We’ll be taking a break from new blog posts this week. New blog posts will return on January 2, 2023.
Our building will reopen on Monday, January 2, 2023, at 12 Noon and close at 8:00pm. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, we will open at 7:30am and resume 24-hour operations. To see our complete hours, take a look at our website. And don't forget that our electronic resources (databases, e-books, and e-journals) are always available from anywhere!
If you’ll miss being in the library while we’re closed, here’s some library ambiance to tide you over:
As 2022 draws to a close, you may start thinking about changes you’d like to make in the new year. If those changes involve healthier living, Himmelfarb Library has a guide that can help. We’ve updated our Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb guide just in time to ring in 2023! This newly updated guide focuses on nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction to support healthy living for SMHS, GWSPH, and SON students.
You’ll find links to healthy eating options on campus such as the GW Dining Healthy Eating and the GW’s Urban Food Task Force, a GW initiative that brings faculty, students, staff and volunteers with a shared interest in healthy eating together to support a variety of programs around campus throughout the year.
The services and resources page of the guide provides links and information about fitness and recreation opportunities at GW including the Lerner Health and Wellness Center. Health and wellness instruction and resources including the GW Resiliency and Well Being Center, GWell, and the GW Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) are included with brief descriptions of the services each office provides. Numerous support services provided by GW are also available on this page of the guide. If you’re interested in self-care resources, you’ll find related resources here as well.
Interested in exploring books available in Himmelfarb’s collection about wellness, stress reduction, or a healthy diet and cooking? Check out the books and library resources page! We have popular books on these topics including titles like The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, and Bobby Flay Fit by Bobby Flay. You can also explore our full Healthy Living Collection. And don’t forget about our exercise equipment and games! A full list of equipment and games can be found on this page of the guide.
If you have a smartphone, you can have wellness resources at your fingertips anytime you want! The wellness apps page of the guide provides lists of wellness apps from a variety of healthy living-related categories. Interested in physical activity and mindful movement? Check out the AllTrails, Daily Yoga, or SWORKIT apps. Or if you’re interested in meditation, check out apps like Calm, Headspace, or Take a Break! Other apps related to healthy eating, financial literacy, and biofeedback are also included.
You’ll also find our most recent healthy living blog posts in the healthy living news and events area of the homepage. Our newly updated Healthy Living Guide is a great resource for you with a wealth of resources to explore!
And just as a reminder, in observance of Winter Break, Himmelfarb Library will close at 6:00pm today. We will reopen on Monday, January 2, 2023, from 12:00 (Noon) to 8:00pm. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, we will open at 7:30am and resume 24-hour operations. For our full hours, visit our Library Hours webpage. Even though our building will be closed, our electronic resources including databases, journals, and e-books are always available.
The end of 2022 is only a few days away and before the year ends, Himmelfarb Library staff would like to reflect and recognize the many accomplishments and positive changes that occurred during these twelve months.
In 2022, Himmelfarb Library welcomed a new library director and several new staff members. In the summer, Laura Abate was officially named the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library Director, filling that position after the retirement of Anne Linton. In the July 11th Himmelfarb Library News article, Laura stated that she is “excited to continue to rebuild and hone our collections, and want to explore new ways that we can support teaching and learning, research and scholarly publishing, and clinical care.” Along with a new director, Himmelfarb Library welcomed Rachel Brill (Reference and Instruction Librarian), Temitayo Wolff (Daytime Reference Specialist), Nat Curtin (Evening and Weekend Library Assistant), and most recently Deborah Wassertzug (Reference and Instruction Librarian) to the team!
Himmelfarb Library continues to meet the evolving needs of our users and in 2022 our collection expanded in exciting ways! During the summer, we acquired two Quest VR Headsets that were preloaded with the Medicalholodeck medical virtual reality platform. During the August orientation, students were able to test the VR headsets and both headsets are currently available for checkout.
Library staff developed several new research guides for the Himmelfarb community. Our Borrow from Other Libraries guide breakdowns the Consortium Loan Service, Documents2Go and how to acquire materials from other libraries. The Correcting Misinformation with Patients guide is a useful tool when engaging with patients and provides techniques to assist you during complex health conversations. The NIH Data Management & Sharing Plan (DMSP) guide discusses the new NIH Data Management plan that is scheduled to go into effect early 2023. The DMSP guide explains the new policy, how it will impact researchers and what researchers can do to ensure they comply with the policy.
