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Author: Ruth Bueter

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White background with pink scrabble tiles that spell cancer.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich

This is a reposting of an original blog post published in The Rotation Blog on September 27, 2024.

September is a big month for cancer awareness - it’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month! Rather than trying to highlight each of these different types of cancers, we’ll highlight some of Himmelfarb’s cancer resources in this post.

Himmelfarb Library provides clinical, evidence-based medicine resources, including DynaMed and epocrates+, which provide information to support cancer care. DynaMed is a point-of-care tool designed to facilitate efficient and evidence-based patient care information, including drug and disease information. DynaMed provides information including background, history and physical, diagnosis, disease management, prognosis, prevention, and screening information on medical conditions. DynaMed’s easy-to-read topic pages cover a wide range of conditions and diseases, including cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma in children, as seen in the screenshot below.  

Screenshot of DynaMed entry for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

epocrates+ is Himmelfarb’s other evidence-based point-of-care database that provides disease and drug information. epocrates+ provides a step-by-step approach, covering prevention, risk factors, history and exam, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Like DynaMed, epocrates+ covers a wide range of medical conditions, including cancers. epcorates+ also offers a quick reference area that covers the basics of a condition, as seen in the cervical cancer quick reference screenshot below.

Screenshot of epocrates+ Quick Reference entry for Cervical Cancer.

If you’re looking for the latest in cancer research, Himmelfarb provides access to many cancer journals! The following list is just a sample of the cancer-related titles you can access through Himmelfarb’s journal collection:

  • Cancer: An American Cancer Society journal that started publication in 1948, Cancer is one of the oldest peer-reviewed oncology journals. This journal focuses on highly relevant, timely information on the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer.
  • JAMA Oncology: This definitive oncology journal publishes important clinical research, major cancer breakthroughs, actionable discoveries, and innovative cancer treatments.
  • Nature Reviews: Clinical Oncology: This journal publishes in-depth reviews on the entire spectrum of clinical oncology.
  • Cancer Cell: This journal provides access to major advances in cancer research, including clinical investigations that establish new paradigms in treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of cancers.
  • Gynecologic Oncology: This journal publishes clinical and investigative articles about tumors of the female reproductive tract and the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of female cancers.
  • Journal of the National Cancer Institute: This journal publishes significant cancer research findings focused on clinical, epidemiologic, behavioral, and health outcomes studies.
  • Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: JNCCN publishes the latest information on clinical practices, oncology health services research, and translational medicine, as well as updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

The National Cancer Institute publishes information summaries on specific types of cancer and cancer topics. Summaries are available via a patient version, which provides straightforward information for consumers, as well as health professional versions with more detailed information and supporting citations. For example, the prostate cancer patient overview provides a brief overview, as well as information related to causes and prevention, screening, treatment, research, statistics, and resources for coping with cancer. The prostate cancer health professional version provides much of this same information, with more in-depth links for treatment, screening, genetics, and supportive and palliative care.

If you’re interested in finding health statistics about cancer, we have information on that, too! Check out our Health Statistics: Cancer Guide. This guide provides links to resources to find general cancer statistics, as well as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Resources to find cancer mortality maps and graphs are also included.

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Suicide Prevention Awareness Month logo.
Image from samhsa.gov

September is Suicide Prevention Month and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about suicide and suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide). If you, or someone you know, has thoughts of suicide, immediate help is available. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.

Like other mental health conditions, suicidal thoughts can impact anyone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), one in twenty adults (5%) has serious thoughts of suicide each year. In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people between 10 and 24 years old, and is the 11th leading cause of death overall (NAMI, 2025). Physicians have an increased risk of suicide and suicidal ideation compared to the general population because of “high workload volume and medical errors” (AMA, 2025). Physicians are also less likely to seek help when experiencing suicidal ideation (AMA, 2025). A recent study published in JAMA found that non-physician health care workers, including nurses, health technicians, and health care support workers, are also at increased risk of suicide compared to the general population (Olfson et al., 2023). 

