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Author: Ruth Bueter

Published on Leave a comment on National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Image of a diverse group of teenagers talking. Text: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Image from https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month-2024-toolkit

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! This important yearly observance aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges that impact the mental health of racial and ethnic minority populations. This year’s theme is Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections, which emphasizes how the unique social determinants of health of racial and ethnic minority populations impact overall health, including mental health.

Social determinants of health have a profound impact on both physical and mental health. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines social determinants of health (SDOH) as “non-medical factors that affect health outcomes” and can include “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age” (CDC, 2024). Five key social determinants of health highlighted in Healthy People 2030 include education access and quality, health care and quality, the neighborhood and built environment, social and community context, and economic stability.

Image of icons used by the CDC for the 5 key social determinates of health.
(CDC, 2024)

Economic stability is a key determinant of mental health. According to Alegria et al. “unemployment, precarious employment, and employment conditions” are linked to “increased psychological distress, even in countries with universal healthcare, where employer-provided health insurance is less essential to accessing services” (Alegria et al., 2018). Economic stability, neighborhood, and the built environment play a role in food security. Lower-income people are more likely to live in food deserts (areas with limited access to plentiful, affordable, or nutritious food). According to a 2020 National Public Radio article, 19 million Americans, about 6% of Americans lived in a food desert in 2015 (Silva, 2020). Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity, with 19.1% of Black households and 15.6% of Hispanic households experiencing food insecurity in 2019, compared to only 7.9% of White households (Silva, 2020). 

“Food insecurity and poor diet quality have also been linked to poorer mental health in the United States and Canada” (Alegria et al., 2018). Poor mental health outcomes associated with food insecurity include depression and anxiety. According to Morrison and Frank, there is “a dose-response relationship between the severity of food insecurity and the prevalence of depressive symptoms” (Morrison & Frank, 2023). Food insecurity can also lead to psychological stress responses including “higher levels of anxiety, frustration, and a sense of powerlessness” (Morrison & Frank, 2023). 

Social and community contexts also play a vital role in the social determinants of mental health. Violence within the community can have a large impact on mental health. “Direct and indirect experiences of community violence in adolescence have been significantly associated with elevated depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms” (Alegria et al., 2018). Additionally, living in areas with high incarceration rates is associated with an increased risk of a major depressive or generalized anxiety disorder (Alegria et al., 2018). 

Some unchangeable, fixed characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation, also play an important role in mental health. The intersectionality between minority status of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity is an important consideration (Morrison & Frank, 2023). LGBT adults who are also racial/ethnic minorities reported poorer mental health than white respondents (Alegria et al., 2018). Higher rates of suicide have been reported among minority youth who were also marginalized due to sexual orientation and gender identity (Morrison & Frank, 2023). 

It’s important to understand the relationship between social determinants and mental health. “Poor mental health can aggravate personal choices and affect living conditions that limit opportunities” (Alegria et al., 2018). A focus on improving social determinants of health will help improve mental health for minorities who are often disproportionately impacted. “Multilevel interventions aimed at eliminating systemic social inequalities - such as access to educational and employment opportunities, healthy food, secure housing, and safe neighborhoods - are crucial” (Alegria et al., 2018). Primary care physicians can use validated screening tools such as the Social Needs Screening Tool developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians (Morrison & Frank, 2023). Social prescribing, linking patients to appropriate social and community services, is another option for physicians. By addressing the social determinants of health that impact minority mental health through a comprehensive approach, we can work to “advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and Be the Source for Better Health for racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations” (HHS, 2024).

References:

Alegría, M., NeMoyer, A., Falgàs Bagué, I., Wang, Y., & Alvarez, K. (2018). Social Determinants of Mental Health: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go. Current psychiatry reports, 20(11), 95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0969-9 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2024). Social Determinants of Health. https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/about/social-determinants-of-health.html

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health (HHS). (2024). National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2024 Toolkit. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month-2024-toolkit

Morrison, L., & Frank, C. J. (2023). Social Determinants of Mental and Behavioral Health. Primary care, 50(4), 679–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2023.04.003

Silva, C. (September 27, 2020). Food insecurity in the U.S. by the numbers. National Public Radio (NPR). https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/912486921/food-insecurity-in-the-u-s-by-the-numbers

Published on Leave a comment on Himmelfarb Website Unavailable: July 20th, 8am – 4pm
Website Outage. The Himmelfarb Library website will be unavailable: Saturday, July 20: 8am - 4pm.

