Skip to content

Author: Ruth Bueter

Published on
Picture of a hand holding the globe with a starry background.
Image by Artapixel from Pixabay

Today is Earth Day, a day that serves as “a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future” (Earthday.org, 2024). Earth Day is about protecting the environment and improving global environmental health. Environmental health has direct and dramatic impacts on our physical and mental health. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 24% of all estimated global deaths are linked to environmental factors, and the cost of environmental direct damage to health by 2030 is estimated to be between $2 to $4 billion yearly (WHO, 2024). Climate change directly impacts clean air, safe drinking water, a nutritious food supply, safe shelter (WHO, 2024), and environmental emergencies that lead to humanitarian crises such as heatwaves, wildfires, floods, drought, tropical storms, and hurricanes (WHO, 2023). 

The links between environmental health and public health are strong. “Environmental quality has a profound effect on health and the burden of disease” (Koehler, et al., 2018). The United States has the highest environmental burden of disease, “an estimate of the proportion of the global burden of disease that could be prevented by changes to the environment,” among high-income countries (Koehler, et al., 2018). Risk factors for many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in the US, are directly impacted by environmental factors. For example, exposure to air pollution and “built environmental factors” such as car-centered development that discourages physical activity like walking and biking are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 

Koehler et al. propose a public health approach to addressing environmental health problems, including incorporating health into the built environment. Urban planning development “ranging from increasing opportunities for walking and cycling, to provide access to healthy food, to building recreational facilities”, is one way of incorporating health into the built environment (Koehler et al., 2018). Other methods include providing access to green and blue spaces such as parks and waterfront areas, reducing air pollution emissions by promoting public transportation, walking, and bicycling by making these options safe and convenient, promoting renewable energy, and improving housing options and conditions (Koehler et al., 2018). 

While these are great ways to improve environmental health, and thus improve public health as a result, these are also issues that must be dealt with on a societal and large-scale level. But there are things you can do as an individual that positively impact the environment. Here are some practical things you can do that can make a difference:

Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle

Following the “Four R’s” can have a big impact. A recent Standford Report article explains that “people should try to focus more on reducing and reusing, rather than recycling” (Kubota, 2024). While many people tend to focus on recycling, reducing the amount of products you buy that will eventually end up in the recycling bin will have a larger impact. A practical way to do this is by being mindful of the amount of packaging included in the things that you buy. If there is an option that comes with less packaging, buy that product instead if you can. 

For some things, you can’t avoid buying the packaging. Take jelly for example. You can’t buy jelly without a jar. But you can choose to reuse the jar when you are finished with the jelly. Not only will reusing the jar keep the jar out of the recycle bin, or even worse, out of the landfill, but reusing it will help you save money on storage containers. 

In today’s society, it’s easy and convenient to replace items when they get worn out or break. But these items end up in the recycle bin, or the landfill when we replace them with a new version. Rather than just replacing items, try to repair or repurpose them! Not only will this help the environment, but it will also save you some money.

And of course, recycle the things you can! 

Eat More Plants

Meat production has a much higher carbon footprint than plant food production. Simple things like replacing one red meat-based meal per week with a plant-based protein option, eating smaller portions of meat, and eating more beans and nuts can reduce your diet’s carbon footprint all while improving your cardiovascular health (Kubota, 2024). 

Reduce Food Waste

While we’re on the subject of food, reducing the amount of food that ends up in the trash is another way to make a big difference. Roughly 40% of edible food in the US is wasted, accounting for 37% of US greenhouse emissions (Kubota, 2024). When you eat out at restaurants, try bringing your own reusable containers for your leftovers - and don’t forget to eat those leftovers once you have them in your fridge (Kubota, 2024)! Do you get tired of eating leftovers? Try finding recipes to turn leftovers into something completely different for a future meal. 

Composting your food scraps is also a great option! But what if you don’t have the space to compost? Apartment living can make it difficult to compost. GW Compost makes it easy to compost! Just drop off your compost at Kogan Plaza during designated drop-off hours. 

