University of Arizona Engagement and Outreach Award

Posted by liaison on November 18th, 2021 Posted in: #CC/Academic List, #Health Interest List, #Health Sciences List, #Public/K-12 List, All Members

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NNLM Region 4 has awarded funding to the University of Arizona, through our Engagement and Outreach Award, for a project titled “Pop Up Botanica Exhibit & Lecture Presentation”. Annabelle V Nuñez, Associate Director of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Library submitted a proposal with the goal of disseminating culturally accurate and relevant information about Mesoamerican/Mexican traditional medicine and healing practices used in some communities in the U.S.Mexico border region. One objective is to raise awareness of the NLM Resources and Products that support the exhibit and lecture presentation topics. 

The University of Arizona Health Sciences Library (UAHSL) will collaborate with Dr. Patrisia Gonzales, a faculty member from the university’s Mexican American Studies (MAS) department to host an exhibit in the library in the spring of 2022. As part of a MAS course, students create shadow boxes that display items of traditional healing such as herbs and potions. The exhibit will feature archived shadow boxes. In 2019, students created a 3D video of a few shadow boxes. The 3D video will be featured in the exhibit using consumable virtual reality (VR) headsets. The 3D video will also be available on an iPad for interactive viewing. In addition to the exhibit, two indigenous medicine knowledge keepers (experts) will guest lecture on traditional medicine and healing. Classes from two area high schools with health profession programs will be invited to experience the exhibit and attend the guest lecture presentations. A poster will be on display promoting National Library of Medicines (NLM) Resources and Products, such as MedlinePlus Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CAM) and Native Voices resources for educators. This display will be available during the exhibition period. Visitors will have the opportunity to share their feedback about the exhibit and lecture presentations. 

We look forward to hearing how this project moves forward. If you have any ideas for projects, reach out to us and share your ideas.  

Yamila M. El-Khayat, serves as Communications and Citizen Science Specialist at NNLM (Network of the National Library of Medicine) Region 4. She has a passion for health information and working with all communities in particular traditionally marginalized communities. Yamila is a medical librarian at the University of Arizona. In working as a Librarian, she has been determined to increase health literacy to better serve the needs of the Latino and Native American populations, improving access to information related to the health of Native American, Hispanic, Border, Evidence-based, intercultural, bilingual, and culturally appropriate. She has experience training information for clinicians, students, and community members, including health promoters/ “Promotores de Salud”.