GW IT is replacing distribution nodes across campus, including two distribution nodes that supply our data centers.

GW IT will replace the VSTC Data Center distribution node on Saturday, July 20, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

During this time, Himmelfarb Library's website (himmelfarb.gwu.edu) will be offline and unavailable. In addition, resources hosted on apps.smhs.gwu.edu (curriculum, student and resident directories, etc.) will be unavailable.

While the Himmelfarb Library website is unavailable, users may continue to access most online resources via Himmelfarb Library's backup website available at: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/himmelfarb

Published on Leave a comment on Scheduled Network Maintenance: Saturday, July 13th, 8:00am – 4:00pm – No WiFi
Network Maintenance: 7/13 No WiFi!

GW IT has scheduled network maintenance on the Foggy Bottom Campus on Saturday, July 13th from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Impacts to Himmelfarb Library, Ross Hall, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health include disruption of Wifi, network connections, and anything relying on network services will be unavailable. More information can be found at GW IT's Network Maintenance Schedule & Impacts.

Despite the loss of Wifi and network connections at Himmelfarb Library, the Library's website (https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/) should remain accessible from other locations.

Published on
Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag
Image by Neo_Artemis from Pixabay

As Pride Month 2024 draws to a close, we want to take this opportunity to look back at some of our favorite LGBTQ+ blog posts. Whether you’re new to Himmelfarb Library or have been following our blog for years, this retrospective look at Himmelfarb’s Pride posts can serve as an opportunity to reflect on the history of Pride, celebrate the progress that’s been made towards LGBTQ+ equality and those who have fought for this progress, and recommit to the work that still needs to be done.

LGBTQ+ History

Most people don’t associate October with Pride Month, but October is LGBTQ History Month. In an October 2023 post titled The History Behind LGBTQ History Month, we took a look at the history behind LGBTQ History Month starting from its origins in 1994 when high school history teacher, Rodney Wilson addressed a lack of LGBTQ representation in school curriculum and worked with organizations such as the Human Rights Campain to have LGBTQ History Month recognized at the national level. October has additional significance within the LGBTQ community as the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights took place in October of 1979, and a second March on Washington took place on October 11, 1987. In 1988, October 11th was recognized as National Coming Out Day. If you’d like to learn more about the 1979 and 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, read the full post!

LGBTQ+ Profiles

At GW, we are lucky to have many influential members of the LGBTQ+ community who have been members of our faculty for many years! We’ve profiled some prominent GW faculty and one prominent national figure on our blog.

Picture of Dr. Deyton and Dr. Fauci standing in front of a GW Medicine & Health Sciences logo.
(GW SMHS Facebook Page, 2017)

In June 2021, we posted a piece titled “Just Speak:” Lawrence “Bopper” Deyton. This in-depth profile of Dr. Deyton explores an influential experience Dr. Deyton had as a patient that would have a profound impact on the course of his career and inspire him to work to be a positive influence for change within the field of medicine and healthcare for his entire career. In 1978, Dr. Deyton co-founded what is now Whitman-Walker Health as “a health clinic for gay men and lesbians before AIDS redefined everything and the clinic became a hub for HIV treatment” (Sullivan, 2011). After attending medical school at GW and completing his residency at the University of Southern California Los Angeles County Medical Center, Dr. Deyton began working at the NIH, where he became friends with Dr. Anthony Fauci, and together they would play a crucial role in HIV/AIDS research during the early 1990s epidemic. Dr. Deyton was instrumental in overseeing the “clinical research on the development and approval of antiretroviral drugs and treatment strategies, including the first trials of combination therapies, the cornerstone of current HIV treatments” (GW SMHS, 2017). Read the full post to learn more about Dr. Deyton’s fascinating and impactful career!

Picture of Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz.

