It’s that time of the year again, a time for trick or treating and a time for treats, sweets, and ghoulish get-togethers with friends and family.Even if you do not participate in Halloween, or are planning to spend this time at home, there are bound to be some fantastic autumnal dishes for you!
If you are looking for a cheesy and spooky appetizer, this Mummy Brie wheel will be sure to lure your choice of cracker in! If cheese is not your thing, you can always show off your skills by making these adorable Halloween sushi balls! Additionally these Beer Battered Squash Rings might even change a picky eater’s mind on squash!
On a budget? This Sweet & Salty Halloween mix will save both time and recipe. If peanuts are a problem, feel free to substitute with cashews, almonds or any nut of your choice.
For an entree, how about these green Monster Wraps? These are sure to be a hit with olive fans, and you can fill with your own favorite fillings! If you are looking to impress, this Seared Salmon with Sweet Potatoes is not only perfect for the season, but also a recipe that is pleasantly low in calories. Vegetarians, why not try this tempting Vegetarian Chili? It is guaranteed to keep you warm on a brisk Autumn day.
For a sweet treat, why not compliment your Coffee or Latte with a flakey Pumpkin Hand Pie? Simple and easy to make, these very orange Candy Corn Cupcakes would be a fantastic addition to any party get together. Lastly, for those who celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, why not test your skill at decorating on these gorgeous Day of the Dead cookies?
Whatever the occasion may be, Halloween or simply a time to celebrate a bountiful Autumn, we wish you a safe and joyful October, and can’t wait to assist you in your studies in November!
Today we would like to highlight just a few of the many men and women who have changed the health sciences professions.
Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN (1920-2010): Changing the face of nursing
Ildaura Murillo-Rohde who, after witnessing many hispanic communities being treated by mostly non-hispanic providers, was dismayed at what she saw. Determined to change this,, she created the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) in 1975.
“I saw that I was the only Hispanic nurse who was going to Washington to work with the federal government, review research and education grants, etc.,” Murillo-Rohde later noted. “I looked behind me and thought: ‘Where are my people?’”
Not only did she create the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Dr. Rodhe was also the first Hispanic dean of nursing at NYU. Read more about Dr. Rohde’s accomplishments:
José Celso Barbosa, MD (1857-1921): the “father of the Puerto Rican statehood movement.”
José Celso Barbosa was no stranger to discrimination. Despite this, his determination did not falter in his attempts to help others.
In 1875, Barbosa left his home of Puerto Rico to New York City. After a brush with pneumonia, he became interested in the field of medicine. Unfortunately, university officials rejected his application, stating that they would not accept students of color.
Undeterred, Barbosa graduated from the University of Michigan as the first Puerto Rican to receive a Medical degree in the United States.
He continued to care for soldiers during the Spanish - American war and through the Red Cross he was able to treat many poor patients in Puerto Rico. He articulated that there was a need for employer based health care insurance, which was a radical idea at the time.
Later in his career, Barbosa founded a party that urged U.S. statehood for Puerto Rico. For that leadership, Barbosa has been dubbed the “father of the Puerto Rican statehood movement.” Read more about Dr. Barbosa’s accomplishments:
Himmelfarb Library has a variety of resources to help you publish your research confidently. From citation assistance to avoiding publishing with a predatory publisher, there are many considerations when preparing to publish your research. Himmelfarb Library can help you identify a reputable source and navigate the publication process. Make sure to check out the guides, videos, tutorials and reference services available through Himmelfarb Library!
Other assistance: -Journal Selection assistance (on request; shoover@gwu.edu or tph@gwu.edu ) -Publication metrics assistance (on request; shoover@gwu.edu or tph@gwu.edu )
In an effort to remain accountable to communities who have been negatively impacted by past and present medical injustices, the staff at Himmelfarb Library is committed to the work of maintaining an anti-discriminatory practice. We will uplift and highlight diverse stories throughout the year, and not shy away from difficult conversations necessary for health sciences education. To help fulfill this mission, we’re proud to reach out to one of our own Faculty members, Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz to hear his perspective on the COVID-19 vaccine, and what made his journey to the field of public health truly unique.
What inspired you to go into public health? How did you first get involved in HIV care and prevention?
I was inspired to pursue a career in public health by a family physician who was by head physician and was the primary health care provider to my family and almost everyone in the small town of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico where I was born and raised. Before my senior year in college, I had the opportunity to participate in a Summer Internship Program at the University of Michigan-School of Public Health. I had the opportunity to work with a Latino-serving organization and it was through this experience that I got involved in public health and HIV prevention. Then, I realized the privilege that I had as a young Latino gay man to have access to education and contribute to my community by engaging in public health training, practice, and research. I am now using my privilege to disrupt privileges.
