With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Dopesick” by Beth Macy.
With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Dopesick” by Beth Macy.
About the Book: “Dopesick” is an inside look at America’s opioid crisis through the lens of big pharma, drug dealers, addicts, and the communities desperately trying to save them. Taking a zoom-in-out approach, Macy contextualizes several families of drug abusers and dealers (which are fluid categories) into the overall opioid epidemic. This microcosm forefronts the human suffering of decisions made tucked away in boardrooms and sales offices.
What Makes it Essential: As a resident of Roanoke, VA since 1989, Macy’s reporting for The Roanoke Times positioned her to directly report on the disintegration of Appalachian communities (Weeks, 2022). Her 2012 book, Factory Man, covered the shuttering of Appalachian factories and helped her write the bigger picture of a broken community targeted by a predatory pharmaceutical company.
Reasons to Read: “Dopesick” takes an uncomfortable look at the strategies big pharma uses to target doctors and how easy it can be to follow incentives. Macy investigates their rationalization while also providing examples of people who stand up against the system despite facing the same pressures.
Caveats: While “Dopesick” discusses Purdue Pharma, it’s a book about the entirety of the crisis. For a deeper look into Purdue Pharma, Barry Meier’s “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic” helps complete the picture.
Further Reading:
The Big Fix: Hope After Heroin, by Tracey Helton Mitchell - which Beth Macy calls the best book about heroin recovery that she’s read (available at the DC public library)
Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic, by Sam Quinones (available at Himmelfarb)
References:
Weeks, Olivia. (2022, February 4th). Q&A: Beth Macy on her Journey from Paper Girl to Hard-Hitting Opioid Journalist. The Daily Yonder. https://dailyyonder.com/qa-beth-macy-on-her-journey-from-paper-girl-to-hard-hitting-opioid-journalist/2022/02/04/
Did you recently present at a conference or during a workshop? Would you like to share your conference poster with other scholars? Are you interested in archiving your research in a central location? The Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC) is Himmelfarb Library’s online institutional repository and allows researchers to store their research in a reliable location so it may be accessed by other researchers.
Here are a few benefits to storing your research in the HSRC:
Your conference poster will be placed in a permanent collection with a consistent link. This link may be embedded in your resume/CV or on your researcher’s website. It may also be shared with your peers and connect them with your conference poster.
Your work is archived according to your departmental affiliation, so your work is situated among the collective output of your colleagues.
Your research is discoverable via search engines such as Google Scholar, thus allowing your work to reach a broader audience.
Lastly, you can measure the impact and reach of your research through PlumX metrics and Altmetrics data.
Archiving your poster in the HSRC is a reliable alternative to conference websites which may not be maintained once the conference ends. The HSRC is able to accept most file formats and you may upload a full image of your poster. Library staff members maintain the repository and will archive your research for you. Send an email hsrc@gwu.edu and a Himmelfarb Library staff member will respond to collect more information.
Are you interested in a preview of how your poster will appear in the institutional repository? Visit the 2023 Research Days Posters collection or any of the other collections in the repository.
SALUD is a student-run organization at GW which was founded about five years ago, and is dedicated to teaching and learning Medical Spanish. During the academic year, SALUD runs regular Spanish classes for medical students at three different levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The content of these sessions, which occur during the lunch hour, is keyed to vocabulary related to body systems students are covering in the Practice of Medicine course.
In class one day in early Fall, MS2 student instructors Emily and Giuliana ask the eight students attending the Advanced level class where they have learned their Spanish. Some speak it at home, while others have studied the language. There is a review of the vocabulary for the musculoskeletal system, after which the students partner up to practice patient interview skills. “¿Que le molesta?” (“Can you tell me what hurts?”) is one opening, whereas others might start with, “¿Necesita un intérprete?” (“Do you need an interpreter?”) Some students form groups of three, with one student acting as the interpreter. A student is curious about interpreting opportunities. While certification is required to be a medical interpreter, GW students are able to volunteer and use their language skills as patient navigators at the GW Healing Clinic, where about 80% of the clientele are Spanish-speaking.
Screenshot of Advanced level Medical Spanish lesson on how to translate a 1-10 pain scale
Over in the Intermediate level classroom, students are reviewing musculoskeletal vocabulary, translating it from Spanish to English. The lesson follows the structure of a history of present illness, teaching students to seek information from patients on the location, quality, and severity of their pain, along with its duration, timing and context. The instructor points out synonyms, such as débil and tenue for weak, as well as words that have more than one meaning, like sordo, which can mean deaf, but also dull, which might describe a patient’s pain. In the Beginner classroom, a dozen students begin their exploration of the same vocabulary at a slower pace.
