Friends of the National Library of Medicine to Honor Dr. Allan M. Brandt with the 2026 Donald A.B. Lindberg Award for Distinguished Health Communications
Washington, DC – The Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM) is proud to announce that Dr. Allan M. Brandt, Amalie Moses Kass Professor of the History of Medicine at Harvard University, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Donald A.B. Lindberg Award for Distinguished Health Communications.
This prestigious award recognizes Dr. Brandt’s extraordinary contributions to public understanding of health, medicine, and disease through scholarship that bridges history, science, and public policy. A preeminent historian of medicine, Dr. Brandt has reshaped how we understand the intersection of biomedical knowledge, social stigma, corporate influence, and public health.
Dr. Brandt is best known for his groundbreaking book, The Cigarette Century, which examined the rise of Big Tobacco and the political, scientific, and communications strategies that shaped public understanding of smoking and disease. His earlier landmark work, No Magic Bullet, transformed scholarship on sexually transmitted diseases, stigma, and public health policy in America.
Through his scholarship, teaching, and public engagement, Dr. Brandt has illuminated how medical information is produced, disseminated, and sometimes distorted — themes deeply aligned with the legacy of Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg, former Director of the National Library of Medicine, who championed public access to trustworthy biomedical information.
“Dr. Brandt’s work demonstrates how critical accurate health communication is to democracy, science, and public trust,” said Barbara Redman, RN PhD, Chair of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine. “His scholarship reminds us that the way health information is framed and delivered has lasting consequences for policy, equity, and public well-being.”
Dr. Brandt has served in numerous academic leadership roles at Harvard, including as Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from 2008 to 2012. His work continues to inform conversations about corporate responsibility, scientific integrity, and the social determinants of health.
FNLM will formally present this honor to Dr. Brandt on September 16th at the 2026 Friends of the NLM Awards Gala in Washington, DC. The gala brings together leaders in medicine, research, publishing, and public service to celebrate excellence in advancing access to trustworthy health information.
For more information about the Friends of the NLM and the 2026 Awards Gala, please visit www.fnlm.org.
About the Friends of the National Library of Medicine
Established in 1986, the Friends of the National Library of Medicine is a coalition devoted to increasing public awareness and use of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Friends also calls attention to the NLM’s many programs in research, education, and public service.
Media Contact:
Sharon Watts
Director of Communications and Operations
Friends of the National Library of Medicine
Sharon_Watts@fnlm.org
202.213.7919
For Media Use, a headshot of Dr. Allan Brandt is available upon request.
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