The Medical Library Association has chosen Dr. Jodi Philbrick, senior lecturer in the Department of Information Science, as one of five faculty to help lead the Medical Research Training Institute, (RTI) for Health Sciences Librarians. Recognizing the need for health science librarians to be competent in research, the MLA Research Training Institute was developed to "provide practicing health sciences librarians with an opportunity to immerse themselves in instruction and focused activities related to scholarly research, inquiry and publishing."
Philbrick is among five recognized faculty who are experts in a range of research areas who will lead the Institute.
"I am very honored to have the opportunity to be part of this exciting initiative to train health sciences librarians how to become producers of high quality research in the area of health information," Philbrick said.
The Research Training Institute aims to ensure that an increasing number of health sciences librarians will have the necessary research skills, enabling them to become more effective health information providers to health care professionals, patients, and consumers. The program will offer a blend of instruction in research design, mentoring, support for participants to complete their own research projects, membership in a research community of practice, and scholarship support. Faculty will help librarians "use, create, and apply research-based evidence to enhance decision-making, address user needs, communicate library value, and support quality health care."
Applications for the program closed in December 2017, and MLA was pleased to announce that they had received a number of high-caliber applicants. Twenty participants will be chosen for the Institute, and will be notified in March. Participants will then meet for a week at the Library of the Health Sciences-Chicago, LHS-Chicago, at the University of Illinois–Chicago, from July 9-13 for the face-to-face component.
The program is funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is a partnership with other organizations, including the Association of Academic Health Science Libraries, Research Institute for Public Libraries and Sage Publishing.
Philbrick is pleased to have been selected to be a part of what she thinks is a very important initiative for health sciences librarians, she said. A very active member of the MLA, Philbrick served as the chair of MLA Section Council and member of the board of directors from 2012–2017. She was also the recipient of the MLA President’s Award in 2017 for her service to Section Council, work on the Task Force to Review MLA’s Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success, and participation in the Rising Star’s Program. She is currently serving as the Interim Editor for the MLA News. In addition to her role as a senior lecturer in the IS Department, Philbrick has also served as the Assistant Director for the IS Houston program.