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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.

425
registrants for our 2022 Health Literacy in Action conference

Spotlight on Graduate Student Opportunities

The Horowitz Center welcomes and supports students in many roles, including internships and assistantships.  

Upcoming Events

Webinar December 4, 2023 10-11 AM ET 

Cindy Brach, a white woman with brown hair and blue eyes, smiles at the camera in a professional headshot
Title: Safer, Higher Quality Healthcare through Health Literacy Tools: Highlights and Insights

Join the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub for a special presentation from Cindy Brach, health literacy and cultural competence expert at the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Brach has led AHRQ health literacy and cultural competence program for two decades and takes a look back and forward at how health literacy insights and tools inform the ways we implement healthcare quality and safety initiatives. She also co-leads the HHS health literacy workgroup and has been a member and leader of many other health literacy activities.

Click here to register!

 

In-person Meeting January 10, 2024 Maryland Eastern Shore Hub Meeting 

Join Maryland colleagues to network, share information and gain professional development skills in plain language and language access. Click here to see the agenda and register!  

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

University graduates wearing red gowns and black caps during a commencement ceremony.
Graduate Spotlight: Junaed Siddiqui, Ph.D. ’23
View Article Graduate Spotlight: Junaed Siddiqui, Ph.D. ’23
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
View Article University of Maryland Awards 11 Grants to SPH Faculty to Address Humanity’s Grand Challenges
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.