In addition to teaching Medical Spanish, classes aim to teach students the correct use of interpreters. SALUD also serves the Latinx community in DC through Bridge to Care, an initiative of the GW Healing Clinic. Because up to 80% of patients seeking care at the Healing Clinic are Spanish-speaking, the support of students with Spanish-speaking skills from across the MD Program, PA Program, and MPH candidates from the Milken Institute of Public Health is essential.
A few days after the first lesson of the year, I met with two of SALUD’s board members, Tammy Moscovich (MS2) and Alisha Pershad (MS2). While Tammy was raised in a Spanish-speaking family, Alisha’s interest in learning Spanish developed through school. Alisha sought to put her Spanish skills to use, and pursued official interpreter training to earn a certification. Through her SALUD teaching, Alisha hopes “to empower others” to combine their Spanish-speaking skills with patient care.
The curriculum used by SALUD comes from a Medical Spanish course from Boston University, which was adapted with permission by medical student Cecilia Velarde De La Via (MS3). The curriculum correlates to the system blocks students learn about in the Practice of Medicine course, and includes both vocabulary, sample patient interviews, and flash card decks. The Intermediate level class is “more conversational than technical,” according to Tammy, whereas the Advanced class focuses more on review.
Screenshot of a suggested script for interacting with Spanish-speaking patients
Are there SALUD success stories? Tammy and Alisha shared one: a current MS3 student who began Medical Spanish last year eager to practice her skills gained confidence through the classes. Now, in rotations, she feels more confident with her Spanish skills in working with patients. For Tammy, her time serving at Bridge to Care serves as a good refresher for vocabulary lessons. Then there are the finer points to learn when working with patients coming from different parts of the Spanish-speaking world, like the difference in terminology from one country to another, or learning the informal terms used by patients in a medical context, versus the clinical terms. Tammy commented that, “This is the word I use” is a valuable contribution to the Spanish lessons, helping to communicate the variations across borders. Alisha agrees, adding that classes are enriched by people bringing their individual experiences and sharing it.
The increased arrival of migrants to the DC area is something the GW Healing Clinic is experiencing via some of the patients coming through its doors. Alisha reported that there have been more patients arriving with acute conditions, adding that “it’s gratifying to facilitate the encounter, and help them recover.”
From the classroom to the exam room, SALUD is helping students increase their confidence in both bilingual encounters and collaborating with interpreters, while helping patients in the community access medical care that speaks their language.
The Library Search Box, also known as Health Information @ Himmelfarb, searches the library’s physical and electronic collections simultaneously. Here are some tips for looking for a specific item, doing a complex search, and saving results.
Searching for Identifiers or Citations
We know that many of you use the search box to retrieve a specific article or other publication with a DOI or citation information. While putting a DOI directly into the search box will frequently retrieve the work, using the Find Item feature provides more options and a better chance of finding what you’re looking for.
Input the identifier you have in the appropriate field and click Submit. For articles you can use a DOI or PMID. ISBN or ISSN values can be used for books and journals. Put in just the numeric value (ex. 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.02.018 for a DOI). You can search on both 13 and 10-digit ISBN values.
Doing Complex Searches
The Health Information @ Himmelfarb default search box is designed to do keyword searches. Using quote marks or nesting terms with parentheses or inputting symbols like & in the search box will not retrieve good results. To do a more complex search using boolean concepts or specifying fields to search, use Advanced Search. The Advanced Search button appears to the right of the search box:
Advanced search allows multiple concepts to be entered by adding lines to the search. You can also designate what field you want to search (text, title, author, etc.), the material type being searched for, and the date range:
Saving Searches and Results
After spending time setting up a search, you may want to save the search strategy to use again in the future. In order to save a search, you need to be logged into Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Use the Sign In button at the top right and input your GW UserID and password when prompted. If you’re already authenticated on your browser, the login will be automatic.
Once logged in, use the Save Query button at the top of the search results page to save the search. This will also save any filters applied.
To use the search again, click on your name at the top right and select My Favorites.
If you’ve saved search results, you’ll also see them here. Select the Saved Searches tab to see and re-run saved searches. To the right are options to generate an RSS feed for the search, set up alerts when the search produces new results, or delete the search.
