The Michael E. DeBakey
Librarian Outreach & Community Collaboration Award

2025 Nominations Now Being Accepted
Deadline: February 28, 2025 

The Michael E. DeBakey Librarian Outreach & Community Collaboration Award for outstanding outreach librarians  serving rural or underserved populations was established in the early 1990s to recognize the contributions to medical  education and librarianship by Michael E. DeBakey, M.D. (1908 – 2008).  

A world-renowned American cardiac surgeon, innovator, medical educator, and international medical statesman, Dr.  DeBakey worked tirelessly in numerous capacities to improve national and international standards of health care. This award is presented to a practicing health sciences librarian who works in the tradition of the incredible advances  and medical innovations of Dr. DeBakey to provide valuable health information to underserved and rural populations. 

The award was renamed in 2021 to the Michael E. DeBakey Librarian Outreach and Community Collaboration Award and the selection criteria were expanded to reflect the current focus of the National Library of Medicine strategic plan  and the evolving ways health sciences librarians provide outreach to underserved communities and create  community collaborations. 

The recipient will be publicly recognized at the Friends of the National Library of Medicine Annual Gala and  Awards Celebration on September 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. 

Visit the Friends of the NLM website to view past award recipients:
https://www.fnlm.org/awards/

Nomination Requirements: 

• Nominees must be currently employed as a health sciences librarian and have worked in such a position  for at least five years immediately preceding the award. 
• The nomination may be made for contributions by the librarian as demonstrated by excellence and  achievement in leadership, publications, teaching, research, special projects or any combination of these. 

Documentation Requirements: 

Nominations must be in writing and contain the following: 

• The official nomination form. 
• A precise description of the nominee’s achievements (no more than 5 pages double-spaced) detailing  the nature and quality of the nominee’s work along with the impact of this work on the community  served, with emphasis on the nominee’s significant professional achievements in the field of library service to rural or under-served communities.  
• The nominee’s current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• Any additional information that would assist the jury in the evaluation of the nomination and  selection of the recipient. (No more than ten additional pages.) 

Additional Notes:  

• Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. 
• All nominations must be received by February 28, 2025 via mail, email or electronic submission (detailed submission information below).