Frank Bradway Rogers

American physician and librarian

Frank Bradway Rogers (January 3, 1914 – January 27, 1987) was a prominent American physician and medical librarian, best known for his contributions to medical librarianship and his role in the development of the National Library of Medicine.

Early life and education

Frank Bradway Rogers was born on January 3, 1914, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Haverford College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935. Rogers then attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1939.

Career

Medical career

After completing his medical degree, Rogers interned at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army Medical Corps during World War II, where he gained significant experience in medical administration and library services.

Librarianship

Frank B. Rogers

Following his military service, Rogers became increasingly involved in medical librarianship. In 1949, he was appointed as the Director of the Army Medical Library, which later became the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Under his leadership, the library underwent significant modernization and expansion.

Rogers was instrumental in the development of the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS), the first large-scale computerized bibliographic system in the world. This system revolutionized the way medical literature was indexed and accessed, laying the groundwork for future developments such as MEDLINE and PubMed.

Contributions to medical librarianship

Rogers was a strong advocate for the integration of technology in libraries. He emphasized the importance of making medical information accessible to healthcare professionals and researchers. His work in developing MEDLARS was a significant step towards achieving this goal.

In addition to his work at the NLM, Rogers was active in various professional organizations. He served as president of the Medical Library Association and was a member of the American Library Association.

Later life and legacy

Rogers retired from his position at the National Library of Medicine in 1963. He continued to be active in the field of medical librarianship, contributing to various publications and serving as a consultant.

Frank Bradway Rogers passed away on January 27, 1987. His contributions to medical librarianship and the development of the National Library of Medicine have left a lasting impact on the field. The Frank B. Rogers Award was established in his honor to recognize outstanding contributions to medical librarianship.

Related pages

• National Library of Medicine
• Medical Library Association
• MEDLINE
• PubMed