Interested in learning more about how you can help diminish your environmental impact? Check out Sustainable GW to learn more about campus initiatives and how you can participate!

References:

Earthday.org. (2024). Earth Day 2024. https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/

Koehler, K., Latshaw, M., Matte, T., Kass, D., Frumkin, H., Fox, M., Hobbs, B. F., Wills-Karp, M., & Burke, T. A. (2018). Building healthy community environments: A public health approach. Public health reports, 133(1_suppl), 35S–43S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354918798809

Kubota, T. (January 22, 2024). Eight simple but meaningful things you can do for the environment. Stanford Report. https://news.stanford.edu/report/2024/01/22/eight-simple-meaningful-eco-friendly-actions-can-incorporate-life/

World Health Organization (WHO). (October 12, 2023). Climate Change. WHO Fact Sheets, Climate Change. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

World Health Organization (WHO). (2024). Public health and environment. The Global Health Observatory. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/public-health-and-environment

Published on
Picture of a sign that says "You Matter. Text. Call. Chat. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline."

Mental health is a vital contributor to our overall physical health and well-being. However, the stigma surrounding mental health can prevent us from seeking out resources and reaching out for help during times of mental health struggles. If you or someone you know needs support, help and resources are available. Please know that you matter. You are not alone.

Suicide Prevention Resources:

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: The Lifeline provides 24/7 access to free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, and best practices information for health and mental health professionals.
  • Student Health Center (SHC): If you are thinking about suicide, call 202-994-5300 (option 2). Counselors are available 24 hours a day. If you believe someone you know is in danger of suicide, call GW Emergency Services at 202-994-6111, 911, or seek help at the nearest Emergency Room.
  • National Suicide Prevention Resources:
  • District of Columbia Suicide Helpline:

Resources for Students: 

  • GW Listens: This student-run anonymous hotline (202-902-8255) is a place where students can talk to peers about struggles. Hotline hours are from Sunday through Thursday, from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am.
  • Student Health Center (SHC): If you are thinking about suicide, call 202-994-5300 (option 2). Counselors are available 24 hours a day. If you believe someone you know is in danger of suicide, call GW Emergency Services at 202-994-6111, 911, or seek help at the nearest Emergency Room.
  • TimelyCare: All GW students have free, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being platform designed for college students.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Part of the Colonial Health Center, CAPS is GW’s center for mental health treatment. Telehealth and in-person counseling appointments are available.

Resources for Medical Residents and Fellows:

Resources for GW Employees:

Himmelfarb Library Mental Health Resources:

Himmelfarb’s Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Collection includes several mental health-focused titles including:

Take Care of Yourself and Those Around You

While it’s vital to take care of your mental health, it’s equally important to look out for one another. Check in with your friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Listen without judgment and offer support as you are able. Mental health involves taking care of yourself and those around you.

If someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, reach out for help. Take advantage of the resources listed in this post. Don’t forget that the GW Resilience and Well-Being Center and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 for help) are always available.

Published on
Picture of a student standing in front a research poster talking to another student.
Image from https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/celebrating-generation-knowledge-research-days

The GW Research Showcase is just around the corner! The School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Research Showcase is at the University Student Center on April 25, 2024. This year’s Keynote Speaker, Omaida C. Velazquez, MD. will present “Gene-Modified MSCs and Direct Gene Therapy as Novel Strategies for Vascular Regeneration and Wound Healing.” The medical student poster session will be held from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

While the deadline for submitting abstracts has passed, you may still be working on putting your poster together. Himmelfarb Library can help! Our GW Research Day Resources Guide has helpful resources and tips that can help make your poster stand out. The Creating Effective Posters page has poster templates, official GW logos, and the official GW Color palette to help you stay consistent with GW’s brand. If you are creating your poster using PowerPoint, the video below on Designing an Effective Poster Using PowerPoint has useful tips on size, color selection, font choices, and including graphs, charts, and photographs in your poster.