Lastly, Read by QxMD is an application that allows users to stay up to date on current health sciences research. The app provides full text PDFs to research and users can curate their feed to receive up to date articles tailored to their specific research interests.By selecting GW as your institution’s affiliation on the app, users will have access to Himmelfarb’s full-text collection on their smart device. To learn more about any of the listed resources, please contact Himmelfarb Library at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or (202)-994-2850.
The HSRC also reached its one millionth download recently! The repository shares GW authored research with readers around the country and new research is added on a monthly basis. Sara Hoover, Himmelfarb’s Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian, co-authored with Karen S. Kesten of the GW School of Nursing on the paper ‘Doctor of nursing practice scholarship dissemination through open access repository’ which discussed the Doctor of Nursing Practice collection in the HSRC.
As we wrap up this year and prepare for the winter break, we would like to extend our gratitude to all of our users. We look forward to returning in 2023 and offering more exciting resources and services to assist you with your information, research and education needs!
It’s almost winter break! What are your plans? Will you be decorating a holiday tree? Maybe you are going to visit loved ones and family members. Let us not forget the one thing that many of us share in common at this time of year: the enjoyment of bountiful food!
No matter the situation, if you are bringing a dish, hosting, or staying in for the holidays, there are plenty of recipes and ideas that are bound to inspire a creative spark, especially if you are uncertain of what to cook.
For appetizers, this Vegetarian Spinach-Walnut pate is not only full of healthy ingredients, but its green and red color match the season! Keeping with the meatless trend, these Eggplant Ricotta bites give a whole new reason to make eggplant an eye-catching snack. If you want to keep with the red and green theme, this Shrimp Cocktail with Tomatillo-Horseradish sauce offers a taste of surf - and spice!
Are you a fan of eggnog? You aren’t alone! What better way to impress than to make your Eggnog from scratch? Top with some whipped cream and cinnamon for a little extra flair. If you like yours sweeter or less, feel free to adjust the sugar to your liking! You can also try this cool take on a classic: Mulled Wine Granata. Substitute the wine for grape juice if you would like your Granata alcohol-free.
Lastly, for dessert, which do you prefer? Pies, cakes, or cookies? This cranberry almond apple pie mixes seasonal flavors with a sensational crunch. Are you after a traditional flavor, but want to try something new? These Gingerbread Meringue Bars look richly packed and full of that cinnamon-ginger-pumpkin flavor. Similarly, these Lemon glazed Gingerbread cookies are a personal favorite of mine.
We wish you the safest and most enjoyable Winter Break, and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Nat Curtin at left and Temitayo Wolff at right are new staff at Himmelfarb
Have you noticed some new faces at our first floor service desks? Nat Curtin and Temitayo Wolff both joined the Himmelfarb Library team in November.
Nat Curtin is the Evening and Weekend Library Assistant. She comes to us from Abrakadoodle where she was an art teacher. You’ll find Nat working at the circulation desk assisting our student workers and managing services in the late afternoon and evening hours and on Sundays. She can help you with library facilities issues, locating library materials, loans and renewals, and our 3D printing service. You can reach Nat at natalie.curtin@gwu.edu. Here are some more things to know about Nat.
What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all the staff- everyone has been so welcoming! I’ve also enjoyed learning more about Circulation and the different roles at Himmelfarb.
What has surprised you?
Seeing the Cage in the basement (thanks for the tour Lonnie!)
Tell us a bit about your background.
I graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice and moved to the DMV area two years ago. I hope to pursue a degree in library sciences in the future.
What do you like to do in your free time?
If I could, I would spend all my time with my adorable cats: Clementine, Kuzco, and Tiny. I also like to read and listen to music in my free time.
Temitayo Wolff is the Daytime Reference Specialist. She worked in University art and special collections and for AmeriCorp before coming to Himmelfarb. Temitayo helps staff the first floor information desk and our library chat services during business hours. Temitayo assists with use of our collections and resources, helps users with answers to a variety of questions, and provides referral services to librarians for in-depth research questions and systematic reviews. You can reach Temitayo at temitayo.wolff@gwu.edu. Here are some more things to know about Temitayo.
What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?
I have been enjoying learning from other members of the Himmelfarb staff and faculty. I appreciate that everyone is so generous with their time and expertise.