What brought you to GW?
After nearly a decade working at the University of Puerto Rico-School of Public Health, I felt it was the time to expand my experiences and contribute to public health efforts in Puerto Rico but from a different platform. I also wanted to be more engaged in public health initiatives at US national level. GW’s location in the US capitol was a very attractive, particularly after experiencing at first had how public health efforts in the US are hindered by the lack of representation and the colonial experience of Puerto Rico. Further, GW is an established institution with ample experience conducting research in areas of my interest and expertise.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your work?
The opportunity to work with community members to identify public health challenges and address these challenges.
We see a rise in misinformation with the COVID-19 vaccine. What lessons do you think scientists and medical experts can learn from that? How can scientific research be more transparent and accessible to the public?
We need to listen and to be better communicators. Based on my experience, most of the questions people have about the COVID-19 vaccine are legitimate. People need to be listened to and must receive culturally appropriate information. As scientists, we need to work on our health communications skills. We might be experts in an area of knowledge, but that does not mean that we know how to communicate information to lay populations. We either develop skills to engage with multiple audiences or work with experts who can help us communicate effectively. Further, we should facilitate those scientists from minoritized populations (e.g., Latinos, Black, LGBTQ, Native Americans) to have access to mass media and platforms to reach out to their communities. No one else can speak to a community like a community member.
What are your future research related plans or areas of interest at this time?
I plan to continue working with community-based organizations and other community leaders to develop strategies to reduce health inequities and health disparities. The beauty of conducting community-based participatory research is that we are constantly focusing on the priorities identified by the community rather than working on a rigid research agenda. I also expect to continue my engagement in research activities related to the Ending the HIV Epidemic. I am collaborating in community-centered projects to address social determinants of HIV in Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. I am also planning to continue to be engaged in COVID-19 related research with Latino populations.
We now have multiple vaccines for COVID and more are in development based on a wide variety of techniques. Do you see this progress as potentially helpful in the development of an HIV vaccine?
Yes. The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effort organized extraordinary resources and unprecedented global collaborations. The scientific achievements of COVID-19 vaccines are now inspiring a renewed sense of urgency for the HIV vaccine development effort.
What advice, if any, do you have for students just starting out?
Aim for what you are passionate about. Always be yourself. Never become someone else to achieve your goals. Listen to your mentors and once you achieve your goals, pay it forward.
On behalf of the Himmelfarb library we would like to extend our thanks to Dr. Rodríguez-Díaz for participating in this interview!
You may have already heard. August is National Immunization Month! Some people are reluctant to be vaccinated and it can be difficult communicating to your patients the importance of staying up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccines not only benefit your patients, but also the larger community.
The CDC has a fantastic toolkit that features educational resources to help you deliver the message of the importance of vaccines. The toolkit includes ready-to-use promotional materials that can be shared across social media platforms. It also includes an adult vaccine assessment tool that can help you narrow down what vaccinations may be beneficial for your patients.
What better way to advocate for and educate not only yourself but your colleagues and patients? The tool also includes an easy-to-read vaccination schedule for children, teens, and infants. Keeping up to date with vaccines can be difficult, especially when your patients have to account for more than one individual. The list includes a chart of vaccine-preventable diseases along with symptoms and complications that can occur if you or your child is not vaccinated.
How can you support patients with specific health risks? There is also guidance for adults who have health conditions, such as asthma, liver disease, or a weakened immune system. Traveling? The CDC has you covered with the necessary information you need to make sure you are ready to embark to your destination safely, while providing updated recommendations on the current status of COVID-19 across the globe. Be advised that all travelers are required to have a negative test result before traveling to the US from an international location.
If you haven’t already, we highly suggest that you take the time to see what the CDC’s Adult Assessment tool can provide for your vaccination information needs.
ILL. CLS. Interlibrary Loan. Consortium Loan Service. Have you heard these terms before? If you have, awesome! If not, let us introduce you to them! We understand that the acronyms may be confusing, and want to take the time to share more about what these two library services can offer you.
Borrowing from other libraries
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Consortium Loan Service (CLS) provide materials that the library does not currently have access to such as medical articles, book chapters, and books to our GW medical, health sciences, nursing and public health students, staff and faculty members. We understand that your research is important, and will do everything that we can to provide the books and articles that you may need for your studies and research.