The warning signs of suicide can include talking about wanting to die, feeling empty and hopeless, withdrawing from friends or loved ones, and/or taking dangerous risks. The infographic below from the NIH National Institute of Mental Health includes additional warning signs. If you or someone you know is experiencing these warning signs, get help by contacting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988!

warning-signs-of-suicide

If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention, Himmelfarb Library has a Suicide and Suicidology Collection that includes numerous books on this topic. Notable titles from this collection include:

References:

American Medical Association (AMA). (August 7, 2025). Preventing physician suicide. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/preventing-physician-suicide

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2025). Suicide Prevention Month. https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month/

Olfson, M., Cosgrove, C. M., Wall, M. M., & Blanco, C. (2023). Suicide risks of health care workers in the US. JAMA, 330(12), 1161–1166. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.15787

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Image of first-year medical student receiving a white coat from Dean Bass at a White Coat Ceremony.
Image of first-year medical student receiving a white coat from Dean Bass at a White Coat Ceremony displayed in the Ross Hall lobby.

At the beginning of each academic year, first-year medical students at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) join medical students from across the United States and 19 other countries by participating in a White Coat Ceremony. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage symbolizing the beginning of a career in medicine.

The White Coat Ceremony

The first White Coat Ceremony, created by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, took place in 1993 at Columbia University (AAMC, n.d.). Dr. Gold, a world-renowned pediatric neurologist, believed that waiting until medical school graduation to recite the Hippocratic Oath was too late (Gold Foundation, n.d.). Dr. Gold’s vision for the White Coat Ceremony was to “emphasize the importance of compassion in patient care at the start of medical training” (Gold Foundation, n.d.). Each medical school decides what its ceremony will look like; however, all ceremonies include an oath or pledge, speakers, and a commemoration of the occasion (Gold Foundation, n.d.). During GW’s SMHS White Coat Ceremony, first-year medical students “receive their white coats, sign the honor code, and pledge their commitment to medicine before family, friends, and future colleagues” (Kohout, 2023). 

Image of first-year medical students reciting an oath during a white coat ceremony displayed in the lobby of Ross Hall.
Image of first-year medical students reciting an oath during a white coat ceremony displayed in the lobby of Ross Hall.

During the 2022 SMHS White Coat Ceremony, SMHS Dean Barbara Bass told students, “This really is a public marking of your commitment as physicians. As you put on that white coat for the first time, that widely recognized uniform of a physician, and as you recite that honor code with your faculty, you are announcing that you are taking on that burden, that responsibility, and that enormous privilege of being a physician.” (Kohout, 2022)

History and Meaning of the White Coat

The white coat is an important symbol within the field of medicine. But what are the origins of the white coat? And what does the white coat represent? 

Before the late 19th century, doctors typically dressed in black because it was considered formal in the same way that a tuxedo is considered formal today (Hochberg, 2007). During this time, “medical encounters were thought of as serious and formal matters,” especially during a time when turning to a doctor for medical advice and help was “usually a last resort and frequently a precursor to death” (Hochberg, 2007). In the mid-19th century, medical cures were widely viewed as “worthless” (Blumhagen, 1979) and “quackery” (Hochberg, 2007). 

In his 1979 article titled “The doctor’s white coat: The image of the physician in modern America”, Dan W. Blumhagen, M.D., identified several possible origins for the white coat, including its symbolism and function within the operating room as well as the hospital at large. White coats in the operating room originated in 1889 with the concept of aseptic surgery, and served the purpose of protecting both the patient and the physician from contamination (Blumhagen, 1979). Following the 1910 Flexner Report, medical education saw a drastic transformation with a new focus on laboratory science (Blumhagen, 1979). In the wake of Cathell’s book The Physician Himself, which urged physicians to present a “fresh, neat, clean, and scientific” aesthetic, physicians wearing white coats were viewed as capable of safely handling “deadly scourges that plague mankind and … render them innocuous” (Blumhagen, 1979). As medical care advanced, the public began to view hospitals as “institutions of healing” (Jones, 1999), rather than “a place where social outcasts died” (Blumhagen, 1979). 