The Poster Design and Layout page also has great tips on selecting the right font, resizing images, and getting posters printed. When choosing fonts, it’s best to keep things simple and use familiar fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. Images should be 300 dpi JPEG files or full-size PDF files. If you need to resize an image, make sure that you keep the proper proportions so the image doesn’t appear distorted and “squishy” looking on your poster. 

Once your poster is ready, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll impress the judges. Here are some great videos that can help you prepare for giving your poster presentation:

The GW School of Public Health (GWSPH) Research Day was yesterday, April 9, 2024. If you participated in the GWSPH Research Day, don’t forget to submit your poster to Himmelfarb’s institutional repository, the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC). Archiving your poster in the HSRC is a great way to ensure that your poster is available to the global community of scholars! Archiving your work in the HSRC has several advantages:

  • Your poster will have a unique URL that you can include in your CV and use to promote your research. This unique URL will remain active even after you graduate from GW.
  • The HSRC is indexed in Google Scholar, which allows other researchers to find your work through Google Scholar searches. 

Submitting your poster to the Health Sciences Research Commons is easy! Simply email hsrc@gwu.edu to submit your poster directly or to ask for more information.

Published on
Picture of a person meditating in lotus pose on a yoga mat with a Virtual Reality headset nearby.
Photo by Eren Li

April is Stress Awareness Month. Himmelfarb Library’s Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) headsets now include healthy living apps that can help you manage your stress! These new apps help users meditate, alleviate anxiety, and generally relax. Take a few minutes to unwind and get recentered in virtual reality so you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated in actual reality!

Our Oculus headsets can be checked out from the circulation desk on Himmelfarb’s first floor for four hours at a time. You’ll need some unobstructed space to use the headset since the apps allow you to move around within a virtual space. Our VR Headset Overview page includes recommended spaces within Himmelfarb to use the headsets that can accommodate the space needed to use these apps comfortably. 

Guided Meditation VR

The Guided Meditation VR app helps users detach and relax with guided or unguided meditation sessions with calming music and ambient noises from more than 40 digitally-generated environments. This app has over 30 hours of meditations geared toward alleviating anxiety, finding resilience, improving sleep, and even maternity meditations. If you’re unsure about VR but want to experience some of the sessions, you can try them out for free online! This app is available on both of Himmelfarb’s Oculus headsets. 

Nature Treks VR

The Nature Treks VR app lets users choose between nine different natural environments and lets them explore and play. You can choose to explore forests, beaches, or even outer space! You even get to choose your preferred weather and time of day and can summon animals. These individually designed spaces can be used as places to meditate or perform breathing exercises. This app is available on Himmelfarb’s “Walter” headset so that you can ask for it by name at the Circulation Desk. 

National Geographic Explore VR

The National Geographic Explore VR app lets users choose between two different ecosystems to explore: Machu Picchu and Antarctica! In Antarctica, you’ll get to navigate around icebergs in a kayak, climb a massive ice shelf, and survive a raging snowstorm while searching for a lost emperor penguin colony. Or you can visit Machu Picchu, Peru, and explore digital reconstructions of the ancient Inca citadel, raise a cup of sacred chicha, and encounter alpacas while you match Hiram Bingham’s photographs from when he rediscovered the Inca citadel. Not only can you experience the landscape, but you’ll get to take photographs as well. This app is a bit more physically strenuous and can need some additional room to navigate. This app is available on Himmelfarb’s “Paul” headset.

While the noises generated by all three of these apps are gentle and soothing, they are audible outside of the Oculus headset, so it’s best to use these apps in a quiet space away from others who may be studying or trying to concentrate. Himmelfarb study rooms are a great option for using this app and can be reserved in advance!

