Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
The Center provides research, education, and service to improve health literacy at the individual, family, community, organization, and society levels. We aim to advance health literacy in Maryland and nationwide.
Four resources ground our work: Healthy People 2030 health literacy definitions, Federal Plain Language Guidelines, CDC's Clear Communication Index, and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards.
The Center was endowed and honors the legacy of Dr. Herschel S. Horowitz, a prominent scientist, educator, and public health advocate.
Upcoming Events
Webinars are taking a vacation and will return in September.
What's New
In Plain Cite: The Power of Plain Talk Podcast
Horowitz Center Director, Dr. Cynthia Baur, talks with Steve Palmisano and Danielle Grospitch of the Lockwood Group about plain language for medical information. Listen to the podcast.
Congratulations to Joseline Peña-Melnyk
The Horowitz Center congratulates Maryland Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk for her 2025 Distinguished Terrapin award. The Delegate chairs the House of Delegates Health and Government Operations Committee and is a vocal leader of healthcare access for all. She is also a long-time friend of the Horowitz Center. Read more about her accomplishments.
Winners of the Undergraduate Health Literacy Badge Drawing
Hannah Gordon (top), a sophomore Kinesiology student, and Isabella Lipman (bottom), a freshman Public Health Science student, won $20 Starbucks gift cards after completing the Horowitz Center's undergraduate Health Literacy Badge by Spring Break and winning the prize, a caffeine-fueled success!
Earn the Undergraduate Health Literacy Badge
The UMD School of Public Health (SPH) prepares its undergraduate students with a comprehensive range of public health practitioner skills, equipping them to work in diverse settings and contexts. As part of this preparation, the Health Literacy Badge is a co-curricular activity for SPH undergraduates that includes 10 hours of activities: 8 required and 2 optional hours, which aligns with the 10 Essential Public Health Services on the need for public health organizations to communicate effectively to inform and educate the public. View badge here.
Why Health Literacy is a Core Educational Competency
Chancellor Jay Perman, MD
Dr. Perman recorded the video below to open the first-ever meeting of University System of Maryland (USM) campus representatives to discuss health literacy educational activities. He explained his own experience seeing health literacy issues up close as a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist and the significance of health literacy as part of a USM education. The USM group intends to meet twice a year to share information and best practices in health literacy education and student opportunities.
Horowitz Center COVID-19 communications work
The Center provides health literacy and risk communication expertise on COVID-19. We use mass and social media, public presentations, community outreach, and expert consults.
Latest News
Featured Projects
HealthyMe/MiSalud
The Center is funded by NIH to develop and test HealthyMe/MiSalud, a smartphone application in English and Spanish to help African American and Hispanic adults set health goals, ask questions, and get personalized information about common health conditions and preventive services.
Diabetes Prevention
The Center leads and participates in multiple diabetes prevention projects in Maryland. We work with the Maryland Department of Health, local health departments, and Local Health Improvement Coalitions to implement the Maryland Diabetes Action Plan.
Oral Health
The Center leads and participates in many projects to educate the public, providers, and policymakers about oral health diseases and conditions and how to prevent them.