Today, doctors wearing white coats are so commonplace that many of us rarely give it a second thought. It’s easy to forget what a white coat symbolizes. During the 19th century, white coats symbolized cleanliness. But today, they have come to mean so much more. The white coat has become “a symbol of professionalism, empathy, and a doctor’s commitment to caring for their patient” (PCOM, 2024).

References:

AAMC. (n.d.) Medical student perspective: The white coat ceremony. https://students-residents.aamc.org/aspiring-docs-fact-sheets-what-medical-school/medical-student-perspective-white-coat-ceremony

Blumhagen D. W. (1979). The doctor's white coat. The image of the physician in modern America. Annals of internal medicine, 91(1), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-91-1-111

Gold Foundation (n.d.). White coat ceremony. White coat ceremony webpage. https://www.gold-foundation.org/programs/white-coat-ceremony/background-and-significance/

Hochberg M. S. (2007). The doctor's white coat: An historical perspective. The virtual mentor: VM, 9(4), 310–314. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2007.9.4.mhst1-0704

Jones V. A. (1999). The white coat: Why not follow suit?. JAMA, 281(5), 478. Doi https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.5.478-JMS0203-5-1

Kohout, T. (August 8, 2022). SMHS Class of 2026 takes the first step in health care jouney. GW SMHS News. https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/smhs-class-2026-takes-first-step-health-care-journey

Kohout, T. (August 17, 2023). Leaders offer perspective as preparation for the medical education journey to come. GW SMHS News. https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/leaders-offer-perspective-preparation-medical-education-journey-come

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). (October 11, 2024). The white coat: A symbol of responsibility and care. PCOM news and events website. https://www.pcom.edu/campuses/philadelphia-campus/news-and-events/pcom-news/the-white-coat-a-symbol-of-responsibility-and-care.html

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When most people think of a library, the first thing that comes to mind is books. But there’s more to Himmelfarb Library than just books, journals, databases, and research help. Himmelfarb has some exciting technology resources, including free 3D printing, Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, and a variety of anatomy resources like BodyViz, Primal Pictures Real Time Functional Anatomy, and our anatomy models.

3D Printing

Himmelfarb offers free 3D printing to all faculty, staff, and students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Milken Institute School of Public Health, the School of Nursing, and the MFA. 

Picture of 3D printed objects including a bust of George Washington, a skull, and a heart.

From custom prosthetics and implants to pharmaceutical research in drug dosage and delivery, 3D printing has numerous uses in the medical field. For students, 3D printing can be a fantastic learning tool. Students often use Himmelfarb’s 3D printers to print complex anatomical and molecular models. There are endless use cases for 3D printing in medical education, including heart and hand bone models, and negative space molds similar to the one used to create this silicone model of a human heart: 

Picture of a 3D silicone heart made from a 3D printed mold.

3D printing at Himmelfarb is as easy as completing a submission form! You’ll need an STL file (a blueprint of the print job) of the model you’d like to print. You can find high-quality, free 3D printing libraries online. Some great options include NIH 3D, Thingiverse, or Zortrax Library. If you have questions about 3D printing, contact Randy Plym (randy.plym@gwu.edu) or Catherine Sluder (crharris@gwu.edu). 

VR Headsets

Picture of virtual reality headsets and hand controls.

Our VR headsets come preloaded with the Medicalholodeck Medical VR platform, which includes Anatomy Master XR, Medical Imaging XR, and Dissection Master XR. Medicalholodeck is part cadaver lab and part textbook. You can explore high-resolution dissections layer-by-layer. The video demonstration below gives you an idea of what you’ll experience with Medicalholodeck:

VR headsets also have apps that can help you relax and relieve stress. Check out the guided meditation, nature treks, and National Geographic Explore VR apps on the headsets to take a break from the stress of life and recharge.

