welcomed the guests and introduced Ms. Betsy Humphreys, Deputy Director of NLM, who presented a 10 minute video on progress at the NLM during the past year. Shortly after dinner was served, Chairman Rogers introduced Dr. Donald Lindberg, Director of the NLM, who introduced Dr. Bernadine Healy, who continued as master of ceremonies.
Five major awards were presented. As the theme was "Women and Cancer", two scientific awards were presented to prominent investigators in breast cancer. Dr. Don Detmer, VP of FNLM and President of AMIA presented one award to Dr. Bernard Fisher of the University of Pittsburgh for his outstanding contributions concerning both new surgical procedures and the use of tamoxifin in the control of recurring breast tumors. Dr. Fisher has received many awards, including the Lasker award for his accomplishments in this field. Dr. Fred Smith presented the second Distinguished Medical Science Award to Dr. Dennis Slamon of the University of California at Los Angeles, who completed pioneering studies and clinical trials in the use of Herceptin in the treatment of breast cancer. Ms. Lucretia McClure of Countway Library at Harvard University presented the Michael E. DeBakey Library Services Outreach Award to Ms. Ada Seltzer of the University of Mississippi.
Two new awards were also initiated. Dr. Jay Sanders, President of FNLM, presented the Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Public Service Award to Senator Ted Kennedy. Although unable to attend because of his responsibilities in the Senate, Senator Kennedy presented an excellent video acceptance speech which included a tribute not only to his old colleague Paul Rogers, but also highly praised the Library and its multiple programs available to the scientific community, health care professions and the public. The fifth new award was the Distinguished Health Media Award. Paul Rogers presented this award to Dr. Bernadine Healy, former director of the NIH, Dean of the Ohio School of Medicine, former President of the American Red Cross and currently health editor for U.S. News and World Report.
Music was provided by "Banjer Dan" and his Bluegrass Friends, Eddy Glaudin - Pianist, and Norm Weaver piped the guests out with his bagpipe.
A video of Senator Kennedy's speech may be viewed at: http://www.fnlm.org/videos/Kennedy.wmv
Report on the FNLM Reception for the MLA
The FNLM sponsored a reception on May 20th for the Medical Library Association members in Philadelphia at their annual meeting. The reception was held from 7:00 - 9:00 PM in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art institute in the United States. The entire museum features American artists with a strong emphasis on the revolutionary period and the artists of the nineteenth century.
Of great interest was the presentation of the Eakins painting of "The Gross Clinic" which had recently jointly been purchased from the Jefferson Medical College in 2007 which they had owned since 1878. Thomas Eakins was one of the foremost artists of the nineteenth century and a professor at this art institute conducting classes in both painting and photography. His painting of Samuel Gross, a prominent surgeon at Jefferson, was complemented in 1889 by a similar painting by Eakins of "The Agnew Clinic", the foremost surgeon of the University of Pennsylvania. These paintings represent two of the most famous medical paintings of this period. The two others being a rendition of Robert Hinckley's "The First Operation under Ether" conducted by William Thomas Green Morton in the Bulfinch Auditorium of the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1846 with surgeons John Collins Warren and Henry Jacob Bigelow, and the John Singer Sargent painting of "The Four Doctors", completed in 1906, included William Henry Welch, William Osler, William Halsted and Howard Kelly, the four major teaching physicians of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
The reception was enhanced with the music of the Four Calling Birds featuring mother Gail and her three daughters, Anne, Robbin, and Holly Crouthamel, playing piano, violin and both the string and the hammered dulcimer. In addition, two of the curators of the museum gave tours and brief talks of the paintings in the gallery.
Report of the FNLM Board of Directors Meeting
The FNLM Board of Directors met at the Army-Navy Club on Wednesday, May 9th from 9:00 to 12:00 AM. After the meeting was called to order by Vice President Don Detmer, Chairman Paul Rogers gave welcoming remarks and thanked everyone responsible for the success of the annual fund-raising dinner on May 8th. After unanimous approval of the minutes of the Board Meeting on February 6th, Dr. Detmer asked for motions on three new candidates for board membership. These were: Drs. William Gardner, Frank Bonner and Mr. Evan Jones. After appropriate motions were made and seconded, the candidates were unanimously approved.
Dr. Detmer then asked for reports from the four standing committees.
Corporate Committee
Ms. Kathy White and Donna Hill Howes reported on the highly successful fund-raising result for the dinner at which 190 guests attended. They also commented on the need for immediate planning for next year's event as pharmaceutical companies in particular had diverted considerable funds from their marketing divisions to foundation committees. Dr. Dennis Cryer commented on the need for the identification of the key personnel in each organization responsible for grants. The FNLM is extremely grateful to its major sponsors for this dinner, who were recognized on the printed program.
Program Committee
Dr. Kenneth Walker suggested that a theme be selected for next year's program. After considerable discussion with the strong recommendations of Donna Hill Howes, the theme of "Diseases in Children" was selected with the added opportunity of having Ms. Marlo Thomas as Toastmaster.
Dr. Walker then suggested seven different areas for support of programs essential to NLM for which outside funding is necessary. The executive committee will select the most important of these seven and other programs to seek outside funding.
Audit Committee
Dr. Polly Bednash reported on the financial statement and the Executive Director, Ms. Susan Corsini noted that with the dinner revenues, the budget was now in balance.
Publication Committee
Mr. Selby Bateman reported on the three previous publications of NIH MedlinePlus and noted that the fourth issue would be distributed the last week of May. This would have Mr. Sam Donaldson and his wife on the cover. A special section devoted to major cancers in the population includes lung, breast, prostate, colon and skin. Other articles include programs of the Clinical Center and the National Institute of Drug Abuse as well as diseases of addiction.
New Business
There was considerable discussion on ways that membership of individuals, societies, other organizations and corporations could be increased in the FNLM. The Executive Committee and the Chairmen of the Standing Committees will meet in the near future to make more specific recommendations on this important subject.
Adjournment
Dr. Detmer adjourned the meeting at 11:45 to proceed to the second floor for lunch. He noted that the next meeting would be held at the Army-Navy Club on September 19th, preceded by a joint BOR-FNLM dinner on the evening of September 18th at Mt. Vernon.
Support the FNLM
To support the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, please visit our website. Please encourage your friends to call or write Ms. Mirjam Krull - 202-719-8066 or mkrull@fnlm.org if they wish to receive this newsletter and the magazine.
You may also contact us directly at info@fnlm.org or write or call Ms. Susan Corsini, Executive Director of FNLM, at 2801 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202.719.8094, for information about the FNLM organization and activities or the NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.
