Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health.

A new exhibit at the National Library of Medicine

Located on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland (just outside of Washington, DC), the exhibit examines the revolution in global health taking place in towns and cities around the world. Communities, in collaboration with scientists, advocates, governments, and international organizations, are working on an international level to investigate complex global health issues, ranging from community health and conflict to disease and discrimination.

Free of charge and open to the public, this exhibition introduces some of the scientists, advocates, communities, and organizations who have made a difference—working together, against the odds, for the benefit of all.

Prior to the public opening on April 17^th, the Library held an opening program featuring a global health panel moderated by CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen featuring young activists and health advocates featured in the exhibit. A webcast of the panel is available for viewing here: http://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?File=14435

The approximately 4,000 square foot exhibit is comprised of six different sections including:

• Food for Life; Brazil and its citizens are featured in this area of the exhibit as the country is currently facing an epidemic of obesity as well as a lingering crisis of hunger and malnutrition.
• Action on AIDS; In the face of discrimination, negligence, stigma, and ignorance, advocates for health and human rights have fought against the spread of the disease.
• An End to Violence; Physicians and campaigners have used evidence gathered by medical personnel and the testimony of witnesses to highlight the terrible toll of warfare. This work has led to treaties banning the use of landmines and agreements against nuclear weapons testing.

Additional information about the exhibit, including directions and docent-led tour information can be found at www.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds.

The exhibit web site also contains interactive features for those not able to visit such as:

• Games and instructional resources for middle- and high-school students and educators
• Global health perspective database, where readers can join in the dialogue on global health issues
• Monthly columns from global thought leaders reflecting on current events, key issues, or historical milestones in global health

The 18th Annual Health and Fitness Fair, sponsored by NYS Senator Jim Alesi, again drew over 3,000 attendees from the greater Rochester metropolitan area.  One hundred and sixty-two exhibitors participated in the largest health fair of its kind in the area.

During the time period set aside for professional interchange, about a half dozen professional health care providers stopped by the booth to get more information.  These included nurse educators, physical therapists and chiropractors.  Many members of the public, who were unaware that accurate and reliable health information could be found on the Internet, were surprised that there was no charge for this service.

We were very pleased with the interest that the booth generated and became even more aware of the need for outreach activities to inform the public of the services that we and NLM offer.

Carole Joyce- Rochester Regional Library Council- Fairport, NY

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region exhibited at this year’s Fall New York City School Library Conference at Queens College in New York City. The two-day conference, attended by over 500 school librarians, was an excellent opportunity to show several of NLM’s youth-oriented interactive tutorials, including ToxMystery and ToxTown. Also demonstrated were MedlinePlus for use with parents and caretakers and NLM’s online exhibits for use in the library or classroom.

Miguel Figueroa, Network Services coordinator for the MAR, presented a one-hour program on Friday titled “Prescription for Success:  School Librarians and Online Health Information.”  Many of the attendees expressed great interest or familiarity with NLM’s products, a reminder that children and schools may be excellent avenues towards improving the health of our communities.

The Health Sciences Library Association of New Jersey (HSLANJ) sponsored a table display at the Organization of Nursing Executives of New Jersey (ONE/NJ) Research Day held on June 22, 2007.  This was possible thanks to an exhibit grant awarded to HSLANJ from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region.  The conference highlighted the results of the statewide Readiness of New Jersey Nurses for Evidence-Based Practice survey.  This survey was done to replicate the study conducted by Dr. Diane Pravikoff, who was the keynote speaker that day, and reported on in the September, 2005 issue of the American Journal of Nursing.  Health Sciences Librarians were dismayed to read the results of the survey.  We discovered that many nurses either did not know there was a library in their hospital or did know and thought it was only available for physician use.  HSLANJ considered this conference to be a perfect opportunity to speak with nurses regarding what is available to them through NN/LM MAR, the National Library of Medicine and their own hospital libraries and librarians.

More than 100 members of ONE/NJ attended the conference and stopped by our table display.  HSLANJ members Michelle Brewer, Jeannine Creazzo, Robb Mackes, Patti May, Erica Moncrief, Jenny Pierce, Lia Sabbagh, Robin Siegel and Jan Skica staffed the table, answered questions and gave out bookmarks with contact information stickers attached so that the attendees would know how to reach the librarian at their institution.  Laptop computers were used to demonstrate the various databases that are available to New Jersey’s hospital libraries via the National Library of Medicine, HSLANJ’s Group Purchasing program and the New Jersey State Library.

