Thanksgiving – What I am Giving Thanks for This Year

This time of year reminds us to reflect with gratitude on our lives and our work. This week, I want to share what I am thankful for as the director of NLM. I could go on forever, as evidenced by this list. While I tried to do a top 10, that wasn’t enough — which is yet another thing to be thankful for!  

I am particularly thankful for

• the 1,700 women and men working at NLM to advance biomedical science and improve access to trustable health information. There isn’t a day that passes that I’m not touched, moved, and impressed by the efforts of those around me.
• the countless staff who are advancing NLM’s strategic plan, leading to the creation of our new Office of Engagement and Training, an expanded and more responsive Office of Communications and Public Liaison, and a stronger Office of Computer and Communications Systems. With great change can come great challenges, but the Library’s staff have gone above and beyond to create an even more efficient, effective, and impactful organization.
• our budget office, who is working across NLM to improve our budget management process and bring together our program staff and acquisitions office to better manage the contracts and services required to make NLM offerings available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• my team in the Office of the Director, who are managing the increased workflow with competence and goodwill. I know I can lean on them, and that makes every day easier.
• the renovation team who are engaging with designers and architects to oversee our many important and necessary building improvement and reconstruction projects. This is a daunting task, but they are facing it head on, with great mindfulness and vision.
• the people around the world who communicate with me directly via Twitter (@NLMdirector), letting me know how they like our products and offering suggestions for improvements. Their feedback goes a long way.
• the Public Services Division staff, who promptly respond to the wide-ranging questions we receive about our resources and services.
• the innovative Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications investigators who, through their collaborations across NIH, are developing advanced Artificial Intelligence models that interpret complex images, from blood smears to diagnostic samples.
• our growing Extramural Programs Division in biomedical informatics and data science. The strategic investments being made are positioning NLM as a key contributor to data science developments across NIH.
• NLM’s National Center for Biotechnology Information staff, who have used NLM’s platform and expertise to help guide NIH as it accelerates access to big data, while devising ways to ensure that data rights management and patient privacy considerations are respected.
• our Division of Library Operations staff, who guide the selection, acquisition, preservation, and management of more than 11 centuries of health and biomedical literature.
• our building maintenance staff, who keep our space clean and make it a pleasant place to work.
• my NIH Institute and Center director colleagues, all 27 of them. When I became director, I was encouraged to manage up, manage down, but — most importantly — treasure and cultivate peer relationships. What sound advice!
• my leadership team, whose counsel not only helps me set the course, but keeps me from veering off course as we move NLM toward its third century.

Finally, I’m grateful for my friends and family, particularly my sisters and my son, Conor, who provide me with the personal sustenance that gives me the energy and drive to lead this amazing organization!

Best wishes for the Thanksgiving holiday to you and all of yours. And, as I mentioned, your input means a lot. So, let me know what NLM provides that you’re thankful for!