In September of 2021, we posted a profile titled Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz: Aim for What You’re Passionate About. In this post, Dr. Rodriguez-Diaz discusses what inspired him to go into public health and get involved with HIV care and prevention. He discusses the privilege of being a “young Latino gay man and to have access to education and contribute to my community by engaging in public health training, practice, and research” (Puro, 2021).

Dr. Rodriguez-Diaz talks about how he ended up at GW, what lessons scientists can learn from the spread of misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine, and how to make research more transparent and accessible. Included in his answer, he explains that “we should facilitate those scientists from minority 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” (Puro, 2021). Read the full article to learn more about Dr. Rodriguez-Diaz.

In June of 2021, our post titled PRIDE: Dr. Rachel Levine: Physician and LGBTQ+ Health Advocate profiled Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender woman to be confirmed for federal office by the United States Senate in 2021. Dr. Levine is still serving as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) at the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Levine served as the Pennslyvania Physician General from 2015 to 2018, during which time she was responsible for an initiative that allowed law enforcement agents to carry Naloxone, an anti-overdose drug, and also allowed Pennsylvanians to purchase Naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription. Levine has used her platform to highlight health inequality issues impacting marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community. In a 2020 interview with Philadelphia magazine, Dr. Levine said “One of my goals, being a state health official…is that people will see me. … it’s about letting people put a face to something they might not understand, so they aren’t fearful, so that they don’t get angry, so that it doesn’t lead to hate.” 

Picture of Dr. Rachel Levine standing in front of a podium and US flag.

Resources

We’ve also posted about LGBTQ+ resources and local organizations. A 2023 post titled Celebrate Pride: LGBTQ+ Healthcare Resources highlighted selected books, journals, and streaming videos that are part of Himmelfarb’s collection. A more recent post from earlier this month titled Pride in the Collection shared more books from our Diversity and Disparities in Health Care collection relevant to the LGBTQ+ community. 

References:

George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. (June, 12, 2017). Lawrence “Bopper” Deyton installed as Murdock Head Professor of Medicine and Health Policy. SMHS News. https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/lawrence-%E2%80%9Cbopper%E2%80%9D-deyton-installed-murdock-head-professor-medicine-and-health-policy

Puro, A. (2021, September 29). Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz: Aim for what you’re passionate about. Himmelfarb Library Blog. https://blogs.gwu.edu/himmelfarb/2021/09/29/dr-carlos-rodriguez-diaz-aim-for-what-youre-passionate-about/

Sullivan, P. (2011, September 7). Lawrence Deyton, award nominee, heads FDA campaign against smoking. The Washington Post, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/gwu.edu?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Flocal%2Flawrence-deyton-award-nominee-heads-fda-campaign-against-smoking%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2FgIQABsMYAK_story.html

Published on
Promotional image of a female doctor using a tablet. Text: DynaMed Tutorial: Claiming CME Credits and Hours.

Did you know that earning and claiming CME credits in DynaMed is fast and easy?

Watch this video tutorial or follow these steps to earn credit for using our content in practice:

Step 1: Sign In to your personal user account:

  • Visit DynaMed.com
  • Click on 'Sign In'
  • Enter your email and password

Step 2: Click on the CME link at the top of our web pages (or the CME link on our mobile app’s home screen)

Step 3:  Select one or more items from any available activities to claim credit for and click on the Prepare button that will appear. (Note that if you are a first-time user of CME you will then be asked to provide some information so we can issue your CME) 

Step 4: Answer the two required Application in Practice questions for each activity you selected. (Note that the evaluation questions that follow may be answered but are optional)

PDF certificates for any CME credits you claim are available in the CLAIMED tab in CME. 

You may have two DynaMed accounts: an old DynaMed account, and a new one created via Single Sign-On (SSO). You can merge your personal user accounts to claim your CE credits in a single account. 

We're dedicated to providing you with the resources necessary for your success. If you ever encounter any issues or have questions please do not hesitate to reach out (himmelfarb@gwu.edu). 

Published on
Background with a red, black, and green stripe. The word "Juneteenth" in the center.
Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay

June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as “Black Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, enslaved people living in Confederate states, specifically Texas, would not learn of their freedom until two months after the Civil War ended in April of 1965. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and his soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the state’s residents that slavery had been abolished and that enslaved people were now free. Mary Elliot, Curator of American Slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture stated that “although there were enslavers who were aware of the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation, it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that it was enforced with the Union Army” (Smithsonian Institution, n.d.).