Consortium Loan Service
Consortium Loan Service, or CLS for short, is a free service that allows our users to request books that are available within the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). What this means is that if Georgetown (for example) has a book that you would like to borrow, CLS makes it possible to borrow their copy. One benefit of borrowing books through CLS is that this is the fastest way for us to borrow books from other libraries within the D.C. area as materials arrive usually within 2-3 days after the request has been placed. We rely on a courier service for the expedited delivery of books within business days. For detailed information about our CLS service, check out our Consortium Loan Service Guide!
How do I place a CLS request?
Search for the book you are looking for in the Himmelfarb catalog advanced search. Make sure that Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog is selected.
Under “How to get it” click Sign In. Use your GW Net ID & password to login.
Under “How to get it” click “Consortium Loan Service Request”
Specify where you would like to pick the book up, at the Himmelfarb library, or at our Ashburn location.
Interlibrary Loan
If you are looking for an article or book that is not available in our catalog or through CLS, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), is a great option! Through ILL, we can request books and articles from libraries across the country on your behalf. Articles normally take 24-72 hours to be delivered. Books may take longer depending on how far away the lending library is from D.C. For detailed information about our ILL service, check out our Interlibrary Loan and Documents2Go guide!
Log in using your GW Net ID & password. Make sure to leave out any ‘@gwu.edu’ part of your net ID. You will not be able to access your account if you include it.
To make a request:
Find the “Make a new request” menu item.
Select the type of resource you want to request : article, book, or book chapter.
Please be as detailed as possible in order to help us find the exact resource you need. Include the journal title, article title, page number, volume, or year, and author.
Click the ‘Submit Request’ when you are ready to place your request.
Once you’ve placed your request, we will do our best to find the resource from another library.
Once we receive a PDF of the requested article, or book chapter, you will receive an email notification informing you that you can access your article through your Documents2Go portal. Keep in mind, these articles disappear after 30 days on your account, so download it if you want permanent access to the material!
If the item you requested is a physical book, once we receive the item, you will receive a notification informing you that the item is available for pick up at the Himmelfarb Circulation Desk, or at the Ashburn Library.
Does it cost money?
CLS requests are free! As for ILL, we offer 15 requests for free to all GW medical, health sciences, nursing and public health students, staff and faculty members from the dates of January 1st to July 1st. Afterwards, we offer another free 15 starting from July 1st, to the end of December. This amount resets each calendar year. Any additional requests over the initial 15 will incur an additional $10.00 charge. We will contact you to confirm any charges, which you can deny or accept. Rush requests, which guarantees article delivery within 24 hours, will cost an additional $10. In the event that we are unable to fulfill a rush request within 24 hours, you will not be charged.
How long does it take to receive my article or book?
In most cases, we should be able to provide an article to you within 3 to 6 days. Depending on availability and rarity of the article, it may take us longer to receive a PDF for your request. If a request is taking longer than expected to fulfill, we will contact you.
Books generally take anywhere from one to two weeks to receive, depending on the library’s location that ships the book to us, and the shipping method they use. Because of the unpredictable nature of book requests, we would recommend using CLS whenever possible to ensure a more timely arrival of any book requests.
My CLS request was cancelled, what should I do now?
If the book you are looking for is not available through CLS, the request will be cancelled. When this happens, we recommend submitting your request through our Documents2Go portal.
If you have additional questions, or want to better understand the difference between these two borrowing services that Himmelfarb has to offer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at mlbdoc@gwu.edu.
It’s summer, it’s hot. It is the time that we all become best friends with our air conditioners and pints of ice cream. If you find yourself scrolling restlessly through Netflix for the umpteenth time, why not give yourself a reason to dust off those running shoes and enjoy the sun?
The SMHS Strava Club is holding a Summer 2021 “Olympics Challenge”, and if you haven’t already, you should consider joining!
The Strava Club Olympics Challenge is a great way to challenge your mind and body in 4 events by logging your exercise activities! The Challenge takes place during the month of July and offers Visa gift cards for Gold, Silver and Bronze in each event!
How do I sign up? Download the free Strava app and/or visit www.strava.com, make a personal account, join GW SMHS club, log activity!
If you would like to find out more information about this Challenge, check out the Strava club’s guide, which explains how to make an account, how to join the club, and how to log and post your activity! With over 30 activities to choose from, there is bound to be a fitness plan for you. Which one is your favorite way to exercise? Are you into running, walking, or swimming? Or maybe you are into hiking and canoeing!
