For 24 years, Kyle Bowman has been a dedicated member of the university community, with the last six years spent enriching the Health Sciences Library as a member of the library’s executive team. His journey, however, began long before his tenure at the university, rooted in growing up in New York City and his military service from 1992 to 1999 following his high school graduation.

Kyle joined the military as Operation Desert Storm was concluding. After completing boot camp, he was stationed in Germany and Italy, where he gained invaluable experiences that have shaped his professional ethos. Reflecting on his military service, Kyle emphasizes the importance of allowing subordinates the freedom to explore and develop beyond their job descriptions. He believes that failure can be a powerful learning tool and stresses the significance of supporting and defending team members externally, while addressing any issues privately.

One of the most profound lessons Kyle carried with him throughout his life is the value of diversity. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Kyle has always embraced diverse cultures and perspectives. His military service further reinforced this appreciation, as he worked alongside and reported to a wide array of individuals from different backgrounds.  “Getting diverse views and perspectives when it comes to problem-solving comes natural to me and something I always seek out,” Kyle said.

Kyle’s understanding of the challenges veterans face in the workforce is personal. As a member of the executive committee for the UVA Military Veterans Employee Group, he is committed to providing ongoing support to veterans. The group’s initiatives extend beyond Veterans Day, including sponsoring breakfasts around Grounds and discussing ideas such as development of a mentoring program. In addition, the Group has discussed veteran support ideas, such as assisting veterans in translating their military skills into a civilian resume.

The Health Sciences Library takes great pride in Kyle’s service and contributions. His leadership and dedication have made a significant impact, and the library is honored to be his workplace home. Kyle Bowman’s story is a testament to the enduring value of military service and the positive influence veterans can have in the civilian workforce.

“Library Involvement and Librarian Roles in DNP Education: Supporting Information Needs of Nursing Practice Doctoral Programs” by Amanda Datesman, MLIS, RN, AHIIP

Amanda Datesman, who serves as the library's liaison to the School of Nursing, recently presented her research at the Mid-Atlantic and Southern chapters of the Medical Library Association in Charleston, South Carolina. Her study examined the crucial role of libraries and librarians in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education, highlighting opportunities to incorporate library resources into the curriculum, enhance information literacy, and support evidence-based practice. The presentation encouraged collaboration between librarians and nursing educators and discussed innovative methods to utilize library services to meet DNP program requirements.

Her presentation garnered significant interest, as demonstrated by the numerous questions she received during the Q&A session. To reach Amanda, please email her at arg5g@virginia.edu.

Recent technology upgrades have been made to two classrooms at the Health Sciences Library. David Moody, the library’s IT director, explains the changes.

What's new in the classrooms? We've installed a Zoom conferencing system in our Carter and Tolleson classrooms to make hybrid teaching easier. There are now two cameras: one for the presenter and one for the students, which allows remote participants to see both the lecturer and participants in the room. Plus, we've added a new microphone system to ensure clear audio. 

Why did you choose a Zoom conferencing system? One of the main challenges was meeting the varied needs of our users. The solution had to work for in-person training, hybrid meetings on non-Zoom platforms, and include versatile screen sharing for non-classroom purposes. We chose the Zoom system because it's centrally supported, which means better support and ease of use. While using a consumer product means sticking to its design and giving up some control, the benefits of extended support, versatility, and the ability to grow the solution outweigh these limitations.

Does it have any AI features? AI Companion is built into the system to take notes and summarize meetings. 

How can patrons reserve the space, and is support available? To reserve Carter and Tolleson, please use the self-service Resource Scheduler, the library’s Ask Us form, or contact the Service Desk at 434-924-5444, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

If someone is unfamiliar with the equipment, it is recommended to schedule a meeting with our IT team before the class begins, ideally the day before. A team member will go over the system and ensure compatibility with any equipment the user plans to bring.  Classroom support is available from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday. 

Finally, please note that each classroom has a resident PC, so bringing a laptop is optional. The PCs don't require login for basic functions, but clinical tools need hospital login credentials.

For additional information, please contact David Moody, CMHSL IT director, at dam8u@virginia.edu.

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024, 12-1pm EST

Historical Collections Reading Room 

Basement Level

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

We have reached maximum capacity for in-person attendance. 

Hybrid Zoom Link (no registration required): https://virginia.zoom.us/j/93317112561?pwd=b8aEUc4MROJGhL4XqvTEiHumuzxLiY.1

Many of us have been told at some point in our lives to stand or sit up straight—and usually, with a sense of guilt or embarrassment, we unthinkingly comply. That good posture is beneficial and important to one’s health is a truism that we rarely examine or question. To critically analyze this belief, Dr. Beth Linker explores the historical origins of the posture sciences in the early twentieth century. Dr. Linker explains how, despite a lack of physical evidence, upright posture became a widely accepted indicator of health and failures of form a sign of future disability and disease.

Beth Linker is the Samuel H. Preston Endowed Term Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of the History and Sociology of Science. Her research and teaching interests include the history of science and medicine, disability, health care policy, and gender. She is the author of War’s Waste: Rehabilitation in World War I America (Chicago, 2011) and co-editor of Civil Disabilities: Citizenship, Membership, and Belonging (Penn Press, 2014). Her most recent book, Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America (Princeton University Press, 2024), is a historical consideration of how poor posture became a feared pathology in the United States throughout much of the twentieth century. For this project, Linker received grants from The American Council of Learned Societies, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The National Institutes of Health, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

This Medical Center Hour session is sponsored by Historical Collections at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library and The Center for Health Humanities and Ethics at the UVA School of Medicine.