What has surprised you?
I have been pleasantly surprised to find so many fellow cat lovers at Himmelfarb. I am always eager to hear about people’s cat companions and to talk about my own.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I was born and raised in DC. I got my bachelor’s degree in classical languages and literature with a concentration in linguistics from Grinnell College, where I worked in the college’s art collection and the library’s special collections and archives.
I have spent the last two years in New Orleans, where most recently I worked in the art collection at Xavier University of Louisiana. This past summer I got married and moved with my wife from her hometown back to mine.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy puzzling—crossword, jigsaw, etc.—trying out new vegan recipes, and of course lounging around with my cats, Kermit Thee Frog (as in the muppet and the rapper) and Mister Butters.
Winter temperatures have found their way to the Washington, D.C. region! With fewer hours of daylight, and the cold weather making it tempting to stay indoors where it’s warm, it can be difficult to make time for movement during the winter months. Staying active during the winter months doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
Take Your Exercise Outdoors!
Exercising in cold weather can be fun if you are dressed appropriately. Wearing layers for activities like running, hiking, and cross-country skiing will allow you to regulate your body temperature by offering the ability to remove and add layers based on your comfort level. Be sure to wear a combination of moisture-wicking materials (closest to the body), insulating layers (middle layer), and an outer layer that will protect you from the wind (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). Don’t forget about your extremities when gearing up to head out into the cold. Blood flow tends to concentrate in your core in cold temperatures, so remember to protect your head, hands, feet, and ears from the cold with a hat, gloves, and warm socks (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2019). And don’t forget to wear sunscreen during the winter months!
When it comes to exercising outdoors during the winter, there are plenty of great options! Consider keeping some of the same exercises you would normally do during warmer months in your rotation like walking, running, and even biking. Hiking during the winter can be a great way to enjoy nature, and get some fresh air. If you’re in the mood for something more seasonal, consider ice skating! DC has numerous outdoor skating rinks to enjoy this winter: Washington Harbour Ice Rink at the Georgetown Waterfront, the Wharf Ice Rink, the Canal Park Ice Rink at the Capitol Riverfront, and the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink on the National Mall. There are also several indoor ice rinks in the region if you’d prefer to skate indoors.
If you’re not in the mood to brave the elements with an outdoor workout, there are plenty of options to get your body moving indoors. Head to the Lerner Health and Wellness Center to take a group fitness class, do some laps in the 3-lane lap pool, or use the cardio, strength training machines, and free weights. Lerner also has basketball, volleyball, badminton, and squash courts, a kickboxing station, and a jogging track.
If you’d rather stay in the comfort of your own home, there are still plenty of options! The internet is an amazing resource for finding free workout videos to follow, or just finding sample routines and exercises you can mix and match to suit your fitness level, goals, and interests. Explore fitness apps on your phone or tablet for even more options. Don’t have any equipment at home? No problem - there are plenty of body-weight exercise options.
Don’t let the cold weather get you down - there are plenty of options for staying active during the cold months.
While we’re currently scrambling to study for finals, wrap up projects, and prepare for celebrations, soon there will be time to relax and kick back with a good book. Most of Himmelfarb’s collections are not your typical leisure reading, but you will find exceptions in a few of our special collections. The Humanities and Health collection, located in the nook on the first floor, has a variety of popular fiction and nonfiction books with a tie in to health topics or health providers. All of these books check out for a three week period with two possible renewals.
All Boys Aren’t Blue: a memoir manifesto by George Johnson, 2020: A collection of essays by an LGBTQIA activist, recounting what it was like to grow up as a Black queer young man. It addresses gender identity, bullying, toxic masculinity and consent and has been a frequent target of recent book banning efforts.
Consumptive Chic: a history of beauty, fashion and disease, by Carolyn A. Day, 2017: In the early 19th century it became trendy to have tuberculosis, or at least look like it. An emaciated body and flushed complexion was the height of fashion. The book examines how fashion practices of the time may have made women more susceptible to the disease and recounts the history of the tuberculosis epidemic in Europe which caused 25% of deaths at its peak.
In Shock: my journey from death to recovery and the redemptive power of hope by Rana Awdish, 2017: Awdish is a critical care physician who found the tables turned on her when a severe hemorrhage caused her to lose her baby and put her close to death. After multiple hospitalizations, Awdish recognized how current medical practice puts physicians at an emotional distance from their patients and makes recommendations for taking down the barriers.
