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Cataloging Cushing's Patients

May 30, 2017 - 3:26pm by Melissa Grafe

The Cushing/Whitney Medical Library is pleased to announce the completion of a grant funded to catalog 2,600 glass plate negatives from the Cushing Brain Tumor Registry.  The grant proposal, "Rethinking Early Neurosurgery: The Harvey Cushing Collection," was funded through a National Network of Libraries of Medicine-New England Region Knowledge/Data Management Award.  From mid-February through April 30th 2017,  a team of graduate and undergraduate students carefully inputted information on over 3,000 glass plate negatives into the Cushing Center database, exceeding the estimated amount in the grant. The negatives depict Dr. Harvey Cushing's patients, including histology.  Harvey Cushing, the pioneer and father of neurosurgery, was born on April 8, 1869 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Yale University in 1891, studied medicine at Harvard Medical School and received his medical degree in 1895. In 1896, he moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he trained to become a surgeon under the watchful eye of William S. Halstead, the father of American surgery. By 1899 Cushing became interested in surgery of the nervous system and began his career in neurosurgery. During his tenure at Johns Hopkins, there were countless discoveries in the field of neuroscience. In 1913, Cushing relocated to Harvard as the surgeon-in-chief at the new Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Cushing continued to operate on several hundred patients a year with remarkable results.  In addition he was relentless in his recording of patient histories and continued his careful attention to the details and documentation of each surgery. In 1932 Harvey Cushing retired and in 1933 he agreed to join the staff at Yale University, his alma mater, as the Sterling Professor of Medicine in Neurology.  Cushing died in 1939. The negatives are undergoing rehousing and digitization, and will be made available for research through the Cushing Center database, which brings multiple parts of Harvey Cushing's work together in one place.  The database, still in development, will allow researchers to explore Cushing's medical work and patients.  Please contact Terry Dagradi, Cushing Center Coordinator, for details.  

New exhibition: "New Lives for Old Specimens," May 25-November 3, 2017

May 18, 2017 - 10:52am by Andy Hickner

  New Lives for Old Specimens May 25th-November 3rd, 2017 Cushing Rotunda, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library   Is there any use for old anatomy and pathology specimens, usually consigned to dusty basements for storage or destroyed after a number of years?   In our new exhibition “New Lives for Old Specimens,” the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library features current medical research using historical specimens from Yale’s collections.  Multiple curators drawn from inside and outside the School of Medicine, including a Yale medical student, Yale faculty, and Connecticut and international research teams, describe projects involving historical specimens.  From tumors in the Cushing brain tumor registry and fetal skulls within the Kier/Conlogue collection to 1970s dissection videos featuring the late Yale Professor of Anatomy Edmund Crelin Jr., old specimens are finding new ways into current research and medical education.   Please see the digitized dissection videos from Dr. Crelin and current videos put out by the Department of Anatomy.   Curators:  Charles Cecil Duncan, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery and of Pediatrics     Shanta Elizabeth Kapadia, MBBS, Lecturer in Surgery (Gross Anatomy)          William B Stewart, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery (Gross Anatomy); Section Chief        Cynthia Tsay, Yale School of Medicine student, Class of 2018 Gerald Joseph Conlogue,  MHS, RT(R)(CT)(MR), Professor Emeritus, Diagnostic Imaging Department Co-Director, Bioanthropology Research Institute at Quinnipiac University, Curator, Kier/Conlogue Anatomic Collection  

Upcoming Renovations in the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library

May 12, 2017 - 11:42am by Andy Hickner

(by John Gallagher) Beginning in December the Medical Library is going to undergo some exciting and significant renovations. The library’s sky-lit Information Room will be repurposed to accommodate a 126-seat team-based learning classroom. Six classrooms will replace un-utilized stacks space on the lower level. Two additional classrooms, several small group study rooms, and an Information Commons equipped with 24 dual-monitor workstations, will round out the changes on the lower level. When finished, these classrooms will be used for the bulk of YSM I and YSM II classes. When not in use for teaching, these rooms will provide much needed space for a range of group purposes.  There are of course a myriad details associated with this project, so please keep an eye on the library’s homepage for updates and further information. It is our intention to keep users of the library informed of the process before and throughout the construction period.  Finally, we apologize in advance for the inevitable inconvenience that the renovations will pose in terms of both noise and comfort, but please know that we will do everything we can to minimize the disruption.

Moral Judgment in Evaluating Disease: Some Pictures for Discussion

April 21, 2017 - 11:29am by Andy Hickner

Curated by David K. Dupee and Melinda Wang, M.D. Candidates, Class of 2020, Yale School of Medicine, this new exhibit in the hallway, is a collaboration of the Program for Humanities in Medicine and the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library. By virtue of its ubiquity, we all practice moral judgment at some degree long before developing an aptitude for clinical evaluation. Ideas of how a "good" person should look and act, reside within us and subtly impact the way that we perceive those around us. This practice is so deeply ingrained that it can carry over into the clinic, leading well-meaning practitioners to perceive patients both clinically and morally.  We have organized a collection of prints that encourage the viewer to confront the cultural constructs that underlie moral evaluation. In presenting prints from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, we aim to impress upon viewers that the association between health and morality is deeply ingrained within the very fabric of society, and indeed, stretches far beyond the period that our exhibit encompasses. We have prepared a hypothetical patient vignette for each print to further conversation about morality and the practice of clinical medicine. It is our hope that viewers will see the chosen depictions of mental health, illness, and body image not as distant echoes of the past, but rather as preludes to forces that remain substantial in the modern era. The exhibition is on view April 28 through September 5, 2017.