As mentioned previously, search results can also be saved to My Favorites. Use the pushpin next to the record in search results to save an individual record.
Or check the box at the top of the results to save the results on the first page or top 50 results.
The results can then be sorted, organized with labels, and output from My Favorites.
September marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we spotlight the importance of early detection and education in the fight against gynecologic cancers. These cancers, which include ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, are often overshadowed by more well-known types of cancer, like breast or lung cancer.
In the United States alone, it's estimated that over 106,000 women will receive gynecologic cancer diagnoses in 2023, with approximately 32,000 lives at risk. These numbers underscore the urgency of raising attention, particularly given the potential for improved outcomes through early detection.
Prevention and early detection are essential. Regular screenings and vaccinations, such as the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer prevention, are strongly encouraged. It's vital to educate women about risk factors and symptoms, as early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month also empowers women to take control of their health. It promotes open and honest communication between healthcare providers and patients, creating supportive and judgment-free environments for discussing concerns, symptoms, and risk factors.
If you are looking for ways to get involved or to learn more, Move4Her has a fitness and celebration event that will unite caregivers, fitness professionals, organizations, and survivors. You may register to attend on their website for the event which takes place on September 23rd, online or in person at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. from 10:30 am to Noon ET.
Let's renew our commitment to raising awareness, supporting research, and providing compassionate care to those affected. Together, we can work toward a future where the burden of these diseases is significantly reduced, and women everywhere can lead healthier, cancer-free lives.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness month - a designation from Congress meant to boost attention towards the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2023). Affecting around 100,000 Americans, Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disorder that affects the shape of blood cells, causing them to “stack up” in capillaries and induce chronic pain and systemic health complications (2018).
While “staying aware” might feel irrelevant, for medical professionals, awareness itself actually contributes to bettering the lives of patients by recognizing the disease earlier, referring potential parents to the right tests, and helping prevent pain episodes through health regimens and palliative care. Knowledge helps save lives.
In 2018, congress passed the Sickle Cell Treatment Act, ratcheting up research through grants awarded by the Health Resources and Service Administration. The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative aims to “accelerate the development of genetic therapies to cure sickle cell disease,” specifically through hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Since abnormal hemoglobin (Hemoglobin S) causes the blood cells to be sickle shaped, replacing it will cause the body to create normal hemoglobin. Traditionally, this has only been possible through bone marrow transplant and was limited to younger patients with perfectly matching donors. Stem cell research could change that.
Today, medicine seeks to alleviate the symptoms of SCD. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute provides a good list of the current medications. See the following excerpt (2023):
Hydroxyurea is an oral medicine that can reduce or prevent several SCD complications, such as acute chest syndrome, a need for blood transfusions and pain events.
Voxelotor treats SCD in adults and children age 4 and older. The oral medicine prevents red blood cells from forming the sickle shape and binding together. This may decrease the destruction of some red blood cells, lowering the risk for anemia and improving blood flow.
Crizanlizumab-tmca reduces the number of pain crises experienced by adults and children aged 16 and older. Given through an IV, the medicine helps prevent blood cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and causing blood flow blockage, inflammation and pain crises. In addition, L-glutamine has been shown to lower the number of pain crises in people ages 5 and older. Over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can be used to treat mild to moderate pain, but for severe pain, providers may prescribe stronger medicines called opioids.
Penicillin has been shown to help children with SCD. Taking it twice a day can reduce the chance of having a severe infection in the bloodstream.
Transfusions can treat and prevent certain SCD complications. Acute transfusions treat complications that cause severe anemia. Red blood cell transfusions increase the number of red blood cells and provide normal red blood cells that are more flexible than red blood cells with sickle hemoglobin. Regular or ongoing blood transfusions may help lower the chances of another stroke in people who have had an acute stroke.
Read the full article here ("New Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease Provide Hope").
Lastly, you can check out Himmelfarb’s current Sickle Cell Awareness Month Display near the elevator!
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2018). Curing Sickle Cell Initiative.
Sickle Cell Disease Social Media Resources. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2023).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/sickle-cell-month/social-media.
Addressing consumer health questions from a racial or ethnic minority group requires cultural sensitivity and understanding. Healthcare organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health provide consumer health resources that are available in multiple languages. The organizations also share resources on how to connect with minority groups in a healthcare environment. These resources allow providers to communicate health information with their patients and also establish a rapport between patients and providers no matter their background. To commemorate this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting several consumer and healthcare provider resources that specifically address the needs of the Hispanic community.