The Jump Artist by Austin Ratner, 2009: Philippe Halsman became famous for his photos of celebrities leaping into the air and collaborations with Salvador Dali. This book focuses on his conviction and imprisonment for the murder of his father in 1920’s Austria where anti-Semitism was on the rise. Halsman was pardoned after leading Jewish intellectuals of the time lobbied for his release.
My Own Country by Abraham Verghese, 1994: Best known for Cutting for Stone, this memoir is about Verghese’s experience as a young infectious disease specialist working in a small Appalachian town in Tennessee at the beginning of the AIDS crisis. Verghese relates the prejudice he encounters, as well as the care and compassion, in meeting the clinical and emotional needs of his patients.
Patient H.M.: a story of memory, madness and family secrets by Luke Dittrich, 2016: The victim of a botched lobotomy, Patient H.M. lost the ability to form long term memory. He became the most studied neuroscience patient, teaching scientists much of what is known about memory today. The book was written by the grandson of H.M.’s surgeon, who confronts his family history and the ethics of early neurosurgical procedures. Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.
Ship Fever and other stories by Andrea Barret, 1996: Winner of the National Book Award, the volume includes a novella and several short stories involving science and medicine set in past and present. Mendel and Linnaeus are subjects, as well as relationships between scientists in the field.
The Strange Case of the Broad Street Pump by Sandra Hempell, 2007: In 1830’s London a doctor uses unconventional methods to trace the spread of a cholera epidemic and make the connection to drinking water. The book which reads like a mystery includes details of life in Victorian England and the emergence of public health practices.
Is there a title on your leisure reading list that isn’t in our collection? You can check to see if it’s available from another academic library in DC and request a consortium loan. To search consortium library collections, use the Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog scope in Health Information @ Himmelfarb as shown below.
If another library has it, sign in to use the Consortium Loan Service request form to request borrowing and delivery to Himmelfarb Library. This quick tutorial video shows you how to make a request.
You can also check our Take a Book, Leave a Book Shelf (our free little library) for popular non-health sciences related books.
We wish all of our patrons a safe and relaxing winter break!
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/baby-sleeping-on-white-cotton-161709/
Warning: This post contains mention of child abuse.
In October 2003, Julie Baumer took her infant nephew Philipp to the hospital. The boy presented with lethargy, irritability, vomiting, and unwillingness to eat. Doctors performed a CT scan and saw that the baby had a skull fracture and subdural and retinal hemorrhaging. The bleeding was so great that his fontanelle (the soft spot where a baby’s skull is forming) was bulging (Bazelon, 2011). Philipp was also dehydrated and septic. Due to the extensive amount of time taken before an emergency operation, Philipp suffered severe brain damage; he survived the ordeal, but lives with cerebral palsy (Bazelon, 2011). For Julie Baumer, the worst was yet to come.
Baumer was charged with first-degree child abuse. Doctors testified that the baby had experienced blunt force trauma and Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) at Baumer’s hands. In 2005, she was convicted and sentenced to 10-15 years in prison.
In 2010, thanks to the Michigan Innocence Clinic, Baumer was granted a new trial. This time, six experts testified that the baby had been suffering from cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), the effects of which can appear similar to SBS. Vaslow (2021) states that “for infants presenting with subdural hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, and neurological decline the ‘consensus’ opinion is that this constellation represents child abuse and that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis … is a false mimic….[but] this conclusion is false for a subset of infants with no evidence of spinal, external head, or body injury.”
CVST is known by many names, including cerebral sinovenous thrombosis and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Whatever you call it, this is a stroke characterized by a blood clot in a cerebral blood vessel (DynaMed). Within the pediatric population, newborns account for 30-50% of cases (Ichord, 2017). Although the clinical presentation in children can vary, pediatric patients will typically present with headache, vomiting, and depressed mental status (DynaMed). Other symptoms may include seizures and otalgia (ear pain).
In newborns, acute systemic illness is the primary risk factor for CVST (Ichord, 2017). In children, the predominant cause of CVST is acute head or neck infections, such as mastoiditis; chronic diseases such as nephrotic syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease are also possible causes. In order to diagnose CVST, neuroimaging must be used, typically an MRI (Vaslow, 2021).
