HSLS had a significant presence at this year’s Medical Library Association (MLA) Annual Meeting, which took place in Pittsburgh for the first time. Several members of our library team showcased our innovative services through informative presentations, while others contributed their time and expertise as part of the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC), welcoming colleagues from across the country to our city. We were especially proud to spotlight Street Medicine at Pitt as our local service project.
Empowering Future Scientists Through Research: The Health Sciences Research Training Program
The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Research Training Program (RTP) offers high school and undergraduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in biomedical research. Designed to cultivate interest in science, medicine, and health professions, the RTP provides a structured, non-credit, unpaid educational experience that fosters curiosity, collaboration, and career exploration.
Participants in the RTP:
- Gain exposure to biomedical research in specific fields
- Learn foundational skills in literature review, data analysis, and scientific inquiry
- Explore potential career paths with guidance from experienced mentors
- Build connections within a community of researchers
HSLS Bids Farewell to Retiree Gosia Fort
Dr. Małgorzata Fort has concluded a highly successful and notable career at the University of Pittsburgh. Małgorzata, known to many as Gosia, worked at HSLS for 26 consecutive years, most recently as Head of Digital Resource Development (2012-2025). Her service to the University also includes three years as an officer in the University Senate, where she served as Secretary from 2019 to 2022. Continue reading
Learn @ HSLS: File Naming Best Practices
Join us for this class:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 11 a.m.-noon, Online
Taught by Melissa Ratajeski
Register for File Naming Best Practices*
“What’s in a name?” When you create a new file, do you give much thought to the name you save it as? This class focuses on best practices for naming files so that they are easily found, understood, and sharable in the future.
Upon completing this class, you should be able to:
- Recognize file names that are poorly constructed.
- State the ISO Standard for Unambiguous Dates.
- Create a file naming convention for your own project or group of files.
Happening at Falk Library in May
Visitors to Falk Library, located in Alan Magee Scaife Hall, are encouraged to check out these opportunities and displays:
On Display
70 Years of “Scope and Scalpel” (Display Cases, Main Floor and Lower Floor)
Memorabilia ranging from the first med student production of “PSM IV” in 1955 to the most recent productions are on display in anticipation of the PittMed Class of 2025’s spring production, The Little Murmur, this month. Playbills, posters, video, and audio recordings from the Special Collections of Falk Library show off the spoofed movies and TV series over seven decades.
As the Years Go By – Scope and Scalpel Poster Retrospective (Wall Gallery, Lower Floor)
Newly framed posters from the Scope and Scalpel collection adorn the new gallery walls outside the Rare Book Room and Quiet Study Rooms. Braille descriptions are available below each poster.
Scope and Scalpel memorabilia accompany an array of digitized production materials. Selected ones are presented in the Scope and Scalpel online exhibit, and more digitized materials are available through the Scope and Scalpel collection finding aid.
HSLS Staff News
The HSLS Staff News section includes recent HSLS presentations, publications, staff changes, staff promotions, degrees earned, and more.
News
Stephen Gabrielson, Scholarly Communication Librarian, was elected as Chair-Elect (2025-2026) and Chair (2026-2027) for the Scholarly Communications Caucus of the Medical Library Association.
Presentation
Alyssa Young, Research and Instruction Librarian, presented:
Young, Alyssa. “Evaluating Generative AI Tools in Clinical and Research Practice.” UPMC Hamot Patricia Ladds Research Day, 4 April 2025, Erie, PA. Keynote Address.