Join our team! Now recruiting a Research and Education Librarian

April 6, 2017 - 11:21am by Andy Hickner

We're hiring! Join our team, or share this link with colleagues who may be interested.   Position details: Research and Education Librarian The Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library Yale University New Haven, CT Requisition:  42608BR bit.ly/ResEdLibrarian Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut.  Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include two major art museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music. Position Focus: The Research and Education Librarian serves as the primary librarian involved in the Medical Library general library instruction program. This enthusiastic, user-centered individual will be responsible for the design of the library’s current general instruction program. Through consultation and collaboration, the librarian works to enable faculty, students, clinicians and researchers to leverage information and data resources to the fullest. With experience using a wide range of bibliographic databases, both biomedical and general, the librarian develops and provides training/instruction in the use of knowledge management, information and data resources, tools, and strategies including evidence-based searching, systematic reviews, and content management tools. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Research and Education Services and is a member of the Research and Education Team. The Research and Education Librarian: Creates and participates in training and instruction, including curriculum-integrated instruction for the School of Medicine, the Physician Associate Program, the two-week intensive Medical School elective, and as part of the library’s general instruction program. Identifies, prepares, and presents a range of in-person classes on various topics, including biomedical databases (e.g., PubMed, OVID, Embase, Scopus), citation management tools, biomedical research strategies, enhancing research impact, and in-depth citation analysis. Provides in-depth reference, information, research and consultation services for faculty, students, and researchers throughout the research life cycle. Provides training in the use of knowledge management and information resources, tools, and strategies including: evidence-based searching, systematic reviews, content management tools, databases, mobile apps, etc. Creates and maintains online guides and other research support tools. Collaborates with fellow librarians. Required Education, Skills and Experience: Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school is required.  Qualified individuals new to the library profession are encouraged to apply. Demonstrated commitment to providing excellent customer service and a passion for teaching. Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines, and to conceptualize new solutions to problems with creativity and flexibility. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion. Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to actively listen, understand and articulate user needs. Experience working collegially and cooperatively within and across organizations. Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment. Innovative, resourceful, and flexible. Knowledge of information technology. Yale University assigns ranks to librarian positions based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments. Preferred Education, Skills and Experience: Familiarity and experience with adult learning theory and instruction with adult learners. Experience designing and conducting library instruction. Experience working with and knowledge of biomedical research resources. Experience with assessment, educational technology and instructional design. Experience working in an academic or health sciences library. The University and the Library The Yale University Library, as one of the world's leading research libraries, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to and services for a rich and unique record of human thought and creativity. It fosters intellectual growth and supports the teaching and research missions of Yale University and scholarly communities worldwide. A distinctive strength is its rich spectrum of resources, including around 15 million volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaging in numerous projects to expand access to its physical and digital collections. Housed in eighteen buildings including the Sterling Memorial Library, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Center for Science and Social Science Information, and the Bass Library, it employs a dynamic and diverse staff of approximately five hundred who offer innovative and flexible services to library readers.  For additional information on the Yale University Library, please visit the Library's web site. The Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library The Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library serves the Yale Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, the Yale-New Haven Hospital and other affiliated institutions of the Yale-New Haven Medical Center. The Medical Library is a dynamic and busy place; library staff work together as a team to provide responsive and effective information support to the Medical Center's missions of research, education, and patient care.  A collection of 400,000 volumes and a wide range of state-of the art electronic resources brings information to the community at the library, on campus and remotely. Salary and Benefits We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country's great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more. How to Apply Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Applications, consisting of a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references should be submitted by applying online. Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

