We continue our Golden Alumnae spotlights with Patricia "Patti" Flatley Brennan, RN, PhD, class of 1971. Patti is Director of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NLM leads, conducts, and supports research in biomedical information and data science. NLM also maintains a vast print collection and produces electronic information resources searched billions of times each year by millions of people worldwide.
Patti has positioned NLM as an international hub of data science. NLM's extensive information resources accelerate discovery, engage with new users, and advance the workforce for a data-driven future.
Patti has a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Following seven years of clinical practice in critical care nursing and psychiatric nursing, she held academic positions at Marquette University, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 2020, Patti was inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American College of Medical Informatics, and the New York Academy of Medicine.
At the NIH, Patti also holds an appointment as associate investigator in the National Institute of Nursing Research Division of Intramural Research, where she directs the Advanced Visualization Laboratory. She is a pioneer in the development of innovative information systems and services, and her professional accomplishments reflect her background, which unites engineering, information technology, and clinical care to improve public health and ensure the best possible experience in patient care.