Want to give the VR headsets a try? Join us for our monthly VR headset demos, held on the last Wednesday of every month. Our next demo is on August 27, 2025, from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on the first floor near the New Books shelf and the Circulation Desk.

BodyViz

Like Medicalholodeck, BodyViz is an interactive anatomy visualization tool that lets you view, study, and manipulate 3D anatomical structures. You can zoom in or out and rotate anatomical models to view them from different angles. You can also change the brightness, contrast, and color based on tissue density to highlight or filter out bone, muscles, organs, or vasculature. The BodyViz slicing software lets you digitally dissect models with precision, allowing for detailed inspection of the model. Preloaded with more than 1,000 datasets of human and animal models in healthy and pathological states, and different developmental stages, BodyViz is an amazing tool to help you take your anatomy knowledge to the next level!

BodyViz is available in the Levine Lounge (Himmelfarb 305A), adjacent to the Bloedorn Technology Center on Himmelfarb’s third floor. BodyViz materials are available for checkout at the circulation desk.

Primal Pictures Real Time Functional Anatomy

Have you ever wondered what your muscles are doing when you run, kick, or climb? Primal Pictures Real Time Functional Anatomy is a powerful 3D tool that lets you visualize and manipulate core functional movements in real-time, with 360-degree control to explore the human body at every angle! This resource includes detailed 3D graphic renderings of human anatomy. Gallery views feature musculoskeletal systems and layered neurovascular supply, functional animations with detailed descriptions of kinesiology, and goniometry animations with detailed descriptions of the goniometry technique. 

Screenshot of Primal Pictures software with skeleton and shoulder muscle highlights.

Primal Pictures also includes more than 80 preset and editable views that align to movements to help visualize whole-body systems and explore musculature and neurovasculature. You can interact with figures by dissecting, hiding, and ghosting structures. You can use the edit tools to label, draw, and pin 3D models.

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Image with a blue background, a blue gloved hand holding a vaccine vile, and a needle on the word "Vaccine"
Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)! Staying updated on immunizations is an important way to protect yourself against preventable diseases. Vaccines help provide immunity before potential exposure to diseases by creating antibodies in your body to fight off infections and training your immune system to recognize and destroy harmful pathogens before they can cause serious illness. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccines and Immunizations website provides information on immunization schedules for children and adults, information on pregnancy and vaccination, and a list of recommended vaccines for travelers. Himmelfarb Library offers a variety of immunization resources. Our key journal on the topic is Vaccine, which publishes quality science related to vaccinology.

We also have several books (both in print and online) on the topic of vaccines:

  • Vaccines: A Clinical Overview and Practical Guide: by Joseph Domachowske, and Manika Suryadevara. This e-book covers the fundamentals of vaccines, including what constitutes a vaccine, how they are manufactured and tested, how vaccine recommendations are developed, and practical concerns such as vaccine confidence and hesitancy, misconceptions, and patient communication.
  • Vaccine Law & Policy: by Tony Y. Yang and Dorit Reiss. This book, available in both print and as an e-book, includes comprehensive coverage of key aspects of vaccine law and policy, from product development and intellectual property protections to regulation, public mandates, and vaccine injury claims.
  • Vaccine Wars: The Two-Hundred-Year Fight for School Vaccinations: by Kimberley Tolley.  This e-book provides a comprehensive history of the efforts to vaccinate children from contagious diseases in US schools and examines what triggered anti-vaccination activism in the past, and why it continues today.
  • Pediatric Vaccines: A Clinical Decision Support Chart: What You’re Protecting Against and Why It’s Important Today: by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This e-book includes helpful visual aid guides that clinicians can use in conversations with patients and parents about the importance of vaccines, the diseases they help prevent, and vaccine recommendations.
  • Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start - And Why They Don’t Go Away: by Heidi Larson. This e-book examines how the issues around vaccine hesitancy center around people feeling left out of the conversation, and examines the social vectors that spread vaccine rumors, how they spread around the globe, and how these individual threads are all connected.