The Office of Minority Health aims to “improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities.” (Office of Minority Health, 2019, para. 1) The office recently released their “Better Health Through Better Understanding for Hispanics/Latinos” reading list. The list is divided into three sections and contains information for both health consumers and providers. The resources are free to access and download. Some of the resources are available in English and Spanish so they may be shared with patients who may not be fluent in English. Lastly, there are links to journal articles that discuss the treatment and health outcomes of the Hispanic/Latino population.
The Office of Minority Health also provides resources based on the five social determinants of health. The listed information contains federal and non-federal options so the information is applicable to many individuals. Similar to their Hispanic Heritage Month reading list, the resources on this page are intended for both healthcare patients and providers. Some resources that may be of interest include:
If you’re looking for mental health resources, Palo Alto University’s curated list of Latinx Community Resources features books, videos, podcasts and more. There is also an extensive list of mental health organizations that serve the needs of the Hispanic community.
Himmelfarb Library is home to a diverse collection of health information. The Antiracism in Health research guide is an excellent starting point for available resources. Links to student and national healthcare organizations are listed on the guide, directly connecting you to groups actively working to meet healthcare needs and dismantle barriers to access. Himmelfarb Library’s Diversity and Disparities in Health Care connects you to physical and electronic books, academic journals and other library materials. Please be aware that some resources will prompt users to login with their GW UserID and password to access. If there are journal articles, books, podcasts or other materials that you believe should be featured on the antiracism research guide, please submit your suggestion through this Google form.
Finding additional resources to address the questions of a specific community may feel daunting. If you are interested in finding information similar to the sources listed in this article, Himmelfarb Library is here to help. There are several ways to contact a staff member including by email, phone, or instant message. Contact us with any questions you may have.
Himmelfarb Library engages in a number of initiatives to promote wellness for library users. See our Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Research Guide to find services, resources, and apps to support wellness and well-being. The library maintains a Healthy Living Collection of physical books, equipment, and other recreational items that can be used in the library or checked out. These items are housed in a shelving unit near the library elevators.
Exercise equipment: Yes, we have hula hoops! Five of them, so invite your friends for a hula hoop party. Other items for fun and physical fitness include double Dutch jump ropes, hand weights, a yoga mat, and block, and three exercise balls.
Relaxation equipment: From a relaxation kit with eye pillows to board games, we can help you ease stress. The game collection includes Scrabble, Blockus, Chess, and Sorry. We also have a variety of jigsaw puzzles. Feel free to start a puzzle and leave it for other library users to work on.
Videos: Videos are instructional on exercise, yoga, meditation, and other stress management techniques. Most are in DVD format.
Books!: Books make up most of the collection. We have cookbooks to help you cook and eat healthy. Other titles range from mindfulness and stress management to crafting, improving sleep, and tidying. Here’s a sample of titles:
Fall means more than pumpkin spice. Fall grant application season is also here with October submission deadlines for both NIH and NSF. Both organizations have modified the grant application process and here’s what you need to know:
NIH: NIH has rescinded the single budget line item requirement for data management and sharing costs.
Applications with a due date of October 5, 2023, or later will not be required to include a single line item for Data Management and Sharing Plan activities in the budget. These costs should be placed in other appropriate categories, such as personnel, equipment, supplies, and other expenses. Read the full announcement on the NIH website.
NSF: NSF now requires the use of the SciENcv or the Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae for biographical information.
The mandate to use SciENcv only for preparation of the biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support will go into effect for new proposals submitted or due on or after October 23, 2023. Read more on the NSF website.
Need additional resources to help you with the grant application process?
The GW Office of Sponsored Projects can assist with the full project lifecycle ranging from the initial concept to the management of the award.
For the 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, Himmelfarb maintains a related DMSP research guide and created a brief video tutorial highlighting important resources.
Information on how to update your Biosketch is also available via a brief video tutorial from Himmelfarb.
For additional information reach out to Sara Hoover, Metadata and Scholarly Communications Librarian at shoover@gwu.edu or Himmelfarb at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.
Our Annual Book Sale will be held from Tuesday, September 12th through the Friday, September 15th in Himmelfarb’s first floor reference alcove. The sale will be open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Tuesday to Thursday, and from 8:00am to Noon on Friday.
Textbooks, study guides, books of historical interest and more will be available - arrive early to see what we have to offer! Prices will be $4 for hardcover books, $2 for paperbacks. Card payments only. Contact us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu if you have any questions.
