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Author: Ruth Bueter

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Dimensions logo.

Dimensions Analytics is a research-oriented database produced by Digital Science, designed to track research outputs, support analysis of research activity within GW and other institutions, and compare data between institutions. Dimensions is part citation database, part article discovery search engine, and part research analytics platform. Data included in Dimensions includes publications, grants, patents, clinical trials, datasets, policy documents, and Altmetric data points. Dimensions allows users to: analyze the impact of clinical trials, patents, and policies; search journals, preprints, datasets, proceedings, and books; as well as to follow grant funding to identify future trends.

You have two options for accessing Dimensions. The first option is the free version, which provides basic access. GW’s subscription version provides access to Dimensions Analytics - a more comprehensive functionality than the free version. Off-site access to GW’s Dimensions subscription requires that you log in to the VPN before you access Dimensions.

Screenshot of left side menu on Dimensions.

Once you are in Dimensions Analytics, you’ll notice that the resource is split into three distinct areas. From the menu bar on the left side of the page, shown in the screenshot on the left, you’ll be able to search for research output from groups, researchers, research organizations, and funders.

The main navigation menu located in the top center of the page allows you to view search results by category. Categories include publications, datasets, grants, patents, clinical trials, and policy documents.

Screenshot of center menu in Dimensions.

The menu options on the right side of the page, pictured below, provide an option to log in for access to Dimensions Analytics. This area is also where you will find analytical views that allow you to view publication trends and researcher network maps. 

Screenshot of right side menu in Dimensions.

To learn more about Dimensions Analytics, including how to build groups of researchers, view and download researcher network maps, and view analytics at a departmental and institutional level, watch the brief video introduction below:

Dimensions tracks research through the entire research lifecycle, which allows you to follow a specific piece of research from a funding source, to publication, and to the impact of that publication through citations and online mentions (Altmetrics). This incredible tool can help researchers create network visualizations, find a suitable journal for a manuscript, protect research integrity, and enhance grant applications to secure additional funding. 

Explore Dimensions Analytics today and see how it can help further your research!

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August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Vaccination is the best protection against serious diseases.
Image created by Yvonne Lee from CDC NIAM promotional graphics and an American Association of Immunologists vaccine handout.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Regular immunizations are an important part of staying healthy. Vaccines help provide immunity before potential exposure to diseases. Vaccines help your body create antibodies to fight off infections by training your immune system to recognize and destroy harmful pathogens before they can cause serious illness. To learn more about how vaccines work, check out this great video from Nature - which you can also share with your patients:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great resource for information on immunizations for healthcare professionals and patients. The CDC’s Vaccines and Immunizations website provides information on immunization schedules for children and adults, information about pregnancy and vaccination, as well as a list of recommended vaccines for travelers. Their website also provides a wealth of information for healthcare professions including clinical resources, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and guidelines, immunization schedules, vaccine storage, administration protocols, and patient education resources. 

Himmelfarb Library also has a number of immunization resources available! Next time you’re in the library, check out our current book display on the first floor with immunization and vaccine-related resources. If you see something of interest, ask at the circulation desk to check out the book.

Picture of books on immunization on display in Himmelfarb's display case.

We also have some great e-books available on the topic of vaccines:

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Picture of multiple 3D printed items.

Himmelfarb Library has excellent technology tools to help enhance your learning and research! As the Fall 2023 semester begins, set aside some time to explore our 3D printing program and try out our BodyViz and virtual reality software.

3D Printing

Thanks to a generous grant from the GW Hospital Women’s Board, Himmelfarb is able to offer free 3D printing to faculty, staff, and students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nursing, the School of Public Health, Medical Faculty Associates, and the GW Hospital. Himmelfarb has two 3D printers (a Zortrax M200 and M200+) and is currently accepting print requests! 

While there are no limits to the number of 3D printing requests you can submit, priority will be given to requests that support teaching, learning, and research. Recreational requests will be placed at the end of the queue and may be limited to one per month per user when we are experiencing a high demand for 3D printing. Learn more about how 3D printing works, where to find 3D models, and how to submit a 3D print job on our 3D Printing at Himmelfarb Guide!

Quest Virtual Reality Headsets

Thanks to a generous grant from the Bloedorn Foundation, Himmelfarb has two Quest virtual reality (VR) headsets available for checkout. Each headset is preloaded with the Medicalholodeck Medical VR platform. This platform includes Anatomy Master XR, Medical Imaging XR, and Dissection Master XR. Anatomy Master XR features anatomy models similar to those found in textbooks but in a three-dimensional interactive format. Medical Imaging XR is a system for rendering and manipulating objects based on medical imaging such as MRI and CT scans. 

