The Carla J. Funk Health Sciences Fellowship is a paid, one-semester opportunity ($4,500) with the IU Bloomington Libraries' Sciences Department. The successful candidate will be passionate about the intersection of health disparities and equity of information access and how these may be woven into Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) to serve the IU Libraries’ Mission. Junior and Senior level Undergraduates and Graduate Students in IUB Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering degree programs with current or previous course-work and/or projects focused in health-related fields are encouraged to apply.

The goal of the Funk Fellowship is to help support collaborative care with the corresponding schools and departments housed in the Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center (RHAC) through the lens of an academic library.

What is Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE)? IPE refers to occasions when all learners are systematically prepared to collaborate across professions and with people living in communities to improve population and individual health outcomes through high-quality interprofessional care. (IU IPE updated curriculum). The involved people include: health professionals, health workers, students, residents, patients, families and communities. IPE ensures that these folks learn together every day to enhance collaboration and improve health outcomes while reducing costs. (About NEXUS IPE).

What is the Bloomington Health Sciences Building? The IUB Health Sciences Building is attached to the new IU Health Bloomington Hospital and houses many health science disciplines, including: Nursing, Social Work, Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, and the Bloomington Program of the Medical School. Within the RHAC, the Health Sciences Research Center is a new space managed by the IU Libraries Sciences Department and will serve as the hub for meeting with students, faculty, and staff in these disciplines.

Fellowship Details:

Compensation: $4,500 to be paid during the Spring 2024 semester.

Position description: Fellowship recipient agrees to work 180 hours (approximately 12 hours/week) during the Spring 2024 semester: January 8, 2023- April 26, 2024.

This work involves:

  • Shadowing the Health Sciences Librarians (Amy Minix and Emily Alford) in the IU Libraries Research Center Office in the Health Sciences Building (4-6 hours/week; 45/46 Bypass in Bloomington) during the Spring 2024 semester.
    • This time will primarily be used as a learning experience to discuss and plan the proposed project. Some time will be spent assisting with library services as needed (research consultations, small projects, etc.)
  • Self-directed tasks that build on the student’s project.
  • Completing a written reflection on the Fellowship and project experience to the Libraries’ Sciences Department at the end of the semester.

We currently anticipate these activities to be conducted in person, but we are monitoring the health and safety of our staff and will change direction as appropriate and in concert with the IU administration.

We are providing citations that speak to these concerns in a Zotero Bibliography: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2802399/ipe_iubloomington. Applicants are encouraged to consider these sources.

Qualifications:

  • Junior or Senior Undergraduate status OR Graduate Student status in degree programs in the IU Bloomington Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
  • Strong interest in pursuing professional or research opportunities in health sciences information-intensive field(s).
  • Receptive to learn and participate in a collaborative, team-based environment.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks based on time sensitivity.
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills.
  • Demonstrated interest to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEISJ).  For context, academic libraries have expressed their commitment through statements like the following: Medical Library Association Core Values, and the Association of College & Research Libraries Diversity Alliance Program Principles, of which IU Libraries is a member.

Application deadline: Materials due Thursday, November 30th, 2023

To apply: Submit the following information as e-mail attachments to Amy Minix, alminix@iu.edu, Neuro-Health Sciences Librarian. Please use the subject line: Funk Fellowship 2024.

  • Cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position.
    • Please address what you think the importance of health literacy is and how librarians can be an active leader in spearheading health literacy initiatives. As the potential Funk Fellow, what concepts of health literacy are most interesting or important to you? 
  • Current resume/CV.

 

About Carla J. Funk

Ms. Funk spent more than 20 years as the executive director of the Medical Library Association and holds a degree in psychology from Northwestern, a MBA in marketing from the University of Chicago, and a Master of Library Science from Indiana University.

After graduating from IU's School of Library and Information Science in 1973, she worked as the adult services librarian and head of technical services for four years at the Northbrook (Ill.) Public Library. In 1977, she became the director at the Warren-Newport Public Library district in Gurnee, Illinois. She then logged nine years with the American Medical Association in Chicago, rising to Director of Medical Student Services.

In 1992, Funk became the executive director of the Medical Library Association where she was responsible for coordinating and executing the MLA's programs and services, including its educational opportunities, publications, and legislative activities.

Ms. Funk was instrumental in establishing Librarians Without Borders, an international training program which increased developing countries' access to electronic health information resources.

Ms. Funk was awarded the American Society for Association Executives Sharon Perry Award Scholarship for outstanding leadership in 2002.

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the United Kingdom awarded her an honorary Fellowship in 2008 for her global leadership in librarianship as a profession and her efforts to promote global health through access to information.

In 2008, the MLA established the Carla J. Funk Governmental Relations Award. It honors medical librarians who follow the Donor's example of excellence in promoting engagement with federal elected and appointed leaders

Ms. Funk retired as executive director of the MLA in 2015. She received the IU Department of Library and Information Science Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016

Donor stewardship is an IU Libraries’ priority. Ms. Funk’s gift illustrates her commitment to sustaining and enhancing the health information librarian talent pipeline. The Funk Fellow may be asked to submit periodic, brief written updates for Ms. Funk. Schedules permitting, the Libraries’ development office may also facilitate personal or virtual visits with Ms. Funk.

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