Want to learn more about staying up-to-date on your vaccines and keeping track of which may need updating? Our Immunization Awareness Month post from August 2024 has resources to help you do that! Want to learn more about how vaccines work? Check out this great video from Nature - which you can also share with your patients:

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An open book with a drawing of a sailing ship, a pirate holding a sword and a treasure chest under a palm tree.
Image from https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-xtswg

Himmelfarb Library would like to officially welcome the incoming MS1 class to George Washington University!

As part of your orientation, here is your quest:

Get into a group of four,

Pick a member of your group to lead the tour,

Visit all four floors of Himmelfarb if you dare,

Take photos of each accomplishment to prove you were there.

Complete each task in the order you choose,

You’ll finish them all if you follow the clues.

Task #1

You’ll be learning informatics with a librarian by your side.

Find the name of the one who'll be your guide.

Scan the QR code from the first-floor image of the librarian specified.

Have someone from the group take a picture of the poster with all of the librarian pictures. This will be shared as proof of completion for the raffle drawing.

Task #2

If ye climb o'er the gunwale and feel a tear in yer knee,

Bailey and Love wrote a book ye should see.

RD31 .B35 2023

Follow the clue (and call number) to find the book listed above in the basement book stacks and have one of your team members take a picture of the front cover. When you’re done, leave the book there for later groups to find.

Task #3

Himmelfarb Library’s third floor is a mix of quiet space, rooms for collaborative studying, as well as software, instructional DVDs/CDs, and anatomical models/kits.

Though we might be pirates, we're no Luddites.

(We're also no poets, as you may have noticed.)

As new crew members, we'll show you our finest new tech.

A merry band awaits you in the Levine Lounge

to show you our BodyViz 3D anatomy system

and how to 3D print a parrot.

We'll even swab the MedicalHoloDeck

to show you a skull and crossbones in Vee Arrrrrrr.

Take a picture of your group at this station as proof of completion for the raffle drawing.

Task #4

Log in to any computer and you’re on your way.

“Use your UserID and password,” is what we say.

https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/md is where to go.

Go to chapter 126 in Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine (it’s a great book).

Search for ‘Pneumonia’; don’t be slow!

Take a picture of the screen so we can take a look.

Log on to a computer in the library using your UserID/Password.  Go to https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/md and look for the textbook, ‘Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.’ Locate chapter 126 (Pneumonia), and take a photo or screenshot.

Task #5

Study in a group or study alone.

Study standing, seated, or study prone.

If you study in a room on floor two,

An online reservation will ensure the room belongs to you.

Of the thirty-four study rooms in all,

One is the finest, a real windfall.

The quiet floor, a roomy table, and seats.

Plus windows on the two walls make this room complete.

Find this legendary room of library lore,

203C is the number outside the door

Take a pic to prove ye visited the floor.

Go to the second floor (this is a silent floor, so please be mindful of others who may be using the library!) and go to study room 203C.  Take a picture of the room number sign.

Task #6

Starting on Himmelfarb's website,

Find our The Rotation Blog in the What's New spotlight.

Click on the blog, it's filled with information, comics, and fun,

Then use the search box, and with this task, you'll soon be done.

If while you're studying, you begin to feel stressed,

Check out the Study Break Guide to find ideas for rest.

Grab a photo or screengrab of the image at the top,

And don't forget about our blog as a future go-to stop.

Go to the Himmelfarb website (himmelfarb.gwu.edu) and click on the top image in the What's New section in the upper right. On the subsequent page, use the search bar to look for 'study break', and click on 'July 2025 Study Break Guide'. Take a photo or screenshot of the image at the top of the blog entry.

Final Task

Post your photos to social media (Facebook, Instagram) as proof of your quest,

Show us your group is the best!

If social media just isn’t your style,

Email (himmelfarb@gwu.edu) us instead your image files.

