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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.

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Upcoming Events

Monday, October 27, 2025 @ 10 AM ET | Webinar: Advancing Health Literacy Partnership with Community Health Workers

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on how Community Health Workers (CHWs) are enhancing health literacy in both community and clinical settings in Maryland. This webinar will showcase real-world examples from two prominent organizations: the Latino Health Initiative (LHI) and the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. Both organizations will illustrate how health literacy is integrated into their CHW program. Register now!

Featured speakers:

  • Miriam Zamudio, Community Engagement manager at the Latino Health Initiative, will highlight the impact of CHWs in community-based settings.
  • Amanda Toohey, Senior Project Manager at Howard County Medical Center, will share insights on the role of CHWs in clinical settings. 

What's New 

Maryland Health Literacy Organizational Seal

The Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub developed the Maryland Health Literacy Organizational Seal Program to recognize state and local agencies that prioritize clear communication with the public. The seal highlights how agencies have built health literacy insights and practices into their work. Check out the Seal.

Health Literacy and Misinformation Podcast

Join Horowitz Center Director Cynthia Baur as she talks about health literacy and misinformation with Maryland-based pediatrician Dr. Nicole Rochester for her Immune Deficiency Foundation podcast, Bold Conversations. Dr. Baur and Dr. Rochester discuss how misinformation relates to health literacy and why it's so attractive. They also talk about what organizations and individuals can do to reduce the impact of misinformation. Listen to the podcast. 

Tools for Learning and Teaching Health Literacy

The Center for Health Literacy developed the Health Literacy Education Toolkit to  support educators in colleges, universities and professional development programs to learn and teach the skills to effectively communicate health information for all audiences. You can use the Toolkit content in undergraduate and graduate programs in public health, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and social work. The Toolkit also includes health literacy training for Community Health Workers and clinicians. View the Toolkit

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.

Chancellor Perman's introduction to health literacy in an educational context.

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

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Graduate Spotlight: Junaed Siddiqui, Ph.D. ’23
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Plant emerging from the soil, space view of Earth, a child writing letters from the alphabet on a paper.
University of Maryland Awards 11 Grants to SPH Faculty to Address Humanity’s Grand Challenges
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Two men and one woman, who is in the middle, stand near a Maryland state proclamation and a sign with the University of Maryland name on it.
Alice Horowitz Receives UMD Alumni Association Legacy Award
View Article Alice Horowitz Receives UMD Alumni Association Legacy Award

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.