The National Library of Medicine (NLM), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced that Joyce Backus has been named NLM Associate Director for Library Operations and a member of the Senior Executive Service, effective December 16, 2012. The announcement was made by NLM Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg.
Backus began her NLM service in 1985, as a member of the 1985-1986 class of Associate Fellows. Since then, she has served in a number of key positions of increasing importance and responsibility, culminating most recently with her appointment as the Deputy Associate Director of Library Operations in June 2011.
Among many other achievements, Backus was a key player in the development of the Library's primary consumer health website, MedlinePlus. She also led the creation and implementation of MedlinePlus Connect, the free service that allows health organisations and health IT providers to link patient portals and electronic health record systems to MedlinePlus. In her past NLM positions, Backus has represented NLM and NIH in many contexts and in collaborations with other federal agencies, libraries and professional associations.