If social media, post your pictures in the comments,

So your team represents;

Or post to your own social media pages pictures of all four stages:

Use #Farbientation25 to make sure we see your post.

A group drawn at random will win some great swag!

Be sure to include the names of your group mates,

And your entry into our raffle awaits!

One member of your group should post/share photo(s) of the group at each task.

Be sure to include the full names of all the members of your team!

Use #farbientation24, if posting to social media.

If you prefer not to use social media platforms, email your pics to himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

The Library will select one group, at random, from the social media and email entrants to win the prize.

The deadline for entry is 5PM on Friday, August 1, 2025!

Follow us on Social Media!

To get the latest in Himmelfarb news

Like and follow us on social media if ye choose!

The links below will take you to the right pages,

That will keep you in the know with content that engages.

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Himmelfarb Contact Information

Circulation Desk: (202)994-2962

Library Website: https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/

Email Address: himmelfarb@gwu.edu

IM Contact: https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/ask/

Text Contact: Text your question to (202)601-3525

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Non-binary flag.

July 14th is International Non-Binary Day! The first International Non-Binary Day took place in 2012. The date falls between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day, making it an appropriate date on which to raise awareness of people who do not identify exclusively as men or women. So, what is non-binary? 

Non-binary refers to anyone whose gender identity isn’t categorized as female or male. While some non-binary people identify as both a man and a woman, others don’t identify with either of these gender categories (HRC Staff, 2020). While some non-binary people identify as transgender, many do not. “Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely” (Stonewall Staff, 2006). Simply put, being non-binary is as unique and individual as the people who identify as non-binary. 

We can all be allies to non-binary people. Some of the simplest things you can do to be inclusive involve being aware of how the language you use can have a positive impact on everyone, regardless of gender identity. Including your pronouns when you introduce yourself, in your email signatures, and social media profiles can be a great starting point. When you introduce yourself, saying “Hi, my name is Jane, and I use she/her pronouns” can be an easy way for other people to safely introduce their pronouns. This not only lets the person know that you are interested in using their correct pronouns, but also makes it easy for them to communicate their preferences to you if they wish. You may also consider using gender neutral language when you are addressing a group by replacing “ladies and gentlemen” with “folks” or “everyone.” When mentioning relationships, consider using gender neutral terms such as parents (instead of father/mother), children (instead of sons/daughters), siblings (instead of brothers/sisters), or partner (instead of husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend). 

From a medical and health perspective, non-binary people often experience health disparities resulting from their non-binary identities. One qualitative study published in 2020 in the Journal of Sex Research “explored the unique ways that non-binary adolescents experience minority stress and how it influences their mental health and well-being” (Johnson et al., 2020). Identity invalidation (the refusal to accept someone’s identity as “real” or “true”) was experienced during interpersonal relationships, within the LGBTQ community, on an institutional level in school environments, and through a lack of representation in the media (Johnson et al., 2020). The data collected from this study suggests that “identity invalidation has deleterious effects on mental health and contributes to mental health disparities facing non-binary adolescents” (Johnson et al. 2020).

A study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved in 2018 examined interactions between transgender and gender non-binary individuals and their health care providers and identified characteristics of positive and negative interactions. Characteristics of positive clinician-patient interactions included: the correct use of names and pronouns; use of gender neutral language when referencing relationships, anatomy, and procedures; clinician knowledge of and experience with transgender and non-binary health; and treatment of identity disclosure as routine (Baldwin et al., 2018). Characteristics of negative clinician-patient interactions included: misgendering; lack of information and experience with transgender and non-binary patients (which often led to irrelevant questions stemming from clinician curiosity); and transphobia that led to a denial of care or a referral to another provider - another form of denial of care (Baldwin et al., 2018). This study concluded that formal medical education and training programs need to provide education and experience related to gender diverse patients. “Adjusting patient intake protocol and forms at the system-level to incorporate gender-neutral terminology and facilitate the use of preferred names and pronouns” was all supported by this study (Baldwin et al, 2018). 

