Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association

A recent quick search for “social determinants of health” in PubMed yielded over 6700 results, 80% published within the last 5 years. From reducing tobacco-related health disparities to understanding outcomes for patients with Type II diabetes, researchers and clinicians are paying more attention to social, economic, and geographic factors that influence our health.

How are social determinants of health defined? A 2019 Journal of the American College of Radiology article 1 writes about them this way:

“The social determinants of health have garnered particular attention more recently, centering on the premise that patients’ zip codes may be a better predictor of their life expectancy than their genetic code. This is based on longstanding research that demonstrates the impact that low socioeconomic status, food and housing instability, transportation difficulties, violence, racism, limited educational opportunities, and an unhealthy environment—among others—has on quality and quantity of life. These factors undoubtedly impact a patient’s ability to prioritize, access, afford, or complete imaging services, whether preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic.”

Our 2019 conference panel, Social Determinants of Health: From the Patient to the Community and Beyond, brings together three different perspectives on this emerging health care focus. Dr. Nancy Smuckler, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will share her research on the effects of poverty on individual health. Biostatistician Kayla Heslin, a researcher at the Center for Urban Population Health, will highlight her work on zip code and community health research and assessment. Finally, Associate Researcher Kate Konkle, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison will highlight their work with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.

The panel discussion will be held Monday, October 7 from 9:00-10:30 am in the Regency Ballroom.

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Brenda Fay, Advocate Aurora Health Library Network 2019 Conference co-chair

1. Betancourt JR, Tan-McGrory A, Flores E, Lopez D. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Radiology: A Call to Action. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR. 2019;16(4 Pt B):547-553.

We are conducting a special election to elect our Representatives to the MLA Chapter Council. Those elected will take office in May 2019. Only Midwest Chapter/MLA members who are also MLA members are eligible to vote in this special election.

Please vote at:
https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8vNIgw4J6dn7xzL

The ballot will remain open through Monday, April 22nd.

We will hold our regular election later this summer. If you are interested in becoming a candidate for an elected office, please contact Karen Hanus, Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee.

“Why would I visit a place dedicated to Harley-Davidson motorcycles? I don’t even like motorcycles!”

Exploring Milwaukee won’t be complete without a sojourn to the iconic museum. More than just an excursion of sentiment for motorcycle fans, the Harley Davidson Museum is an experience in American history.

Photo Credit: Harley Davidson Museum Website

Walking through the park-like 20 acres in downtown Milwaukee, the Harley Davidson Museum is filled with classic, even legendary, machines, including the Harley owned by Elvis and the oldest
known Harley Davidson Motorcycle in existence (Serial #1). As a visitor, you’ll see an unparalleled collection of motorcycles and memorabilia like a private archive that offers tours. There are layers of advertisements from different eras for the graphic design geeks. And truly, the highlight for many is the Experience Gallery, where visitors can choose from a diverse collection of bikes to touch, admire, and pose for photos on.

The campus, in addition to the rich cultural experience of the museum, also includes a café, restaurant, and retail store, as well as a manicured outdoor space.

The Sunday evening social event for our Midwest MLA Chapter Conference will be dinner and exploration of the museum. Extra tickets are available for purchase to bring along a guest for dinner. All dinner attendees will receive an additional complimentary ticket to the Harley Davidson Museum to return and investigate at their leisure.

New Saturday Session

In this first ever Midwest Chapter/MLA Research Retreat, we aim to give our library colleagues a chance to focus on their research interests. This retreat is for those who want to get started in conducting research, for those who are in the middle of their own projects, and for seasoned researchers who want to share their experiences and knowledge. Regardless of where you are in the research continuum, we invite you to join us in this dedicated and distraction free space to move forward on existing projects or begin new ones.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be available. These sessions will provide an opportunity for you to consult with colleagues to:

• explore the literature for new articles or to support an existing research project
• troubleshoot your methods with fellow participants
• design your research timeline
• begin preparing your Institutional Review Board proposal
• put together figures and charts
• work on writing up your results

We will be recruiting people to speak on various topics. If you have experience in research and would like to be a moderator for one of the retreat sessions, please contact Margaret Hoogland. Fellows from the MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) are encouraged to participate.

The Fall 2018 MIDLINE is now available. This issue introduces our new President, Merle Rosenzweig, and provides a great overview of the 2018 conference.

I would like to thank our two new MIDLINE editors, Liz Lyman and Joyce McFadden, for their hard work in getting the 2018 issue so quickly. I would also like to thank Jennifer Herron, who recently stepped down as MIDLINE editor, for all her hard work for the last few years.

-Elizabeth Huggins, Chair of the Communications Committee

Are you making travel plans for next year? Milwaukee is a great place to be in the fall!

Join us in Milwaukee for the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association where you will have the opportunity to discover, connect and collaborate with your colleagues.
The conference will be held in Milwaukee, Oct. 4 – 7, 2019. Mark your calendars!

Our keynote speaker is MK Czerwiec, RN, MA, aka the Comic Nurse. Our social event will be dinner and exploration at the Harley Davidson Museum®, a Milwaukee icon.

For more information, visit http://midwestmla.org/conference2019/.

Looking forward to seeing you 2019!

Your 2018 Midwest Conference Publicity Committee,
Elizabeth Suelzer, Medical College of Wisconsin
Dora Davis, ProHealth Care
Michele Matucheski, Ascension
Rita Sieracki, Medical College of Wisconsin

Heartfelt thanks goes to the co-chairs, Mary Pat Harnegie and Mary Schleicher, and the committees for all their hard work on the 2018 Annual Conference. A big thank you to all of the exhibitors and sponsors who attended and supported the conference.

Thank you!

On behalf of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association, the Wisconsin Health Science Library Association and the Southeastern Wisconsin Health Sciences Libraries Consortium, we invite you to Milwaukee for next year’s Midwest Chapter/MLA 2019 annual meeting.

Our Sunday night social event will be dinner and exploration at the Harley Davidson Museum®, a Milwaukee icon. Discover the history of the motorcycle, hear the thunder of the different engines and take a selfie riding a HOG!

Connect to Milwaukee through our new streetcar, which will be free in 2019. Use it to travel from downtown to the lakefront. While in downtown Milwaukee, make stops at the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, or take a stroll down the Milwaukee RiverWalk and say hi to the Bronze Fonz.

Collaborate on new and exciting ideas with your colleagues in a stellar conference experience. We are excited to announce that our keynote speaker is MK Czerwiec (Zurwick), RN, MA, aka Comic Nurse. She is the artist in residence at the Feinberg Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago, Co-founder of graphicmedicine.org, and a leader in the field of connecting clinicians, patients, and practitioners through narrative medicine and telling their stories.

-Brenda Fay, 2019 Conference Co-Chair