Dissection Master XR showcases high-resolution images of human dissections created specifically for learning and teaching anatomy layer by layer. Check out the video below for a brief demonstration of Dissection Master XR:

VR headsets are available to check out for 4-hour loan periods from the Himmelarb Circulation Desk and can be used in Himmelfarb Library and Ross Hall. Check out our VR Headsets Guide to learn more about this amazing technology. If you’d like a one-on-one tutorial to learn how to use the headsets, email himmelfarb@gwu.edu to make an appointment. 

BodyViz

BodyViz is an interactive anatomy visualization tool that lets users view, study, and manipulate 3D anatomical structures. 3D models allow users to zoom in and rotate models to view different angles. You can also adjust brightness, contrast, and color based on tissue density, and highlight or filter by bone, muscle, organ, or vasculature. The clipping mode allows you to slice into the models to digitally dissect the models in order to isolate areas of interest or to expose internal structures.

The BodyViz suite is on Himmelfarb’s third floor in Himmelfarb 305A, adjacent to the Bloedorn Technology Center. Be sure to reserve the BodyViz suite (available for one to four-hour sessions) prior to using BodyViz! Stop by the Circulation Desk to check out the wireless keyboard, game controller, and remote control equipment before heading up to the third floor. To learn more, explore our BodyViz Guide.

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Image a pirate ship sailing over towards a pirate standing in front of a treasure chest and 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 

Follow the clue (and call number) to find the book listed below 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. 

“If ye climb to the crow’s nest and feel a gout in yer knee, 

Hochberg and his mateys wrote a book ye should see.” 

RC927.R48215 2015

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 a group member at this station as proof of completion for the raffle drawing.

Task #4 

Log into 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. 

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, 

Take a selfie with the librarian at the door. 

Final Task 

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

Show us your group is the best! 

Post your pictures in the comments,  

So your team represents; 

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

Use #Farbientation23 to make sure we see your post. 

A group drawn at random will win some great swag! 

If social media just isn’t your style, 

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

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.  

Use #farbientation23, 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.

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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CIS Librarians at Himmelfarb

Headshot of Laura Abate.
Headshot of Rachel Brill.
Headshot of Ruth Bueter.
Headshot of Tom Harrod.
Headshot of Sara Hoover.
Headshot of Paul Levett.
Headshot of Ian Roberts.
Headshot of Catherine Cluder.
Headshot of Deborah Wassertzug.

Himmelfarb Contact Information

Reference: (202)994-2850 

Circulation: (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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Overhead shot of six disabled people of color at a rooftop deck party.
Photo by Chona Kasinger from the Disabled And Here project page.

July 26, 2023, marks the 33rd anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, the ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against disabled persons and helps ensure that disabled people have the same rights and opportunities as the general public (ADA National Network, 2023). The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for disabled individuals in “public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications” (ADA National Network, 2023). 

To celebrate National Disability Independence Day this year, the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Reading Club has selected three books that focus on disability health for July 2023. 

References: 

ADA National Network. (July 2023). What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

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Decorative image of a black stethoscope, a blank sheet of white paper, and a black pen over a light blue background.
Photo by Tara Winstead

The newest class of Physician Assistant (PA) students has been hard at work since the end of May. Himmelfarb Library has enjoyed seeing so many PA students in the library this summer! We proudly support the SMHS PA program by providing resources and services to help PA students, faculty, and staff achieve their learning, teaching, clinical care, and research goals. 

Himmelfarb’s Physician Assistants Guide is a great starting point when looking for resources as it provides a comprehensive collection of PA-related resources curated on a single site! Physical examination and diagnosis are separated into individual tabs of the guide. When it’s time to start preparing for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), the PANCE tab of the guide has study materials and resources to help you get ready to ace the exam! You’ll also find links to professional organizations and resources for writing and citation support.

