Hi everyone! We have four EMTS members running for two positions (EMTS Chair-Elect and MLA Nominating Committee Nominee) in 2012. Here is a bio or personal statement for each candidate.
Running for MLA Nominating Committee Nominee:
Wayne Loftus
Web Services Coordinator
Health Sciences Libraries of the University of Minnesota
Wayne Loftus is the Web Services Coordinator for the Health Sciences Libraries of the University of Minnesota, a position he has held for five years. He has previously worked at both the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, Texas (recently renamed the Texas Biomedical Research Institute) and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Throughout his career, he has blended a mix of public service and technical responsibilities, working simultaneously as both a liaison librarian and a web developer. He has been active in MLA, at the national- and chapter-level, for many years; he recently completed service on the National Program Committee for MLA 2011 and is currently serving as a member of MLA’s Technology Advisory Committee. His interests lie primarily in the application of technology in the provision of library education.
Gale G. Hannigan
Visiting Professor, Biomedical Informatics and Special Projects Librarian
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center
I have been employed as a medical librarian for 34 years including at the Houston Academy of Medicine/Texas Medical Center, the University of Minnesota Bio-Medical Library, the Upjohn Company, and Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library. I hold an MLS, MPH, and a PhD (Information Science). Most of my career has been spent teaching the use of technology in medicine and public health. EMTS activities include: Treasurer, 1983-85; Chair Elect, 1985-86; Chair, 1986-87; Film Festival Coordinator, 1993; Section Council Alternate, 1987-89; Section Council Representative, 1991-93. I was a member of the MLA Nominating Committee in 2003. My husband and I recently moved to New Mexico and we are enjoying its natural beauty and culture.
Running for Chair-Elect:
Emily Hurst
Technology Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region
Texas Medical Center Library, Houston, TX.
My name is Emily Hurst and I am currently the Technology Coordinator at the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region located at the Texas Medical Center Library in Houston, Texas. I have worked as the technology coordinator for the past two years. I previously worked at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio Briscoe Library where I provided training on a variety of topics as an instructional services librarian. I enjoyed using new technologies in these classes to engage with students and enhance the learning experience. I graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science program in May 2008. While at UNC I worked as a graduate assistant at the Health Sciences Library. I am very active in MLA and enjoying bringing new ideas to the table. I think that as medical librarians we can learn a lot from one another, and I enjoy visiting other medical libraries and learning from other librarians. With EMTS I have been active in the section programming for the 2013 meeting. I have worked closely with other members of EMTS on planning and programming. I have represented EMTS as a moderator. When I am not being a medical librarian I am baking or bike riding. You can find me on Twitter @hurstej I like to share ideas and recipes.
Sheila L. Snow-Croft, MLIS, MA
Public Health Coordinator, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern Atlantic Region
Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland
I have been with the NN/LM SE/A since August 2004, first as Outreach Education Coordinator and currently as Public Health Coordinator. I provide education and training, exhibit, and manage subcontracts and awards provided by the NN/LM SE/A throughout a 13 state and territory region that represents 24% of the nation’s health professionals. I received my MLIS at the University of Alabama in 2002, am an active member of both Southern and Middle Atlantic Chapters of MLA, and have been an active member of EMTS since 2007. I served on the EMTS Highly Recommended Software Wiki Project and am currently on the EMTS Nominating Committee. My interest in educational media and technology truly took off when I began teaching online using WebCT for Virginia College at Birmingham after finishing my MA in English in 1996; my decision to enter the field of health sciences librarianship was based in part on the field’s focus on technology and the recognition of its importance in successfully meeting information needs. I attended the first MLA Institute for Distance Education, learned Moodle and put the SE/A’s first two classes online, and continue to teach via several different types of distance education software. Along with my rabid collection of mobile devices and love of social networking, I stay on top of software such as Adobe Connect and host regional webinars along with traveling throughout the SE/A region providing an average of over 50 classes per year.