Other Stress Relief Resources at Himmelfarb

If Virtual Reality isn’t of interest to you, Himmelfarb’s healthy living collection has other stress relief resources that may suit your style. Take a look at our Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Guide for a full list of resources. Check out the Wellness Apps page of this guide to find useful meditation and stress relief apps. Our healthy living collection also includes books on stress reduction including Stress, Cognition, and Health by Tony Cassidy, The Psychology of Meditation by Peter Sedlmeier, and Managing Stress by Brian Luke Seaward. As always, feel free to stop by the healthy living collection on Himmelfarb’s first floor to make use of our exercise equipment if you’d prefer to manage your stress with some physical activity and use our exercise balls, hand weights, hula hoops, or yoga mats. We also have plenty of games including chess, Sorry, Scrabble, Blokus, and Pandemic. As always, a jigsaw puzzle is in progress on our puzzle table, and we are waiting for your contributions! 

Picture of a jigsaw puzzle on a wooden table.

Want more resources to help you manage your stress? Check out the GW Resiliency and Well-Being Center’s Stress Management page for resources related to mindfulness practice, well-being, physical activity, healthy lifestyle tips, and student resources related to stress management. 

Published on
Close of picture of a purple flower.
“Summer Beauty” by Dana Bolsteins (2022 Art Show submission, photography)

Calling all artists! Do you have a painting, print, or photograph that you'd like to share? How about some needlework, pottery, or hand-made jewelry?  

Himmelfarb Library is excited to announce its 2024 Annual Art Show, which will run from  Monday, April 15th through Friday, May 10th. This event, now in its 36th year, is open to all students, faculty, and staff of the SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing. Join us for an opening reception in the library on Monday, April 15th, from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm.

Key Dates:

  • Submission Deadline: April 11, 2024 (Thursday)
  • Opening Reception: April 15, 2024 (Monday), 4:00pm - 5:30pm
  • Art Show Dates: April 15, 2024 (Monday) - May 10, 2024 (Friday)

We are accepting submissions through Thursday, April 11th. Please drop off your artwork at the first floor Circulation Desk. Digital copies of your work can be included in our Virtual Art Show, by sending the file(s) to himmelfarb@gwu.edu. You can submit exclusively to the Virtual Art Show if you prefer.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact us by email at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or by phone at (202) 994-2850.

If you need some inspiration, enjoy these submissions from previous years. Check out more prior submissions in the Himmelfarb Library Annual Art Show collections in the Health Sciences Research Commons! 

Painting of a Faerie Queen with two women playing woodwind instruments looking at her.
“The Faerie Queen of New Prague” by Basil Considine (2023 submission)
Picture of a 3D printed knee joint with red wax resembling blood dripping from the joint.
Picture of multiple submissions.
Picture of multiple fabric art submissions.
Picture of multiple submissions.
Photographs by Frederick Jacobsen, MD, MPH (2023 submissions)
Picture of a crochet submission of staph infection with smiley faces.

Published on
Image of a I Matched card. Text: "I MATCHED! In __________ At ___________ #matchday2024"

After four years of medical school, the MD Class of 2024 has made it - it’s finally Match Day! Congratulations from all of us at Himmelfarb Library! We couldn’t be more proud of what you’ve accomplished during your time at GW. You faced some big challenges to make it here - you started medical school in the early days of a global pandemic! But you’ve adapted to the extra challenges and made it through!

Himmelfarb librarians and staff are proud to have played a role in your medical education by providing the textbooks, databases, journal articles, resources, and study space that helped you gain the knowledge that brought you to this day. Your Library Instructors watched you learn, grow, and gain confidence in your knowledge and abilities during the Clinical Integration Sessions of your first two years of medical school. We saw the pre- and post-exam highs and lows, and late nights and early mornings - and know you’ve worked hard to get to today. We are thrilled to have been part of your journey to becoming extraordinary physicians! 

We encourage the GW community to tune in to watch Match Day festivities live! Even if you can’t join the celebration in person, you can watch from anywhere as students receive and open their letters to find out where they spend the next three to seven years of their residency training. 

Here’s a flashback to Match Day 2018 at SMHS:

Congratulations MD Class of 2024! All of us at Himmelfarb Library wish you the best of luck in residency! 

