Submitted by Elaine Hughes
Broadlawns Medical Center, Des Moines, IA
The ILA Health Sciences Subdivision opened its Spring Meeting at Des Moines University on April 18th by recognizing the contributions of long-time medical librarian, Jim Lander, who is retiring on June 10th. Jim began working at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque in 1971. His first project was to rewrite a NLM hospital library grant for the construction of a new combined School of Nursing Library and Doctor's Library, now called the A.C. Pfohl Health Sciences Library. During his 37-year tenure at Mercy, Jim has held positions of leadership as a member of the ILA Health Sciences Subdivision, the Midwest Chapter/MLA and MLA. In the Midwest Chapter/MLA, Jim has served on the board or on a committee for nineteen years, including: two terms as representative-at-large, membership secretary, president-elect, president and past president. He has been on the conference planning committee for the chapter meetings in Cedar Rapids (1984), Des Moines (1997), and the joint chapter meeting in Omaha (2007). Jim is going to be missed by all.
Following Jim's recognition, a business meeting was called to order by chair Larry Marquardt of DMU. Paula Whannell, Iowa Methodist Center in Des Moines, will be the 2009 chair. Eileen Hansen of Mercy College was elected as chair in 2010 and Chris Childs of Hardin Library was elected secretary/treasurer for 2009.
Holly Ann Burk gave the Greater Midwest Region update. She also gave us a quick update on PubMed for those unable to attend the afternoon session. Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, announced that their Iowa Go Local referral services link will be live May 1st. This will link Iowa resources to the MedlinePlus database for consumers.
Later in the morning we were given a guided tour of Des Moines University's Human Simulation Lab by clinical coordinator, Greg J. Kolbinger. The lab is the only one of its kind in Iowa and only about a quarter of the medical schools across the country have them. The human simulators provide realistic hands-on experiences that help students learn clinical skills before interacting with real patients.
In the afternoon, the continuing education component of the meeting "PubMed for Experts" was presented by Holly Ann Burt.