Additional handouts included Fact Sheets created by HSLANJ members describing the evidence-based nursing resources available for demonstration at the booth.  These included CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute, Mosby’s Nursing Consult, EBSCO’s Nursing and Allied Health Collection and Biomedical Reference Collection, National Guideline Clearinghouse and the Cochrane Library.

In addition, the HSLANJ exhibitors participated in the Research Day ‘breakout sessions’, that were part of the conference.  The nine health sciences librarians each worked with one breakout group of nurse executives.  Together, we created working documents for use by ONE/NJ that developed strategies for improvement in New Jersey of evidence-based nursing research and practice in the hospital setting, and for the improvement of nurses’ knowledge of, access and use of hospital library services and evidence-based information resources.

The entire day gave us a wonderful opportunity to interact with nursing executives from around the state.  It was gratifying to hear so many of them express how much they appreciate all the work their hospital librarians do for them.  We hope that HSLANJ can be involved in the ONE/NJ Research Day again next year, on an even bigger scale.

Robin Siegel- Health Sciences Library Association of NJ and CentraState HealthCare System- Freehold, NJ

Health information disparities exist across the United States.  The Rural Health Conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health is an annual meeting that seeks to bridge the health information disparities gap among rural underserved health care professionals in Central Pennsylvania.

The focus of the NN/LM exhibit at the Rural Health Conference: Roots of Change was to increase the awareness of and access to quality health information for underserved health professionals in rural Central Pennsylvania communities.  Ultimately, the goal was to improve health outcomes by enhancing health literacy and contributing to the informed decision making process.

Approximately 150 health administrators and policy makers, health providers including physicians, social workers, nurses, healthcare advocates, health educators and rural community agency representatives and extension agents from across the state attended the Rural Health Conference.  Of the 150 attendees 85 visited the NN/LM exhibit to receive promotional materials and NLM database searching tips.  Topics of interested included diabetes, AIDS, environmental health and consumer health.

Valerie Gross- Penn State University- College of Medicine- Hershey, PA

The City College of New York’s (CCNY) Cohen Library will host Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians,” October 10 through November 30. The traveling exhibit, to be on display in the library atrium, was developed by the Exhibition Program of the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. This will be its only showing in the New York metropolitan area.

Several events will be held at CCNY in connection with the exhibit:

Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, President of the New York Academy of Medicine, featured in the exhibit, and an authority on global health, will be keynote speaker for an opening reception Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 6:00 PM in the Archives Reading Room. She will speak on “Women and Medicine: Leaders in Public Health and Health Policy.” Dr. Marthe R. Gold of the Sophie Davie School of Biomedical Education at The City College will offer opening remarks.

“A Lady Alone,” a one-act play about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to obtain formal medical education in the United States, will be performed by actress Linda Kelley 4:30 p.m. Monday, October 22, in the Archives Reading Room. Prior to 1847, women did not have access to becoming doctors in the United States. An ardent medical and social reformer, Dr. Blackwell founded the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children in 1857, which still exists today as the New York Downtown Hospital. Dr. Bruce Logan, Chair of the Department of Medicine at the New York Downtown Hospital, will reflect upon the early days when poor women received care, women physicians could practice medicine, and female medical students could study and practice clinically.

Demographic changes in the U.S. population require a diverse physician workforce in terms of gender and ethnicity. Dr. Nereida Correa and Dr. Elizabeth Theresa Lee-Ray, both featured in the exhibit, are leaders in promoting cultural and linguistic competency in dealing with the Latino-Hispanic population. The program on “Women in Leadership positions in Medicine: Shattering the Glass Ceiling” to be presented in the Archives Reading Room on Monday, October 29, at 6:00PM will showcase their achievements. Dr. Erica I. Lubetkin of the Sophie Davie School of Biomedical Education at The City College will offer opening remarks.

CCNY is very pleased and very proud that the program on Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 6:00PM covers the accomplishments of the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education alumnae: Dr. Traci Burgess (1989), Dr. Nicola Davis (1994), and Dr. Suzette Oyeku, (1997). They will discuss their experiences and strategies for “Breaking down Barriers of Racism and Sexism in Medicine” in the Archives Reading Room.

For details and a complete list of events please visit the City College Libraries exhibit web page at http://origin.admin.ccny.cuny.edu/library/events.html

This traveling exhibition has been made possible by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health. The American Medical Women’s Association provided additional support.

