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

October 7, 2024 @ 10am | Webinar: Organizational Health Literacy - Health Literacy Teams and Champions

Health organizations can't fix what they don't know about, and finding and fixing health literacy barriers in a health organization takes leadership, planning, and focus. Implementing health literacy at an organization can help the public - residents, patients, and clients - find and understand health information. The first steps to becoming a health literate organization are to build a team and find champions. Join us and learn how to create your team to change organizational and professional practices to improve health literacy. Register here!

October 8, 2024 @ 11AM - 3pm ET | Health Literacy in Action Conference

The 2024 Health Literacy in Action Virtual Conference showcases practice and policy ideas to advance health literacy and health equity. This conference is ideal for practitioners in public health, healthcare, health communication, education, literacy, health information, social services, and community, consumer, and patient advocacy. Earn CHES, CPH and nursing continuing education credits, all for $49. Students are only $25. Register here!

What's New 

Director Cynthia Baur Talks about the Hub on the Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast

Listen as Dr. Baur and Helen Osborne discuss the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub and why policy initiatives are so important to advance health literacy.  Putting Health Literacy Policy into Practice: How the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub is Making This Happen (HLOL #251)

BCH Student Tatum Cox Recognized for Health Literacy Capstone Project

Tatum Cox, MPH '24, received the Meritorious MPH Capstone Project Award from the Department of Behavioral and Community Health for her capstone project on health literacy barriers for pregnant Latina women and opportunities to improve services. The project title is Organizational Health Literacy Assessment of Maternal Health Services for Pregnant Latina Women in the Maryland Mid Shore. Tatum researched prenatal services available to Latina women and recommended changes to remove health literacy barriers. Congratulations Tatum! 

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.

Featured Projects