Public Health Leadership Scholars: Day Four- July 12th, 2018

On the fourth day of PHLS we became Washingtonians. We did as the locals do and took the Metro up to Bethesda, Maryland for a tour of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Library of Medicine (NLM). A guide toured us and a few new NIH interns around the world’s largest biomedical library, explaining how health professionals and students like us are able to utilize NLM’s vast print collection and electronic information resources from anywhere across the globe. In addition, since we were already feeling like locals, we took the time to get NLM library cards, just in case we needed to check something out to read on the Metro. According to its website, NLM also “supports and conducts research, development, and training in biomedical informatics and health information technology.”

Resources like MedlinePlus, PubMed, and the Digital Collections are available to the public at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/portals/public.html. HOSA chapters can also request to participate in NLM’s Exhibition Program online at the same link.

The tour of NLM concluded with a look into some of the 28 million-strong collection’s rare works, including a first edition Notes on Nursing by Florence Nightingale whose publisher felt her book wouldn’t do too well and had printed as cheaply as possible, and one of approximately 1000 copies remaining first editions of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species.



Back on the Metro (as true Washingtonians do), we headed to the National Museum of Natural History for a tour of the new Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connect World exhibit.


After the engaging and interactive tour of the Outbreak exhibit from Dr. Joseph Annelli, the Scholars traveled back to the O’Neill House Building to hear from the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, Dr. Robert P. Kadlec. As the ASPR, Dr. Kadlec serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on public health matters, and coordinated interdepartmental responses for various health, environmental, and emergency concerns. He spoke about his experience leading up to and in his current position to outline a holistic overview of his unique leadership journey within public health. Dr. Kadlec was able to discuss responses to questions from the scholars ranging from the United States’ inability to withstand a pandemic outbreak to his focus on the core mission of ASPR to effectively lead his department.



Following Dr. Kadlec, the scholars had the privilege of speaking with RADM David Goldman, who serves as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Public Health Science at the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Mr. Goldman led a discussion with the scholars about his work with Food Safety Inspection  Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as with the One Health initiative outlining the constant interaction between people, animals, and the environment. RADM David Goldman shared his work in outbreak investigations in linking the infection levels back to a specific source, a process used frequently to account for the 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses per year. Before departing, Mr. Goldman left the scholars with the advice to stand out through willingness to take responsibility and be the individuals willing to provide assistance when needed.

After a long yet rewarding day, the scholars headed back to the hotel to relax and process information from the week before heading out for a short adventure that led them to find delicious Indian food.

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