Published on
A pink background with two empty white chat bubbles.
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán

If you’ve spent any time using Himmelfarb Library’s website, you’ve probably seen our Ask Us Chat. This chat reference service is one of the more popular ways Himmelfarb users get answers to their questions. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it’s natural to wonder if you’re actually speaking to a real person or just a chatbot when you interact with chat services online. 

Screenshot of Himmelfarb Library's website with arrows pointing to the "Ask Us" chat feature on the right side of the page.

Himmelfarb’s Ask Us Chat service is staffed by real people Monday through Thursday from 8am to 8pm, and on Friday from 8am to 5pm. You’re not only chatting with a real person, but you’re chatting with a member of Himmelfarb’s dedicated reference department who are trained and skilled at finding answers to your toughest reference questions! You’ve probably even seen the person you’re chatting with around the library, or leading a webinar or tutorial you’ve watched. They might even be embedded in one of your classes! 

We thought it was time that we introduce ourselves, so you can get to know some of the folks on the other side of the chat who are answering your questions. Without further ado, we’d like you to meet three of our amazing Reference Librarians: Rachel, Tom, and Deborah!

Rachel Brill

Headshot of Rachel Brill

Rachel joined Himmelfarb’s reference and instruction department about two years ago, and has been a vital part of the Himmelfarb team ever since! When asked what her favorite part of working reference at Himmelfarb was, she said “It’s a really special feeling when someone’s been struggling to find that piece of information they need, and I’m able to locate it for them.” When Rachel isn’t at work, she likes to play with her cat and listen to show tunes. 

Rachel wants our library users to know that “there are no ‘stupid’ questions that you can ask us - the Himmelfarb librarians are passionate about helping you learn, so ask away!”

Tom Harrod

Headshot of Tom Harrod

Tom has been with Himmelfarb for about 13 and a half years and is one of the longest-serving reference librarians on staff. He now oversees the Reference and Instruction and Circulation departments at Himmelfarb as Associate Director of Reference, Instruction, and Access. 

Tom’s favorite part of working reference is: “the feeling of knowing you’ve helped someone do something that had previously been a source of anxiety or uncertainty for them.” Tom gave the example of being able to help a student who wants to do a systematic review but doesn’t know what that entails. He enjoys “being able to talk them through the process, breaking it down into discrete steps they can take, and eventually, they have a growing feeling of comfort with the project because they now have a direction to go.”

Tom explained that there’s such a variety of chat questions - some quick questions that can be answered in 30 seconds or less, and other, more complex questions that can go on for multiple hours! Tom shared that “after having answered many chat questions over the years, there’s always something new you’ve never heard before that presents a challenge.”

When asked about his hobbies outside of work, Tom said “I used to have hobbies but instead, I now have a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old child. I am currently able to make some time for reading and last summer I embraced the typical ‘dad’ activity of becoming enthusiastic about BBQing/smoking food on the grill.” 

Tom wants our users to know that “though we do our best to answer every question that comes in via chat, we’re also happy to set up a phone, in-person, or virtual meeting to handle more complicated, in-depth consultations.” Reach out to us via email (himmelfarb@gwu.edu) to schedule a meeting!

Deborah Wassertzug

Headshot of Deborah Wassertzug

Deborah has been a valued member of our reference team since December 2022. Her favorite part of working reference at Himmelfarb is all of the people she comes into contact with, whether online or in person. 

When asked about a memorable chat interaction, she had two to share:

“When I worked at another university, someone signed onto library chat and demanded to know whether I was a human being or a bot. I assured them I was human."

“At GW, my favorite chat interactions turn into consultations! Sometimes there is a quick answer, but other times it is the tip of an iceberg -- it is always fun to get to delve more in-depth with a research project someone is just starting on.”

Outside of work, Deborah enjoys going to a lot of concerts, mostly classical and indie rock. She also writes poetry. Deborah wants our users to know that “Everyone who works at Himmelfarb is truly dedicated to providing the best possible library service and the strongest support for researchers.”