For more information on the Changing the Face of Medicine exhibition at City College, please call the Exhibition Coordinator at (212) 650-6826. Visit the exhibition web site at the National Library of Medicine to learn about the 330 woman physicians, selected from women in medicine throughout U.S. history, to be featured in this exhibit. Learn about their sources of inspiration, the challenges they faced, and their accomplishments at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/index.html

NN/LM staff will be exhibiting at the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia. We welcome volunteers to help us staff the booth at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, located at 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia.

Volunteers are needed for:
Thursday, August 16, 4:30pm - 7:30pm

Friday, August 17, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Saturday, August 18, 9:00am - 12:00 pm
To volunteer send an email to: arpita.bose@library.med.nyu.edu

Learn more about the conference here:
http://www.apma.org/annualmeeting

A decade ago, British writer J. K. Rowling published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first in a series of seven books about a boy wizard who is the only known survivor of a “Killing Curse.” A year later the book was released in the United States with the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Ms. Rowling’s books were soon breaking publishing records and “the boy who lived” became entrenched in the popular imagination.

But, there is more to the Harry Potter series than a child hero or a fantasy adventure-many characters, plants, and creatures are based in history, medicine, and magical lore. Ms Rowling has drawn on important works of alchemy and herbology in shaping her stories. In a special temporary exhibition, the History of Medicine Division showcases some of the treasures in its collection that are mentioned in Harry Potter.

When: Opening Tuesday July 24 2007 closing November 30 2007 Available

8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday

Where: History of Medicine Division Reading Room

The Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) announces the availability of awards that support access to health information for libraries, consumers, health professionals and in particular reaching underserved populations; enhance the capacity of libraries to share resources, strengthen network member librarians’ skills in the use of NLM databases and increase the visibility of the NN/LM and NLM products and services.

Awards are for network members to conduct or obtain training, host conferences, and conduct outreach that raises the awareness of health information resources available to health professionals, consumers and librarians.

Rolling deadline for applications. Applicants will be notified within 10 days of receipt of application.

Exhibit Awards

For members’ participation at venues that promote health information resources. Funds support registration and fees, travel, and related expenses. Members can promote their local library resources while promoting the National Library of Medicine.

MicroAwards

For Full Network members to enhance their services as well as promote NLM products and services; and provide seed money for ongoing or one-time projects through the purchase of displays, brochures, presentations, materials, equipment, supplies or presentation of small programs.

For more information, or to apply for an award go to: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

Here’s a quick look at some of the events and happenings at the RML this week ending June 8, 2007:

NN/LM MAR’s Internal Advisory Board Meeting on June 6^th

NYU’s Internal Advisory Board (IAB) for the NN/LM MAR met on Wednesday, June 6, for a two hour lunch and meeting. At the meeting, the Internal Advisory Board – comprised of Gustavo Cruz, DDS, Francesca Gany, MD, Lewis Nelson, MD, and Joel Oppenheim, PhD – discussed regional outreach issues and potential partners with Karen Brewer, PhD, NN/LM MAR Director; Kathel Dunn, MSLS, Associate Director; and Arpita Bose, MS, Outreach and Communication Coordinator. The IAB offered their insights on how to make an effective impact with a small amount of resources and identified potential partners in the four state region. The IAB confirmed the direction of NN/LM MAR in choosing a “theme” to focus on; NN/LM MAR will be doing this in its Strategic Plan, drawing on the regional needs assessment conducted this past Spring.

Keeping UP with NLM’s PubMed

Arpita Bose, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, will be teaching a class, Keeping Up with NLM’s PubMed, at Albany Medical College, Albany, NY on June 11. A special thanks to the Capital District Library Council and Christopher Tosh for their work in organizing the course!

A Belated Thank You

Sue Hunter and Miguel Figueroa exhibited at the AAPA (American Academy of Physician Assistants) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 29^th and 30^th. They were aided by two wonderful volunteers: Margy Grasberger of Thomas Jefferson University and Kirsten Anderson of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Margy offered conference attendees some of the best 5-10 minute PubMed demonstrations we’ve ever seen while Kirsten showed how important public librarians are in providing health information. Our thanks to both volunteers!

Four Classes at NYU’s Ehrman Medical Library June 14^th and 15^th

Arpita Bose and Miguel Figueroa will be teaching four classes next week at NYU’s Ehrman Medical Library—Keeping Up with PubMed; PubMed for Experts; Docline Explained; and Getting Started with LinkOut. For those who have already registered, a reminder message will be sent out on Monday June 11^th. If you have not registered, you may send a message to rml@library.med.nyu.edu.