As we celebrate International Non-Binary Day this year, take some time to explore resources such as Himmelfarb's LGBTQ+ Health Research Guide, SMHS’s LGBTQIA+ Community Support page, and GW student groups such as GW Out for Health or Transgender and Non-Binary Students of GWU. One of the best ways to celebrate International Non-Binary Day is through education and learning more about the non-binary experience. The following video is a great starting point - take a look and learn what it’s like to be non-binary.

This is a reposting of an original blog post published in The Rotation Blog on July 14, 2021.

References:

Baldwin, A., Dodge, B., Schick, V. R., Light, B., Scharrs, P. W., Herbenick, D., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2018). Transgender and Genderqueer Individuals’ Experiences with Health Care Providers: What’s Working, What’s Not, and Where Do We Go from Here? Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 29(4), 1300–1318. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2018.0097

CBC News: The National (2021, June 28). What it’s like to be non-binary . YouTube. https://youtu.be/7Gr78THojrU

HRC Staff (2020, July 14). Celebrating the Diversity of the Non-Binary Community for International Non-Binary Day 2020. https://www.hrc.org/news/celebrating-the-diversity-of-the-non-binary-community-for-international-non

Johnson, K. C., LeBlanc, A. J., Deardorff, J., & Bockting, W. O. (2020). Invalidation Experiences Among Non-Binary Adolescents. The Journal of Sex Research, 57(2), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1608422

Stonewall Staff (2006, July 21). 10 ways to step up as an ally to non-binary people. Stonewall. https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people

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Picture of a wheelchair athlete training on a running track.
Image by Javier Robles from Pixabay

Himmelfarb Library is happy to announce the release of our Disabilities Health Research Guide! The guide features resources that address disability healthcare in clinical and research settings, including topics such as accessibility, terminology, research assistance, and much more. You’ll also find links to local disability resources in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, and links to disability organizations.

Featured books from Himmelfarb’s collection include: 

The researcher's tab includes guidance on conducting research with disabled populations, as well as information to support literature searches, including MeSH terms and journals that publish disability-related research. An additional area links to publications from George Washington faculty that have been archived in the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC), Himmelfarb’s institutional repository.

 Featured journals include:

Please note that some resources, such as e-books and journal collections, may require GW credentials to access.

This guide is intended to be a high-quality resource relevant to our community. We encourage you to share relevant resources for inclusion in the Disabilities Health Guide through our Resource Suggestion Form. If you are a member of a GW organization and would like your organization to be featured in this guide, or if you’re interested in collaborating with the Himmelfarb DEI Committee, please contact the current committee chair, Ruth Bueter, at rbueter@gwu.edu.

This post was co-authored by Rebecca Keyser and Ruth Bueter.

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Picture of art papers and supplies spread on a desk with the word "Welcome" written in calligraphy on the center paper.
Photo by cottonbro studio

Himmelfarb Library extends a warm welcome to all new residents, fellows, students, faculty, and staff who joined the GW SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing community recently! We are excited that you’re here, and we look forward to serving you during your time at GW! 

The start of any new endeavor can be daunting, so we’d like to make it easy for you to become familiar with Himmelfarb Library and all that we have to offer. Himmelfarb Director, Laura Abate, gives a great overview of Himmelfarb Library in this short video tour:

Himmelfarb Hours:

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

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

Current hours of operation are available on our website and include exceptions to normal hours, such as holiday closures. If you aren’t able to 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 from anywhere, anytime, so you can access our electronic resources from anywhere!

Himmelfarb Resources and Collections

Himmelfarb’s collection extends beyond the books in the basement level stacks. We have 130 databases to search, including PubMed, CINAHL, and our library discovery service, Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Health Information @ Himmelfarb enables you to search physical and electronic books, journals, articles, dissertations, and more, all from a single search box.