While Juneteenth has long been a celebration of hope and freedom within the African American community, Juneteenth did not become a federally recognized holiday until 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Juneteenth, read our Understanding and Honoring Juneteenth post from last year.

Juneteenth and the Health Sciences

So how is Juneteenth related to medicine, the health sciences, and public health? In many ways, Juneteenth is more relevant than ever considering the focus in recent years on confronting health inequities and the structural racism that is at the root of those health inequities. In 2020, The American Medical Association (AMA) declared that racism threatens public health and created a strategic plan to advance health equity. The 2020 statement recognizes that “when race is described as a risk factor, it is more likely to be a proxy for influences including structural racism than a proxy for genetics” (O’Reilly, 2020). Race has long been considered a risk factor for many conditions and “is present in numerous clinical guidelines and algorithms” and “can impact medical decision-making that potentially worsens health disparities” (The Oregon Clinic, 2021). 

Juneteenth has many lessons that medical, nursing, and public health professionals and students can apply to further the cause of health equity and provide high-quality care to patients. Practicing critical reflection, “the process of identifying, questioning, and assessing deep-seated assumptions upon which our beliefs are built”  can help us “better recognize and arrest our biases that can manifest in our interpersonal encounters with patients, colleagues, and trainees” (Opara, et al., 2021). Participating in “transformational conversations” can help “raise the consciousness within the spaces we occupy” and bring important issues to light so they can be addressed (Opara, et al., 2021). 

Further Reading

Educating yourself on racial health disparities is always a great first step. Here are titles from our Diversity and Disparities in Health Care Collection that may be of interest:

References: 

Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). What is Juneteenth? National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/what-juneteenth

Opara, I.N., Lewis, C., Kasozi, R.N., Givens, R. (2021). Lessons from 1865: What clinicians can learn from Juneteenth. Passion in the Medical Profession. https://closler.org/passion-in-the-medical-profession/lessons-from-1865-what-clinicians-can-learn-from-juneteenth

O’Reilly, K.B. (November 16, 2020). AMA: Racism is a threat to public health. American Medical Association website. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/ama-racism-threat-public-health

The Oregon Clinic. (June 18, 2021). Juneteenth and healthcare. The Oregon Clinic Newsroom. https://www.oregonclinic.com/newsroom/juneteenth-and-healthcare/

Published on

From all of us at Himmelfarb Library, we’d like to welcome all of the new residents, fellows, students, faculty, and staff who joined the GW SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing community this month! We are thrilled that you’re here and we look forward to serving you during your time at GW! We know that the start of any new endeavor can be daunting, so we’d like to make it easier for you to get to know Himmelfarb Library.

To help you get the lay of the land, watch this short, video tour of the library with Himmelfarb’s Library Director, Laura Abate:

Himmelfarb Hours 

Our physical space, accessible through Ross Hall, is open the following hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - Midnight

Friday: 7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Saturday: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 am - Midnight

Our current hours of operation are available on our website and include exceptions to normal hours (i.e. holiday closures). If you can’t make it to the library in person, you can get help from our librarians and staff via chat or phone (202-994-2850), or email himmelfarb@gwu.edu. Our databases, journals, and e-books are available 24/7, so even when our building is closed, you can access our electronic resources from anywhere.

Himmelfarb Resources and Collections

Himmelfarb’s collection is much larger than just the books in our stacks. We have 125 databases to search, including PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. The search bar towards the top of our library homepage, known as Health Information @ Himmelfarb, can be used to search for physical and electronic books, journals, articles, dissertations, and more all in just a single search box! 

You can also browse and access our collection of journals from our e-journals page, or by using BrowZine. You can use BrowZine directly from your internet browser, or download the app to your IOS or Android device. BrowZine allows you to create a personalized bookshelf of journal titles, follow your favorite journals, and create alerts for new issues and tables of contents.