What about Philipp’s skull fracture? This was a “red herring” in the case which at first seemed like evidence of child abuse, but with further analysis, doctors were able to determine that this was an older injury attributable to Philipp’s difficult birth (Bazelon, 2011).
Julie Baumer was acquitted of all charges, but some – including the family who ended up adopting Philipp – still believe she is guilty. Although it is not the legal responsibility of a doctor to determine a caretaker’s innocence, medical professionals are required to document injuries objectively and report suspected abuse to authorities (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014). Therefore, research into and awareness of the differences between SBS and CVST is necessary to keep young children safe and healthy and to keep innocent caregivers out of prison.
Do you know of another interesting true crime case with medical connections? Email Rachel Brill at rgbrill@gwu.edu.
Vinchon M, Noulé N, Karnoub MA. The legal challenges to the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome or how to counter 12 common fake news. Childs Nerv Syst. 2022 Jan;38(1):133-145. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05357-8. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00381-021-05357-8.pdf
The weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break can be a daunting and stressful time as we race to the end of the fall semester. Stress can have negative impacts on our body. Too much stress can lead to headaches, insomnia, changes in our mood, high blood glucose or blood pressure levels and more. (Pietrangelo, 2020) There are many ways to reduce stress and take care of yourself during this hectic time. Here are a few ways to help you stay healthy during the next few weeks.
It is easy to forgo sleep when you’re studying for exams or writing end of semester papers. But getting enough sleep can significantly reduce stress and provide you with enough energy for the coming days. The Department of Health and Human Services says that getting enough sleep can lower risks of developing serious health problems, reduce stress and improve mood and help with the decision making process. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022) Creating and applying a sleep routine to your daily life may seem difficult, but if done consistently you’ll notice an improvement in the quality of your sleep. To develop a better relationship with sleep, consider dedicating a few minutes of ‘wind down’ time before you go to bed. During this time, accomplish tasks that require little effort or energy, like reading, planning your to-do list for the next day or writing in your journal. Avoid smart devices or TV during this time. If you have trouble falling asleep, try listening to gentle music, such as classical, jazz or lo-fi. Or, put on a podcast such as ‘The Sleepy Bookshelf,’ ‘Sleep With Me’ or ‘Get Sleepy.’ Set a ‘sleep timer’ so the music or podcast turns off automatically and make sure to keep the volume settings low so the music or show doesn’t distract you.
While the end of the semester may feel like a time for self-isolation and solo studying, this is the perfect opportunity to lean into your community and reach out for support. Organize study sessions with your classmates and reserve space in one of Himmelfarb’s study rooms. If you want to understand the noise level standards for the library, visit our recent Studying at Himmelfarb? Know Our Zones! post. If you’d like to socialize without worrying about class work, plan a lunch or dinner break with a friend. Call a relative or friend who lives far away, or set aside time for a virtual movie night. Connecting with your community is a great way to take your mind off of school and can also reduce the pent up anxiety you may feel. Speaking to your friends, family or other loved ones may provide you with the space to talk through mental or emotional walls, thus allowing you the ability to return to your work with a clearer understanding of what needs to be accomplished.
Breaking down your assignments into smaller, manageable pieces is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. Create a roadmap or plan to help you complete your work and set a daily goal of accomplishing 1-2 sections until you reach the end. Or write a to do list in the morning and rank your list items from highest to lowest priority. By checking off smaller tasks, you’ll progress through your work without feeling overwhelmed.
Lastly, December 1-16, George Washington University and the Division for Student Affairs will hold a series of end of semester events to help students unwind and de-stress. The university’s ‘Midnight breakfast’ will take place on December 12 at 9 p.m. in the University Student Center. There will be food from vendors like Insomnia Cookies, Domino’s Pizza and Kilwin’s. Entertainment will include a gaming station, karaoke, a ‘Build-A-Study Buddy’ area and coloring; there will also be opportunities to win prizes such as a limited edition ‘Midnight Breakfast’ shirt, an Ipad and more. If you’re unable to attend this event, there are other opportunities to engage in fun and relaxation. December 5 and 12 there will be free chair massages at District House B205. December 10, take a walk to Roosevelt Island or attend an improv show at the University Student Center amphitheater organized by [insert here] improv on December 9. Visit ‘The Final Lap’ webpage for a full list of planned activities!
