Laupus Library Recognizes 127 Health Sciences Authors | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post, Kelly R. Dilda, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

    Faculty and staff from across East Carolina University's Division of Health Sciences gathered in an annual celebration of research and scholarship.

    The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library held its 12th Health Sciences Author Recognition Awards at the Hilton Greenville on Nov. 14, sponsored by the Friends of Laupus Library.

    "It's a privilege to host this event to honor the faculty and staff who've expanded and enriched the scholarly culture of our university and reputation of the division of health sciences," said Beth Ketterman, director of Laupus Library. "It is truly inspiring to see this breadth of research."

    There were 127 authors honored this year, who published 440 qualified peer-reviewed publications including journal articles, book chapters and other creative works between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. Twelve books were also published by 10 authors this year.


Dr. Nicholas Benson, Vice Dean for the Brody School of Medicine presents a Laupus medallion to book author, Roger Russell, Assistant Director of User Services for Laupus Library. (Photo by Layne Carpenter)
    Dr. Robert Orlikoff, dean for the College of Allied Health Sciences, recognized a record-breaking number of authors and publications from the college since the beginning of the awards program.

    "It is so important to recognize our faculty scholars," said Orlikoff. "We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of maximizing student success but we don't do enough to recognize that it's the scholarship and dedication of our faculty that makes student success possible."

    Authors from Laupus Library, the Brody School of Medicine, the College of Nursing and the School of Dental Medicine were also recognized.

    Dr. Joseph Lee, assistant professor for the Department of Health Education and Promotion in the College of Health and Human Performance, gave special remarks about the important role of the library's systematic review services in the advancement of research. Lee has worked closely with Laupus librarians to successfully conduct and complete systematic reviews.

    Lee's work includes documenting health disparities for LGBT people, seeking to understand the origins of those disparities, and identifying and evaluating policy interventions to improve health equity. He also conducts studies of tobacco prevention and control with an eye towards public health policy and reduction of disparities.

    "I think it's perfect that Laupus Library hosts this recognition of scholarly achievements and I think that both in terms of making sure that we have access to the right information and to the skills and services I have access to as a user of the library," he said.

    "As the research enterprise grows at ECU, the library will expand its services to partner with our researchers in disseminating and publishing information," said Ketterman. "We look forward to expanding the event in years to come to recognize our faculty and staff and their collective efforts to increase the knowledgebase of the health science."

    Registration for the 2017-18 author awards will begin in February. More information about the annual awards ceremony - including a complete listing of this year's published authors - is available online at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/laupuslibrary/HSAR/.