Med School Director New NLM Board Chair

Virginia "Ginny" Tanji, director of the health sciences library at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, has been elected to serve as chair of the Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine. Her appointment comes as NLM prepares to celebrate its 175th anniversary, which will include a special exhibit that focuses on native peoples, including Native Hawaiians.

The National Library of Medicine is part of the National Institutes of Health. Tanji is one of only two health sciences librarians currently serving on the board. Eight other board members were appointed from leaders in the fields of medicine, dentistry, public health, hospital administration, pharmacology and bioinformatics. The board meets three times a year to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the director of NLM on matters related to the library.

Tanji said preparation has been underway for some time for this fall's 175th anniversary celebration, which will include the opening of a special exhibit titled Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concept of Illness, on Oct. 5, at the national medical library, which is located in Bethesda, Md.