You will be competing with others in the club to achieve a different goal in each of four categories. (Community, Variety, Endurance, and Meditation.) If you aren’t in the DC area, don’t worry! You can participate regardless of location.
Are you going to go for the Gold? We hope you will take advantage of this awesome opportunity not only to improve your own physical and mental well being, but to interact in some friendly competition with fellow GW members!
Questions? Contact the GW Wellness Committee at bewellgw@gmail.com!
With the Holiday weekend fast approaching, why not take some time to jazz up your meals? Whether you are celebrating alone or with loved ones, there is no reason not to enjoy some summery dishes. No matter your preferences or dietary requirements there is bound to be something new, unique and healthy for you!
If you are looking to dine in style, or want to impress your friends, Bon Appétit’s Grilled Swordfish with charred Leeks and Citrus offers a fantastic and fun way to try your steak, not to mention those orange slices served underneath offer a cool combination of savory and sweet! If fish is not your idea of fun you could always give these Chicken Seekh Kabobs a try!
Vegetarian? No problem. These Creamy Avocado & White bean wraps have a tangy and spicy slaw that will give you every reason to keep a tall pitcher of Homemade Lemonade at your table. If spicy and crunchy doesn’t appeal, these gourmet Vegan Mushroom Sloppy Joes would be an awesome twist on a classic main course!
Side dishes? We’ve got you covered.This Honeydew Salad with Ginger dressing and Peanuts combines a variety of ingredients that will no doubtedly offer a rich and avocado-minty-garlicy fusion to excite your taste buds. If you want to toss a little color into your salad, this Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta salad looks simply delicious.
For the sweet finale, Eatingwell’s No-Bake Berry Cheesecake bars cut not only the calories but the saturated fats as well! If you are someone who enjoys salt over the sweet, this Salty-Sweet Party Mix might be for you. If you are out camping, these Trail Mix Cookies would be perfect for any outdoor event.
We wish you a happy, safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend this year!
It’s June, and around the world many celebrate diversity and the beauty that comes with being who you are. Pride is not only a month that encourages those who struggle with their own identity to shed any doubt or fears, but it is also a time to remind everyone that there are many of us who are supportive and are wholeheartedly on your side.
Not only do we have a host of organizations who are here to offer help, but Washington D.C. also has clinics that are catered specifically to support those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual community.
Did you know, the Whitman-Walker Clinic offers not only medical and gender care, but mental, dental, legal, and youth & family support services as well? With multiple locations within the District, Whitman Walker is an excellent option to any who want quality healthcare in an environment where you will not be judged. Whitman Walker will not pry into your personal life, they are well known for letting you make informed decisions for yourself. GW also collaborates with the Whitman-Walker to train future health care providers via the Healing Clinic through which SMHS students have a unique opportunity to learn and conduct one-on-one HIV & STI testing and counseling at WWH clinic sites, mobile testing vehicles, and special events.
Many additional resources can be found through our catalog. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, you can always contact us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or set up an appointment with a reference librarian to help you sharpen your research skills!
Wishing you all a joyous and safe Pride filled month from the Himmelfarb library.
Memorial day is almost upon us, and what better way to honor those who have vigilantly stood for the red, white and blue than to partake in some of the activities that are happening this weekend? The planned events include both virtual and in person events, so even if you are not feeling comfortable attending a public gathering, there are ways you can participate.
The 2021 National Memorial Day Parade will premiere the weekend of Memorial Day – May 29-31 – nationwide on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW stations, and to our military personnel worldwide on American Forces Network. Further information can be found on the American Veteran’s Center webpage.
If you would like to attend something a little bit louder, Rolling to Remember is amotorcycle rally that will be held on May 30th in Washington, DC to raise awareness to the critical issues our veterans face daily, as well as a tribute to those who are Missing in Action, and Prisoners of War.
If music is more your style, the National Memorial Day concert will be held at 8:00 p.m. E.T. Not only will the concert feature celebrity performances, but it will also share stories that will help us to remember the lives of those who fought for our Country. Be sure to check your local listings to find which channel you can tune into. The concert will also be streamed online.
Other events are planned throughout the weekend and you can check out washington.org’s list if you are looking for other options. Be it a baseball game, a visit to the waterfront, or taking a trip to the Arlington Cemetery, there are so many activities to do, reasons to go outside and enjoy the weather, but also to remember the brave men and women who fought for the United States.
We wish you all a safe, fun, and memorable Memorial day weekend!