Ask Us! Real People are Waiting to Answer Your Questions!

So now you’ve met some of the real people who answer your Ask Us chat questions every day! Please reach out via chat, email (himmelfarb@gwu.edu), or call us at 202-994-2850 with your questions. Regardless of your preferred method of communication, you’ll be connected to a real person who can answer your questions. And rest assured, we’ll always work to find answers to your toughest questions.

"I do not know that answer right now - but I will do everything in my power to get that information for you. Please hold..."

Published on
Black History Month. Image of Dr. Numa P.G. Adams with his name beneath.
Image from Wikipedia.

In honor of Black History Month, Himmelfarb Library celebrates the life of Dr. Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams, the first Black Dean of Howard University’s College of Medicine. Numa P.G. Adams was born in 1885 in Delaplane, Virginia, about 55 miles west of Washington, D.C. His grandmother, Mrs. Amanda Adams, an important figure in Adams’ life, was a respected midwife who assisted in delivering hundreds of babies (Cobb, 1951). According to a 1951 article in the Journal of the National Medical Association, Adams’ grandmother “inspired the beginning of his scientific curiosity” through her “vast knowledge of medicinal herbs” (Cobb, 1951). 

At age 13, Adams’ family moved to Steelton, Pennsylvania. Adams bought a second-hand cornet in Pennsylvania and learned to play (AAREG, n.d.). This musical ability would serve him well later in life when he played in bands to earn the money that would pay his way through college and medical school (Cobb, 1951). Adams attended public school in Pennsylvania and graduated high school with honors in 1905 (Cobb, 1951). After high school, he spent a year working as a substitute teacher in Steelton, followed by a year teaching seventh grade in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Cobb, 1951).

In 1911, Adams received a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University in 1912 (Cobb, 1951). Adams served as an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor of chemistry at Howard University from 1912-1919, and as the head of the Department of Chemistry from 1918 to 1919 (Cobb, 1951). Adams left Howard University to begin medical school at Rush Medical College in the Spring of 1920 and received an M.D. after completing an internship at St. Louis City Hospital No. 2 in 1924 (Cobb, 1951).

In 1929, Adams became the first Black dean of Howard University College of Medicine, a role he would have until he died in 1940 (Lloyd, 2006). He is largely remembered for his fervent recruitment of young faculty members, specifically young Black faculty. Through funding from the General Education Board, Adams was able to send these young Black faculty members for “two years of advanced training at prestigious universities and hospitals around the country” (Lloyd, 2006). Dr. Charles Drew was among the faculty members Adams recruited into this program. During his final years as Dean, Adams was instrumental in integrating Howard University and Freedman’s Hospital (AAREG, n.d). 

Adams also continued to work on projects outside of the medical school. Adams was active in numerous professional organizations. He served as Chairman of the Commission on Medical Education and was a member of the Advisory Committee on the Legislation of the National Medical Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Hygiene Society, and the National Tuberculosis Association just to name a few (Maloney, 1940). 

Adams was a staunch supporter of medical libraries, and when he was shown plans for the Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, “he quietly pointed out that he saw no provision for a library and a first-class hospital must have a good library” (Cobb, 1951). Adams even published a piece in the Journal of the National Medical Association titled “Medical Libraries in Approved Hospitals for Negroes” in 1938. In this article, he states: 

“No investment of hospital funds will produce bigger or better income than that made in the blossoming and maintenance of an adequate medical library. For an approved hospital the provision of such a library is an obligation.” (Adams, 1938)

Adams died on August 29, 1940, at Billings Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Maloney said of Adams in a published memorial that Adams was a “builder of brains” and the “builder and conservator of health” (Maloney, 1940). Adams was highly thought of by those who knew him, including Dr. Robert A. Lambert, former Associate Medical Director of The Rockefeller Foundation. Lambert stated that his “estimate of Dr. Adams may be summarily expressed in the designation man of wisdom, fine sensibility, clear judgment, patient determination, and courageous action” (Cobb, 1951). Dr. Joseph L. Johnson, former Dean of Howard University School of Medicine stated that “to know Numa Adams was to respect, to admire, and to love him. He was of a brilliant mind and was always the quiet, unassuming, soft-spoken gentleman. One could never know of his greatness from his lips” (Cobby, 1951).