Here are some of our favorite PA resources:

Research Databases:

  • PubMed: Find health sciences articles on clinical, basic sciences, and public health information in one easy location. Himmelfarb’s PubMed search filters allow you to easily filter results by systematic reviews, practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials, cohort and case controls, and background and review articles.
  • Scopus: This interdisciplinary database provides citations and abstracts to more than 25,000 journals, and includes full-text access to Himmelfarb-subscribed journals.
  • CINAHL Complete: With coverage of nursing, biomedicine, alternative and complementary medicine, consumer health, and allied health disciplines, CINAHL Complete is a great place to find full-text access to scholarly articles.
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: If you’re looking for a systematic review, this database is a must-search resource! Cochrane systematic reviews use Cochrane’s methodology and seek to identify, appraise and synthesize all of the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific topic. 

Point-of-Care Resources:

  • DynaMed: This evidence-based resource includes drug and disease information. DynaMed is updated daily, so you can be sure you are getting the most current information. Disease information is presented in an easy-to-read bulleted format and includes epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, history and physical, diagnosis, management, complications and prognosis, prevention and screening, guidelines, and patient information.
  • Epocrates+: This evidence-based resource also provides disease and drug information. Disease information is presented in a step-by-step approach that covers prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Journals:

PANCE Prep Resources:

  • PA Exam Prep: Practice questions with answers will help you prepare for PANCE and PANRE. PA Exam Prep has customizable features that allow you to select topic coverage, choose the number of questions, and annotate exam questions and answers. 
  • Exam Master: This resource has question banks to support studying for PANCE and PANRE. Create a free personal account to access the content.

Books:

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Celebrate July: Park & Recreation Month. Where Community Grows. Take time to enjoy the great outdoors in DC!

July is Park and Recreation Month! This year’s theme is “Where Community Grows” to celebrate how parks and recreation can bring people together and help foster community growth. The Washington, D.C. region is home to 25 National Park Service (NPS) sites, 74 historic landmarks, and 670 locations on the National Register of Historic Places!

Decorative image - text is covered in blog post.

July is a great time to get out and enjoy the iconic NPS sites like the National Mall, the White House and President’s Park, and the great memorials on and surrounding the National Mall. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the Tidal Basin and enjoy the FDR Memorial, the MLK Jr. Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. 

If you’re interested in exploring some NPS sites that are less crowded with summer tourists, check out the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, the C&O Canal, the African American Civil War Memorial, or the Carter G. Woodson Home. If you need a break from the heat, soak up the air conditioning with a tour of Ford’s Theatre!

Summer is also a great time to get in some hiking. Check out some of DC’s National Trails! Learn about the Chesapeake Bay region’s involvement in the War of 1812 along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail covers 560 miles of land and water throughout Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Or hike, bike, or paddle along the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, learn about local American Indian communities and their interactions with Englishman Captain John Smith along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. You can also explore the 680 miles of land and water that American and French soldiers took in 1871 and 1782 and walk, hike, run, bike, drive, or paddle the Washinton-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.

Don’t forget about your local parks! Explore Washington D.C.’s parks, Maryland State Parks, Maryland county parks, NOVA Parks, and Virginia State Parks. With so much to explore in the D.C. region, you don’t have to go far to enjoy the great outdoors and celebrate Park and Recreate Month this July!

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Photo of books stacked with spines showing titles displaying.

Are you looking for some summer reading? Himmelfarb Library’s Humanities and Health Collection might have the right book for you! Literary accounts of illness can provide valuable insight to healthcare providers about the lives of sick people. Popular health sciences-related non-fiction titles can help those working in the health sciences understand how far the implications of their work can reach.

Himmelfarb’s Humanities and Health Collection is composed of fiction and popular non-fiction selections that offer a variety of perspectives on being a health provider and a patient. This collection is located in the “nook” to the right as you enter the library, past the service desks, near the first-floor restrooms. If you need a break from textbooks and journal articles, consider trying our Humanities and Health Collection! 

Here are some recently published books that are part of this great collection:

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Close up image of a rainbow Pride flag.
Photo by Cecilie Johnsen on Unsplash

Last week’s Ways to Celebrate This Year’s Pride Month post highlighted a variety of books, documentaries, local events, and volunteer opportunities available to celebrate Pride Month this year. In today’s post, we’ll focus on LGBTQ+ healthcare-focused resources available through Himmelfarb Library that can deepen your understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Selected Books

This selection of LBGTQ+ focused books is available 

Selected Journals

  • Journal of Health Disparities Research & Practice: This journal explores the problems and challenges created by health disparities among diverse populations including the LBGTQ+ community.
  • Health Affairs: This journal covers a wide range of topics related to health care policy and managed care and often addresses LGBTQ+ related issues.
  • International Journal of Transgender Health: This journal covers gender dysphoria, medical and psychological treatment of transgender individuals, social and legal acceptance of hormonal and surgical sex reassignment, and transgenderism.
  • Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health: This multidisciplinary professional forum covers issues related to psychotherapy for gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals.
  • Journal of LGBT Youth: This journal contains information on current developments in educational policy, curriculum development, professional practice, and pedagogy involving gay and lesbian studies.
  • Journal of LBGT Issues in Counseling: This journal provides a professional forum for research, best practices, and emerging trends and issues related to counseling the LGBT community.

