In This Issue:
New
NLM Web Site
MEDLINE
Logs Ten Millionth Citation
Betsy
Humphreys Heads Library Operations
ELHILL
and TOXNET Change
Regents
Chart New Course
Honoring
Elsie Werth
Native
American Youth Visit
 Dr.
Spann Retires
Public
Health Center Named for Dr. Mel Spann
NLM
Rolls Out New Booth
Dr.
Harold Schoolman Retires
Dead
Sea Scrolls
Emerging
Health Information Infrastructure
Worthy
of Note: BLAST
Partners
In Information Access Awards
Bosma
and McCutcheon Appointed Section Heads
NLM
Director Visits University of Colorado
Training
NLM Associate Fellows
"Breath
of Life" Exhibit
Dr.
Allen Dies
In Every Issue:
Names
in the News
Products
and Publications
NLM
in Print
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Dr. Mel Spann Announces Retirement
SIS Director Hailed for Achievements in Technology, Minority
Health Affairs and Mentoring
At the end of September, Dr. Melvin L. Spann, NLM Associate
Director for Specialized Information Services (SIS), will retire
from the Library, where he has worked since 1976, after 35 years of
government service.
SIS is responsible for information coverage and services for
several areas, including toxicology and environmental health,
HIV/AIDS, and directories to other information resources concerning
health and biomedicine.
"During his tenure, Mel Spann has been responsible for the
evolution of a variety of important computer-based files at the
NLM," remarked NLM Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg. "TOXLINE, of
course, is the oldest and largest. He has also vigorously pushed for
the development of training aids, both conventional and
microcomputer-based."
These two interests came together when Dr. Spann was asked to
establish and direct NLM's toxicology information outreach project
to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This
program was designed to increase the capacity of HBCUs to train
medical and other health professionals to utilize NLM's
toxicological, environmental and hazardous wastes information
resources.
"I can't think of an individual who would be better qualified for
that assignment than Mel Spann," Dr. Lindberg noted. "First, he has
the scientific background -- he is trained in chemistry, toxicology,
and information retrieval. Second, he has developed and nurtured the
very specialized databases that are being used in the project. And
third, he has demonstrated an acute awareness of and concern for the
plight of those Americans whose health is most at risk from
pollution and environmental hazardous waste."
Dr. Spann joined the NLM staff in 1976 as a chemist/information
specialist. Two years later, he was appointed chief of the SIS
Biomedical Information Services Branch, a position he held until
becoming NLM Associate Director for SIS in 1995.
He received the NIH Merit Award in 1978 for "vital leadership and
creative application of technical skills in furthering the
development of CHEMLINE as a major national chemical compound
information retrieval service." He was given the NIH Director's
Award in 1984 for "improving the availability of biomedical
information services to the health community through skilled
management, personal dedication, and subject matter expertise." He
received the Outstanding Manager Award from the NIH Chapter of
Blacks in Government in 1987 for his "outstanding record of
commitment to career mobility for minorities and women, acting as a
mentor and role model for the next generation of employees." And he
was presented with NLM's Phillip C. Coleman Award in 1995 "for
continuing leadership through mentoring, dedication, and commitment
to the goals of NLM."
Dr. Spann earned a BS degree in chemistry from Howard University,
an MS in chemistry/information science and technology from American
University, and a PhD in chemistry/computer systems from American U.
He is a former Adjunct Professor in the Chemistry Department at
American University. |
