Ruth Riley, assistant dean for executive affairs and director of library services for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, has been named the 2019 recipient of the Gerald J. Oppenheimer Cornerstone Award by the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL).

Named in honor of Gerald J. Oppenheimer, the inaugural president of the AAHSL, the award is given by the group’s Board of Directors for a notable or important contribution that has assisted the AAHSL in achieving its mission or had a significant impact on the profession of academic health sciences librarianship.

Riley has played an active role in the AAHSL over the years, initially serving on various committees and eventually becoming president of the board. During her tenure, she initiated the organization’s membership in the Interprofessional Education Collaborative, and played a major role in the migration of the group’s statistics to a more standardized platform.

“The power of academic health sciences libraries is a very real force that truly makes a difference in the lives of patients,” says Riley, when asked about the role that the libraries play. “We really do make a difference to the patient care, research, and education at our academic health centers.

Riley will be recognized during AAHSL’s upcoming annual meeting on November 8, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona.