The Research and Information Services Team strives to meet the educational, clinical, and research needs of the Feinberg School of Medicine community. Read on to learn more about how we can support the information needs of you, your program, or your department.
Liaison Librarians
Are you looking for the liaison librarian for your department, center, or program? Find out who to contact for personal librarian support.
The Research and Information Services Team
Click a name to find out more about that team member's interests and responsibilities. If you don't know who you should contact for your particular need, find the liaison librarian assigned to your department, see the list of services on this page, or contact department head, Linda O'Dwyer directly.
- Linda O'Dwyer: Head, Research & Information Services, Email Linda or call (312) 503-8128
- Molly Beestrum: Education and Curriculum Coordinator, Email Molly or call (312) 503-4508
- Corinne Miller: Clinical Informationist, Email Corinne or call 312-503-5459
- Jonna Peterson: Senior Clinical Informationist, Email Jonna or call (312) 503-5431
- Q. Eileen Wafford: Research Librarian, Email Eileen or call (312) 503-5294
- Annie Wescott: Research Librarian, Email Annie or call (312) 503-0397
Literature Searches and Systematic Review Support
The library offers several search assistance models, depending on your needs.
Search consultations: If you're about to embark on a research project and would like some tips on which databases you should use or how best to phrase your search terminology, then contact us to arrange a search consultation. Search consultations are particularly useful for individuals beginning a literature review in support of a funding proposal or for those who are beginning a systematic review and don't feel comfortable working with search terminology and databases beyond MEDLINE. We can help you develop a search strategy that fits your needs.
For literature search assistance, contact your liaison librarian or complete our Ask a Librarian form.
Systematic review support: Many people are familiar with MEDLINE/PubMed but don't have experience drafting comprehensive searches or searching other databases recommended for systematic reviews. Galter librarians have co-authored 60+ systematic and scoping reviews, and are happy to collaborate with you. For more information, see our Systematic Review Guide or contact Linda O'Dwyer.
There is currently no charge for literature searches or systematic review support performed for currently-affiliated Feinberg faculty, staff, students, and residents. Alumni with in-depth literature or historical research needs may be charged an hourly rate for library services.
Library Workshops and Training By Request
The Galter Library offers monthly classes in PubMed, EndNote, and more.
See our current class schedule | See our list of research guides
If you cannot attend a regularly-scheduled class, you can set up a training appointment with one of our librarians. We can also conduct training for you, your department, or your group.* All training is currently being done using Zoom meeting software. Contact us by email.
*By request training and consultations are available for Feinberg School of medicine faculty, staff, and students only. If you are affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics or Lurie Children's Hospital, please contact Lurie librarian, Andrea Fawcett.
Bioinformatics and Basic Sciences Support and Collaboration
Librarians can partner with basic sciences faculty and researchers to provide timely access to relevant data and literature resources.
The services we offer include:
- Visiting departments to alert users of new resources
- Directing users to appropriate resources
- Creating subject and program based resource guides
- Assisting with text based search systems
- Scheduling workshops by experts on the use of bioinformatics databases and other research tools
Contact Pamela Shaw, Biosciences & Bioinformatics Librarian at (312) 503-8689, email Pamela, or visit her professional profile for more information.
Curriculum Support
Librarians can work with faculty to integrate information management skills into your course.
We can provide:
- Hands-on sessions
- Demonstrations in the classroom
- Flexibility - we will work with your schedule
- Training in library resources such as literature databases and educational software
- EBM search skills training
Contact Molly Beestrum, Education and Curriculum Coordinator, to get started.
Residents and Clinical Departments
Clinical Informationists are librarians with specialized training to help residency programs fulfill information competencies as well as provide information management training to your clinical faculty and staff. Each department or program is assigned a liaison librarian. See which librarian has been assigned to your department or program.
Here are some of the services we can offer:
- Search training in Evidence Based Medicine principles
- Informationist participation in morning reports, rounds and other departmental meetings
- Journal club assistance
- Information competencies and outcomes assessment
- Resource recommendations
Research Impact and Metrics Services and Support
The library offers expertise in bibliometrics, data visualization, continuous improvement, information systems and alternative metrics through the Metrics and Impact Core. The core provides extensive advisory services for researchers, groups or departments on topics such as:
- developing successful publishing strategies
- managing or tracking publications
- maintaining an impactful online identity
- measuring or assessing research impact by discipline
- communicating research impact to audiences
Contact Karen Gutzman, Head, Research Assessment and Communications, at 312-503-8121, email Karen, or visit the Metrics and Impact Core page for more information.
Historical Research Assistance
The Galter Library is open to Northwestern University faculty, staff members, students, and alumni; however, the Special Collections Reading Room is open to all scholars who wish to use the Library's historical materials. Please contact us prior to coming to the Library for information on how to access the collection. We can be reached at 312-503-8133, by email, or by U.S. mail: 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
Reference and research services are available in person and by telephone, email, or postal service. Services are generally available 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, preferably by appointment.
Updated: November 23, 2020