Here’s another pro tip: installing the LibKey Nomad browser extension on your favorite browser will provide easy access to full text when searching PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, Amazon, publisher sites, and more. With LibKey Nomad, you’ll be alerted when the full-text articles and e-books are available from Himmelfarb, and be able to get the PDF with a single click in most cases.

We also provide a wide range of e-books from AccessMedicine, ClinicalKey, EBSCOhost, and R2 Digital Library. You can browse our e-book collections, view our special collections in Health Information @ Himmelfarb, or search for any book via the Health Information @ Himmelfarb search tool on our homepage. We also have print books on the basement level of Himmelfarb. Most print books can be borrowed for three weeks with an additional two renewals. If we don’t have a book or article that you need, we can get it for you through our Consortium Loan Service or Documents2Go services. 

Clinical Resources

Himmelfarb provides specialized apps and information services to support those of you who provide patient care. DynaMed and Lexidrug are our go-to resources for easy access to clinical care resources. If you want resources available on your smartphone or other mobile device, check out our App Shelf to download apps to selected resources. Learn more about resources available to residents on our Residents and Fellows Guide!

Research Support

Himmelfarb is more than just a physical space with lots of study space and great databases, journals, books, and e-books! Our librarians and staff can support you in your research by helping with literature searches, conducting systematic reviews, and organizing sources with RefWorks or Covidence. We can also help guide you through the constantly evolving scholarly publishing landscape through our author services. 

Get help with your research from our knowledgeable reference librarians and staff. Stop by our circulation desk to get your questions answered in person, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat with a reference librarian virtually. Our Ask a Librarian service is staffed by real Himmelfarb librarians and staff so you can be sure you’re getting the help you need! We also have a wealth of research guides that can connect you with resources on a variety of topics. 

Connect with Us!

Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest Himmelfarb news and updates! Subscribe to our blog to make sure you never miss a post!

We look forward to serving you! Welcome to the GW community!

Published on
Picture of a medical student of Asian decent taking a history from a patient with long, curly red hair.
Photo by EdTech Stanford University (CC BY-NC-ND-2.0 DEED license)

It’s officially clerkship season! Third-year medical students started clerkships during the past few weeks, so this is a great time to remind you that Himmelfarb Library has some great sources to help you get through clerkships!

A great place to start is our MS3 Clerkship Guide! This guide is packed with resources to help you during each of the six 3rd-year clerkships: medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, primary care, psychiatry, and surgery. Each clerkship tab includes:

  • Best Bets: The top 2-3 full-text resources for your searches
  • Key Textbooks: The best textbooks for education and study
  • Mobile/Handheld: Apps for your phone or tablet so you can access information 24/7
  • Recommended Resources: Additional sites and tools recommended by clerkship directors
  • Research Articles: Links to PubMed and MEDLINE
  • Shelf Prep Materials: Books and question banks to help you prepare for the shelf exam
  • Clerkship Contacts: Names and contact information for clerkship directors and clerkship coordinators.

You’ll also find information about the Electronic Health Record systems used at your clerkship sites.

Are you looking to find specific types of resources that you can count on during each clerkship? Check out the following list of resources!

Drug Information - Choosing the right medication, dosage, drug interactions, contraindications, and drug coverage:

  • LexiDrug (aka LexiComp): Clinical drug information with integrated access to multiple drug databases plus access to Trissel's IV Compatibility, drug interaction checker, drug I.D., patient education, calculators, and additional clinical tools. Includes access to adult, pediatric, and neonatal drug information, pharmacogenomics, lab tests and diagnostic procedures, toxicology, and drug allergy and idiosyncratic reactions.
  • NatMed Pro (aka Natural Medicines): Supports evidence-based alternative therapy decision-making including 1,400+ natural ingredient and alternative therapy monographs, and 185,000+ commercial products. Searchable by scientific, common, or brand name; includes interactive tools for safety, effectiveness, and interactions. 
  • ClinicalKey: Search the Drug Monographs section for drug and dosing information to guide treatment.
  • DynaMed Drugs A-Z: Click on Drugs A-Z or the Drug Interactions in the top menu. 
  • Epocrates+: Click on the Briefcase + Icon on the left side of the screen to find tools including Drugs, Interaction Check, Pill ID, etc.