References:

Adams N. P. (1938). Medical Libraries in Approved Hospitals for Negroes. Journal of the National Medical Association, 30(2), 49–53.

African American Registry (AAREG). (n.d.). Numa P.G. Adams, doctor, and educator born. AAREG Stories. https://aaregistry.org/story/numa-p-g-adams-born/

Cobb, W.M. (1951). Numa P. G. Adams, M.D., 1885-1940. Journal of the National Medical Association, 43(1), 42–54.

Lloyd, Jr., S.M. (Last updated May 2006). History. Howard University College of Medicine. https://medicine.howard.edu/about/history

Maloney A. H. (1940). In Memoriam: Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams. Journal of the National Medical Association, 32(6), 257–258.

Published on
Picture of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo by Mark Stebnicki

As we reflect on the life, work, and impact that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has had on our nation and the world, we are reminded that Dr. King was passionate about activism on racial discrimination, poverty, and health disparities. A great way to honor Dr. King’s legacy and continue his important work is to learn more about anti-racism, inequities, and disparities in healthcare and use this knowledge to help build a more inclusive healthcare system. Himmelfarb Library has some great resources that can help you learn more about these topics so you can put your knowledge into action!

Himmelfarb Resources: 

Himmelfarb’s Anriracism in Healthcare Guide provides information and resources related to antiracism in healthcare including links to professional healthcare organizations centered around diversity and health justice issues, training resources, and links to GW-specific organizations. Browse the Journal Special Collections tab to find journal issues and health news on antiracism-related issues. Antiracism books and ebooks available at Himmelfarb are also included in this guide including: 

The Antiracism in Healthcare Guide also has links to podcasts, tutorials, and videos including:

In addition to the Antiracism in Healthcare Guide, Himmelfarb has a Diversity and Disparities in Health Care collection of books and e-books with nearly 200 books addressing issues of disparity and representation of minority communities in healthcare. 

Advancing the Dream Event:

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Noon, SMHS and the Anti-Racism Coalition will hold the 8th Annual SMHS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series - Advancing the Dream: From Dream to Reality - The Journey Continues. This year’s speaker is Dr. Italo M. Brown, MD, MPH. Dr. Brown is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Equity and Social Justice Curriculum Thread Lead at Stanford University School of Medicine. Please join us in room 117 of Ross Hall (virtual attendance via Zoom is available) for this great event!

Flyer for the 8th Annual GW SMHS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series. Information in image is included in blog post.

Student and Professional Organizations:

If you are interested in becoming more involved, consider reaching out to local student or professional organizations such as White Coats for Black Lives or the Antiracism Nursing Student Alliance. Involvement with these and similar organizations can help you put your knowledge into action and offer opportunities for collaboration in furthering the cause of finding solutions to healthcare disparities and opportunities to educate others on issues of health injustices.

Published on
The image is a blue, buff, and white sign with the text "Have a safe WINTER BREAK!" There are snowflakes in the background.

Winter break is here! 

Himmelfarb Library’s building will be closed during Winter Break starting Saturday, December 23rd at 6:00 pm, but our online collections will remain open and accessible. The library building reopens on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 7:30 am and resumes 24-hour operations. To see our complete hours, take a look at our website.

Himmelfarb Winter Break Hours: Text in image is duplicated in post

Even though our building is closed, our electronic resources (databases, e-books, and e-journals) are always available from anywhere!

We’re taking a break from new blog posts during Winter Break. New blog posts will return on January 3, 2024.

If you’ll miss being in the library while we’re closed, here’s some library ambiance to tide you over:

Viewing Message: 1 of 1.
 Notice

This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Visit GW’s Website Privacy Notice to learn more about how GW uses cookies.