Streaming Videos

  • Born to Be: This documentary provides an intimate look at the work of Dr. Jess Ting (he/him) and the impact of gender-affirming care on patients and has transformed his own life.
  • Cured: This documentary explores the campaign that led to the removal of homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s list of mental illnesses in 1973.

Are you interested in learning more about influential members of the LGBTQ+ community? Check out Himmelfarb’s profile of Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly trans woman to be confirmed to a federal position by Congress. Or learn more about one of GW’s own in our profile of Dr. Lawrence “Bopper” Deyton, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Public Health at GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). Dr. Deyton played a crucial role in HIV/AIDS research during the early 1990s.

Are you interested in more general resources available at GW? GW’s LGBTQIA+ Resource Center provides comprehensive educational, support, and advocacy services including workshops, special events, and mentoring opportunities. GW Out for Health is a GW SMHS student-led organization that serves as an advocacy group and as a place to build relationships and a sense of community within the LGBTQ+ community within SMHS. Learn more about Out for Health by emailing gwofh@gwu.edu. You can also learn more by exploring the resources available on GW’s Gender and Sexuality Resources page.

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Image of orange buttons with Open Access logo using the letters O and A to form an open padlock in a white bowl.
"Open Access promomateriaal" by biblioteekje is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

What is Open Access?

Open access (OA) journals make content available to anyone free of charge. While traditional publishing models require readers or institutions to purchase subscriptions to gain access to published content, users attempting to access this content without a subscription will find the content hidden behind a paywall. OA articles, on the other hand, can be accessed and read by anyone without payment or a subscription. 

The two most common OA publishing models are Gold OA and Hybrid OA. Gold OA journals make all published articles available to readers free of charge. Hybrid OA journals publish OA articles that are free to all readers, as well as traditional articles that can only be accessed and read by subscribers who pay for that content. Hybrid OA journals let authors choose whether or not to make their research available as open access or to restrict access via the traditional paywall model.

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

While publishing your research as OA makes your work more widely accessible, it does come at a cost to the author. OA journals transfer the cost of publication from the reader to the author by charging authors Article Processing Charges, also known as APCs. The cost of APCs varies by journal, but the cost range from $2,000 to $5,000 for health sciences journals.

If you’d like to publish your research as OA, it’s important to consider how you will pay for APCs early in your research process. We recommend that you request funding for APCs in grant and funding proposals. Building these costs into your funding proposals will ensure that you have the necessary funds needed to cover APCs when you’re ready to publish. NIH grants and NSF grants allow for publication costs to be included in grant applications - so be sure to secure funding from the start of the research process!

To learn more about APCS, take a few minutes to watch Himmelfarb’s tutorials on Locating APCs and Including APCs in Funding Proposals!

Locating Article Publishing Charges (APCs) tutorial:

Including APCs in Funding Proposals tutorial:

APCs Waived for GW Authors!

GW currently has active “transformative agreements” with two publishers: Cambridge University Press, and The Company of Biologists. These agreements allow GW authors to publish their research as open access at no cost to authors - APCs are waived! The Cambridge University Press agreement covers nearly 50 medicine and health sciences journals. The Company of Biologist agreement waives APCs for GW authors in the following three hybrid journals:

It’s important to note that these agreements do not guarantee acceptance for publication in these journals. Manuscripts must meet the journal’s acceptance criteria. Authors must also use GW as their primary affiliation upon manuscript submission. Authors who claim another organization (such as the MFA, GW Hospital, CNHS, or the VA) are not covered under these agreements. For more information about GW’s Read and Publish agreements with Cambridge University Press and The Company of Biologist, contact Ruth Bueter at rbueter@gwu.edu.

Learn More:

If you’d like to learn more about open access publishing, check out our Open Access Publishing page of the Scholarly Publishing Research Guide. 

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