Differential Diagnosis - Creating your Ddx using reputable sources:

  • DynaMed: When looking at a condition in DynaMed, there is a Differential Diagnosis area in the Diagnosis area (on the left side menu).
  • Epocrates+: Like DynaMed, there's a Differential Diagnosis area in the Diagnosis area on the left side menu.

Evidence-Based Guidelines - Finding current practice guidelines to drive your assessment and plan:

  • DynaMed: Check out the Guidelines & Resources area towards the bottom of the left-side menu.
  • Epocrates+: Check out the Guidelines area (under References) towards the bottom of the left-side menu.
  • PubMed: If you use Himmelfarb's link to PubMed, you can use our filters on the left side of the search results page to limit your results by Practice Guidelines.
  • ClinicalKey: Click on the "Guidelines" area to search for clinical guidelines from leading organizations.

As you move into your fourth-year clerkships, remember our MS4 Clerkship Guide! This guide has the same great information as the MS3 Clerkship Guide but is specific to anesthesiology, neuroscience, emergency medicine, and pediatric emergency medicine clerkships.

Access Note:

On Monday, May 20, 2024, Himmelfarb Library, in partnership with GW Libraries and Academic Innovation, changed the underlying system that provides access to our online collections (including ebooks, databases, and journals). We’ve worked hard to make this transition seamless with only minor changes. However, if you experience issues accessing any of the resources mentioned above, please let us know so we can fix the issue. To let us know about a problem with a resource, or if you have questions about access, reach out to himmelfarb@gwu.edu or Ask A Librarian. If you’d like to learn more about this change, read our recent blog post.

Published on
GW graduates throwing graduation caps in the air with the Washington Monument in the background.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! This weekend, GW Commencement will celebrate the Class of 2024 in ceremonies and celebrations spanning the entire weekend! The staff of Himmelfarb Library would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to GW Nursing, GWSPH, and SMHS graduates! It has been an absolute joy to work with you and watch you learn, grow, and navigate your academic and research interests during your time at GW! We wish you the best as you transition into the next phase of your careers or future educational pursuits.

Even if this is the end of your GW journey, don’t forget that we’re still here for you! Be sure to check out GW’s E-Resources for Alumni! 

We hope that as you look back at your time at GW and Himmelfarb you’ll remember us fondly, take pride in all that you learned, and cherish the bonds of friendships you made here. We are proud of all you’ve accomplished! We wish each of you the best in your future endeavors! 

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

Published on
Image of a peach background with white scrabble tiles spelling out the word "Login" in the center of the image.
Photo from Pexels by Miguel Á. Padriñán 

On Monday, May 20, 2024, Himmelfarb Library, in partnership with GW Libraries and Academic Innovation (GW LAI), will change the underlying system that provides access to our online collections including our ebooks, databases, and journals. This change will be seamless for most users as the new system (OpenAthens) uses the same GW Single Sign-On login method used by our current system (EZproxy).

Changes you can expect to see when accessing Himmelfarb’s e-resources include:

  • When accessing a subscription resource through the library, you may be prompted to log in with your GW UserID and password, even if you are on campus or connected to the VPN.
  • If you’ve recently logged in to another resource via GW’s Single Sign On, you may be able to access resources without logging in again.
  • Many publishers offer direct OpenAthens login from their resources by providing an interface that allows users to choose their institution and select a Single Sign On option for access (for example: JAMA’s OpenAthens access)

For GW faculty, instructional designers, and staff who maintain links to course materials in Blackboard and other course management systems, links that use the older EZproxy system will need to be updated. However, additional time is available to make this transition. 

Here are some key points to know:

  • EZproxy links continue to work and users will be forwarded directly to the linked resource.
  • Link forwarding will remain in place for one year to allow for time to update links to OpenAthens. 
  • Most Blackboard links will be updated automatically via a GW LAI project.
  • Links embedded in PDF documents will need to be updated manually.
  • Linking to Electronic Resources provides support for creating durable links:
    • A QuickTool that allows you to generate and test OpenAthens links.
    • Other methods for creating durable links to journal articles, books, streaming videos, etc.

For additional support related to access and durable linking, see the following resources:

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