Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D Closed Now

Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg was an American physician, scientist, and administrator who is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of biomedical and health informatics. He served as the Director of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) from 1984 to 2015, making him the longest-serving director in the institution’s history. Under his leadership, the NLM underwent a digital transformation that revolutionized how health information is stored, accessed, and shared globally.

Trained in pathology and informatics, Dr. Lindberg was ahead of his time in recognizing the potential of computers to improve medicine. He championed the integration of electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems, medical vocabularies, and health data standards that form the foundation of today’s digital health infrastructure.

One of his most lasting achievements was overseeing the creation and expansion of PubMed and MEDLINE, which became indispensable global resources for biomedical research and clinical practice. These platforms democratized access to medical knowledge and set the standard for open-access health data systems.

Dr. Lindberg also played a key role in advancing clinical terminologies (such as UMLS – Unified Medical Language System), and supported the development of standards critical for health data exchange. He strongly believed in the use of informatics to improve patient safety, support public health, and advance scientific discovery.

Beyond his administrative leadership, Dr. Lindberg published widely and was an influential voice in shaping U.S. and international digital health policies. His work earned him numerous honors, including election to the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine).

Dr. Lindberg’s legacy continues to shape the field of health data systems, making him a cornerstone figure in the transition from paper-based medical records to today’s interconnected, digital, and data-driven healthcare ecosystem.