Submitted by Julie Schneider
Ebling Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
If you aren’t familiar with Woods Hole, Massachusetts, I can tell you that their claims to fame are many, and well deserved. The Marine Biological Laboratory, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the SEA Education Association, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and, of course, the Captain Kidd Century Old Bar are just some of the highlights of this Massachusetts town that describes itself as “a salty, sea spray village that brings the Nobel Laureate and the local fisherman together in harmony.”
Photo courtesy of MBL
But maybe more importantly, twice a year in the spring and fall, Woods Hole becomes the setting for the BioMedical Informatics Course sponsored by the National Library of Medicine.
I and my fellow classmates began the journey of discovery on a Sunday evening in late May 2007. Over drinks and snacks we had our first chance to meet the people that would share with us what they knew about the topic of biomedical informatics. At least what could be shared over the course of an hour and a half session. After giving us some time to meet and mingle, our course director, Christopher Cimino, brought us all together and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves including the faculty. Right then I really began to appreciate the opportunity that I had been given to be a part of this course and to interact with the people that were there.
Over the next five days, with sessions scheduled from 8:30 in the morning until 9:00 at night, we were introduced to a broad range of topics that are a part of biomedical informatics study. From database theory to clinical information systems and the Visible Human Project, the team of instructors shared with us their research and working knowledge of a topic that interested them as much as it enthralled most of us. While the days sound long, I still wish I could return for a couple more days, maybe even just a couple of hours, to ask those questions that I have now that I didn’t have when the class started. Or just to meet with everyone again over a beer at Captain Kidd.
I would be remiss if I didn’t end with my sincere thanks to Donald Lindberg and the National Library of Medicine for this tremendous opportunity. Thanks to each and every one of the instructors who took the time to share their expertise with us and enthusiasm for this area of study; particularly our course director, Christopher Cimino. And last, but never least, huge thanks to Cathy Norton and her staff for sharing their beautiful facilities, their vigilance in keeping us on track, their support at every turn, and their humor when they probably wanted to strangle some of us.
If you haven’t ever applied for a MBL fellowship, do it NOW. And save me a seat at the Captain’s and I’ll buy the first round.