NLM and ORISE: A Unique Partnership Dedicated to Reducing Health Disparities
The volume of medical, health, and toxicological data available through the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM’s) databases is substantial. The information is valuable to health professionals nationwide. Yet finding what they need can be confusing. In partnership with NLM, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) shows health professionals how to navigate the maze to find critical health information quickly.
ORISE delivered its first course in 1987 to representatives from state health departments and poison control centers. Since that time, more audiences have been identified and trained, including personnel from:
- state public health departments
- occupational medicine clinics
- professional health schools.
More than 1,500 participants have taken ORISE's initial, advanced, or instructor training courses.
A specific target audience and partner in our efforts have been the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Educational Institutions (MEIs). Faculty from these schools are often in a good position to reach minority and socio-economically deprived communities who could benefit greatly from NLM's environmental health information.
Courses
Read about the specific courses that ORISE teaches each year.
The Consumer Health Resource Information Service (CHRIS) Program
CHRIS, a faith-based initiative funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and administered by ORISE, works to address minority health disparities through community level intervention and prevention measures.
The Environmental Health Information Outreach Program (EnHIOP)
This outreach initiative works through HBCUs/MEIs to train health professionals serving minority and socio-economically deprived communities in the use of NLM's environmental and toxicological databases.
Equal Access Initiative Computer Grants Program (EAI) Training
The EAI initiative, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council and the NIH Office of AIDS Research, seeks to build technological capacity of community-based organizations in the fight against HIV and AIDS and provides training to the grantees on NLM’s HIV/AIDS resources.
Publications & Resources
Includes links to training manuals from our courses on accessing and searching NLM's databases. Also includes links to those various databases.