Abstract
The public health liaison and research reviews librarians partnered with the MDMPH program to pilot a scoping review initiative in support of evidence synthesis in global health education. This poster explores the development of a scoping review instruction program and addressing the unique challenges of supporting internationally dispersed student teams. Insights on collaboration, student success, and advancing health equity will be shared, offering valuable takeaways for librarians and educators in similar ventures.
Background:
Inspired by personal research consultations, the MDMPH program director sought the Libraries’ help to facilitate extracurricular evidence synthesis projects to meet students’ research ambitions. The five-year dual degree program is designed to educate and mentor medical students aiming for careers in global health and health equity with a mission to eliminate health disparities by ensuring fair access to quality healthcare. The Libraries had recently formalized an evidence synthesis service that would scaffold as more liaisons developed from different skill and experience levels but there was no precedent for programmatic instruction. The proposal included additional complexity by involving international partner institutions (part of the MDMPH equity mission), with participating students dispersed globally across these institutions during the project.
Description:
This poster presents the public health and research reviews librarians’ experience creating a scoping review pilot initiative with the MDMPH program. The librarians will share their process of translating a faculty/staff oriented service and educating while collaborating with MDMPH faculty on a new instruction program that spans (a)synchronous and virtual and in-person support. The MDMPH student cohort has completed their second year of medical school training and is in their dedicated master’s of public health year abroad at their respective international sites. The pilot kicked off in May 2024; there are currently four student teams undertaking four unique reviews. The poster will also share insights into student and institutional partner concerns, needs, and obstacles in working across geographic and institutional boundaries in support of both student success and global information and health equity.
Conclusion:
This poster will demonstrate the process and lessons learned of the first ten months of the scoping review pilot initiative. The librarians will share future plans for supporting the student review teams moving into their next stages and conducting assessment of the pilot. The librarians will share next steps of communication and collaboration with MDMPH leadership who have remained excited about continuing the initiative for future cohorts, which is especially critical as the next cohort of MDMPH students will be embarking on their dedicated MPH year in May 2025. This poster aims to add to the collective knowledge of evidence synthesis instruction and support by sharing one libraries’ processes, findings, and reflections with other librarians who may be contemplating – or are already conducting! – similar ventures with their communities.