#SteppingOutAtYale – APHA’s #1BillionSteps Challenge, Library Edition

March 30, 2017 - 11:38am by Kate Nyhan

Cushing/Whitney Medical Library loves public health, and so we’re celebrating National Public Health Week with the American Public Health Association. In the first week of April, you can enjoy daily public health-themed literature workshops and daily social media postings of our favorite public health posters from the Medical Historical Library. But wait, there’s more! Are you part of APHA’s #1BillionSteps Challenge, encouraging everyone to do consistent physical activity? Would you like to get a few more steps in your day? We’ve got your back! During National Public Health Week, you can join the #1BillionSteps Challenge, Library Edition – right here at Yale. It’s easy and fun! Walk over to visit another library on campus. Take a selfie with something special there. Post your pictures on Instagram with hashtags – especially #SteppingOutAtYale You can win a healthy prize from the medical library! With five libraries to visit, maybe you should check out one every day! Use these hashtags and mentions to tell Instagram about your travels. 147 steps from LEPH to Cushing/Whitney Medical Library See how close we are? Pop over to the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library and take a selfie with Harvey Cushing, our library founder, in the beautiful Medical Historical Library. Walk the long way, by Blue State and in the front of Sterling, to get more steps! And while you’re here, stop in and say hi to public health librarian Kate Nyhan. #SteppingOutAtYale @yalemedhistlib #HappyBirthdayHarvey #1BillionSteps #NPHW #NPHW17 @americanpublichealth #litreviewpleasehelp 1056 steps to Robert B. Hass Family Arts Library Are you looking for a laugh? Visit the Robert B Hass Family Arts Library, where librarians Meredith Hale and Jae Rossman have created a special pop-up exhibition for National Public Health Week! Starting at 10AM on Monday, you can see historical sports imagery from the American Trading Card Collection and An Almanac of Twelve Sports. Look for it behind the glass of the special collections area downstairs, any time the library is open. Thanks @hassartslibrary for these #SpecialCollections! #SteppingOutAtYale #1BillionSteps #NPHW #NPHW17 @americanpublichealth 1478 steps to Lillian Goldman Law Library Do you need a giant rabbit in your life? Of course you do! Visit the Lillian Goldman Law Library and meet Pufendorf. Pufendorf is a symbol of resilience, having survived not only the 2003 Yale Law School bombing but also a kidnapping by 3L’s. Photography is normally forbidden in the law library, but you have a special dispensation for selfies with Pufendorf – if you can find him! Here’s how: Enter the law school from the Wall Street entrance. At the main staircase (right in the middle of the main hallway) go left and down into Library Level 2 (L2) which houses the computer lab, IT, the Rare Book Room, and Tech Services. There is another set of stairs on the left past the Rare Book Room. You’ll find Pufendorf at the base of the stairs. #SteppingOutAtYale #1BillionSteps #NPHW #NPHW17 @americanpublichealth #totemicdappledrabbit 1479 steps to Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Do you want to enjoy history, art, and rare memorabilia of the Harlem Renaissance? Visit the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Explore their rich exhibition “Gather Out of Star-Dust” – what will be your favorite part? The playful map of Harlem nightlife – go right from the entrance; it’s hung to make selfies irresistible The 1917 Silent Protest Parade – go left from the entrance Langston Hughes’s collection of rent party cards – second level behind the Cube. Art, photographs, and sheet music about dancing – all over! Check out the whole exhibit. You’ll love it! And pick up an exhibit pamphlet with a reproduction of the Harlem map, too. Thanks @beineckelibrary #HarlemRen #SteppingOutAtYale #1BillionSteps #NPHW #NPHW17 @americanpublichealth 1267 steps to Sterling Memorial Library Do you want to see the mother ship of Yale University Libraries? Visit Sterling Memorial Library and explore the beautiful nave. Check out the stained glass, and visit the Yale printing press. #SteppingOutAtYale @yalelibrary #1BillionSteps #NPHW #NPHW17 @americanpublichealth You can be a winner! Everyone who participates in #SteppingOutAtYale and #1BillionSteps gets fresh air and exercise – and the winners will also get packets of vegetable seeds and local, sustainable maple syrup from the Yale Landscape Lab! All you have to do is post a library selfie on Instagram with the hashtag #SteppingOutAtYale. The more posts, the better your chances of winning a prize -- thank you @yalewestcampus #yalelandscapelab #maplefest2017 Get in touch Contact public health librarian Kate Nyhan with questions, comments,  boasts about how many steps you’ve taken, and complaints that these figures are off. Email kate.nyhan@yale.edu or click here to set up a meeting to talk about literature searching and more. Thank you Thanks to all the participating libraries and their staff, medical library colleagues, the Yale Sustainability Program and Landscape Lab, APHA, and the Medical Library Association’s Public Health/Health Administration section.  

Flo Gillich retires from the Medical Historical Library

March 29, 2017 - 11:55am by Andy Hickner

(by Melissa Grafe) Florence Gillich retired this week after 18 1/2 years of service. Before coming to the Medical Historical Library, Flo began working at Yale in 1998 as a Media Technician for the School of Nursing, assisting patrons with audiovisual requests and instructional media services. Flo also worked to digitize materials, something she carried into her job at the Medical Historical Library. Flo joined the Medical Historical Library Library in 2005 as our Historical Library Assistant, and quickly jumped into creating metadata and scanning our digital collections, beginning with our portrait engravings. Over the years, Flo has been a major force in the shaping of our Digital Library, ensuring online access to Medical Historical Library collections. Beyond her work with the Digital Library, Flo helped many Library patrons over the years, assisting in reference, ILL, and image requests, and getting patrons settled into research in the Medical Historical Library. Many patrons over the years have commented on how much they appreciated all the help Flo has provided. She also assisted with the Library Associates for a number of years, maintaining contacts with the Associates, helping with programming, and ensuring the smooth coordination of the program. Flo supervised students, and has been a wonderful colleague to all of us. Join us in expressing best wishes to Flo in her next adventure in life and thanking her for all that’s she’s done for Yale. Flo is looking forward to spending more time with her family. We will sorely miss her at the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library.  
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