Want to browse and read articles from our journals? The BrowZine app is a great option! BrowZine can be accessed through a browser, or you can download the app for IOS or Android. You’ll be able to create a personalized bookshelf of journal titles, follow your favorite journals, get alerts when new issues are available, and browse a table of contents.

LibKey Nomad provides quick and easy access to full-text when searching PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, Amazon, and publisher sites. With LibKey Nomad, you’ll easily be able to tell when the full-text of articles and e-books is available through Himmelfarb, and often can get the PDF with a single click!

You can find books and e-books via Health Information @ Himmelfarb or explore titles in specific collections: AccessMedicine, ClinicalKey for Nursing, LWW Health Library: Medical Education, etc. You can browse all e-book collections or view our special collections in Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Our print books are located on the basement level and can be borrowed for three weeks, with up to two renewals. 

If we don’t have a resource you need, we can get it for you through the Consortium Loan Service or Documents2Go. The Consortium Loan Service provides free loans of books from most DC area academic libraries. Documents2Go provides scanned articles, book chapter copies, or physical book loans with up to 30 free requests a year for Himmelfarb users.

Clinical Tools and Apps

If you’re providing patient care, Himmelfarb has specialized apps and information services to support you. The DynaMed, and Lexicomp apps can be downloaded for easy access from your device. Check out our App Shelf for a full list of useful tools.

Research Support

Himmelfarb is more than just a physical space with study space and great resources! Our librarians and staff can help support your research by assisting in literature searches, systematic reviews, and helping you organize your sources with RefWorks or Covidence. We also offer a spectrum of services and support related to scholarly publishing - everything from honing your research question, to selecting the right journal for submitting your article to archiving your article and data.  Get help with your research from our knowledgeable librarians and staff by stopping by our circulation desk for in-person help, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat virtually with a real Himmelfarb librarian or staff member. No AI chatbots here! 

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!

Published on
"Juneteenth" on a red, black, & green background.
Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay

This post was co-written by Valorie Bowles and Ruth Bueter.

June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as “Black Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” To honor Juneteenth, today we take a look at previous blog posts about the history of Juneteenth and its role in the health sciences.

The History of Juneteenth

Our “Understanding and Honoring Juneteenth” post from 2023 discusses the history of Juneteenth. 

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, along with a band of soldiers, arrived in Galveston, Texas, one of the furthest corners of the former Confederacy. The general informed the enslaved people in town that by order of President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, slavery was no longer legal within Confederate territories and that they were now free. The following year, on June 19, 1866, the freed people of Galveston organized a celebration to commemorate the ending of slavery within the United States. This event eventually became one of the most important holidays for African Americans across the country. 

To learn about the history of Juneteenth, read the full article linked above.

Juneteenth and the Health Sciences

In our Juneteenth and the Health Sciences post from 2024, we discussed how Juneteenth has influenced the health sciences, medicine, 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). 

To learn more, read the full article linked above.

Local DC Juneteenth Events

Interested in celebrating Juneteenth in the DMV area? There are several events happening today:

Juneteenth Jubilee and Freedom Walk

June 19th: 10 am - 5 pm; Anacostia: Navy Yard Visitor Center - 1022 O Street, SE

Participate in a freedom walk, listen to a panel discussion, and participate in a “beat ya feet” cardio dance workout!

Celebrate Juneteenth in Alexandria 

June 19th (1 pm - 3 pm) - Market Square, Alexandria, VA

June 21st (Noon - 6 pm) - Charles Houston Recreation Center, Alexandria, VA

Enjoy storytelling, music, and food while learning about African American history in Alexandria, VA.

Juneteenth for the City

June 19th: 1 pm - Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the City

Join a community block party complete with music, food, and educational sessions on Black culture and history!

Juneteenth Celebration at the Museum

June 19th: 10 am - 5 pm - Anacostia Community Museum

This unique celebration includes a morning yoga session, a pickle-making demo, performances from musicians and poets, and the creation of an interactive mural!

References:

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/

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