{"id":17528,"date":"2023-07-24T12:08:44","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T12:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_7\/?p=17528"},"modified":"2023-09-13T15:55:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T15:55:22","slug":"member-spotlight-horblit-health-sciences-library-danbury-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_7\/2023\/07\/24\/member-spotlight-horblit-health-sciences-library-danbury-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"Member Spotlight: Horblit Health Sciences Library -Danbury Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Horblit Health Sciences Library at Danbury Hospital, part of Nuvance Health is currently hosting, Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons<\/em><\/a>, one of the NLM traveling exhibits. I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit, the library, and their amazing librarians.<\/p>\n

\"Kristin<\/p>\n

There are two health science librarians at the Horblit Health Sciences Library, Amanda Pomeroy and Kristin Chapman. Both are fully embedded in the hospital system. They are both members of the interdisciplinary Provider Assistance Care Team (PACT) team, serve on the hospital safety committee, participate in rounds and report. We will hear more about their work a little later.<\/p>\n

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Why did you choose to bring this NLM Exhibit, Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons, to your library?<\/em>\"First<\/h4>\n

Kristin was familiar with NLM traveling exhibits and specifically the Contemporary African American Surgeons exhibit from her previous work experience and was excited to bring this exbibit to Danbury Hospital with the full support of her supervisor Amanda.<\/p>\n

The exhibit was created in partnership with the National Library of Medicine and the Reginal F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. According to the exhibit informational flyer, the exhibit describes how \u201cearly black pioneer physicians become skilled practitioners and educators, paving the way for future physicians, surgeons and nurses and opening doors to better health care for the African American community\u201d. The exhibit features five contemporary academic surgeons who \u201cnot only exemplify excellence in their surgical fields\u201d but also are committed to educating and mentoring young physicians and surgeons.<\/p>\n

The library partnered with the department of surgery to promote the exhibit and will be partnering to feature the exhibit in their August Grand Rounds. Both the library director and the department of surgery director will provide information about the exhibit and one of the department\u2019s neurosurgeons will talk about their own experience in medicine. They are pleased that this grand round will be at the same time they welcome in their new group of fellows.<\/p>\n

How has your hospital interacted with the exhibit so far?<\/em><\/h4>\n

The library hosts residents and medical fellows from all over the world, so having an exhibit that highlighted the work of African American academic surgeons felt important to the librarians. On the first day the exhibit was set up, a long-time hospital employee stopped to talk to the librarians about how meaningful it was to see other African American people represented in the exhibit.<\/p>\n

Can you tell me a little more about your work, your library, and your hospital?<\/em><\/h4>\n

Kristin and Amanda report that the library serves everyone: community, patients and families, students, physicians and hospital staff. There is clearly a welcoming presence in the library with many visitors who use their space for a variety of needs, from a quiet space to work or rest, doing research or using the computer lab which is connected to the hospital simulation lab. During the visit, there were numerous visitors who stopped in to ask a question.<\/p>\n

The librarians see their role as building a bridge between resources of the library to support bedside treatment and to provide information access to whoever needs them. They attend grand rounds and morning reports. They do reference interviews, provide literature searches, support students in research and support requests for systematic reviews. They are also very engaged with DOCLINE.<\/p>\n

The library provides important spaces for hospital staff, students and physicians to meet and they frequently support patrons even in being a welcoming presence and asking about their day. They are aware of the medical education process and are able to help students navigate their rotation exams and even learn about which resources they find more helpful for their individual learning styles.<\/p>\n

Some of the things Kristin and Amanda love most about their work and Danbury Hospital:<\/em><\/h4>\n