Region 4 Professional Development Awards

The Professional Development Award aims to enhance the expertise and experience of NNLM Region 4 network members in areas such as data science and health information access/delivery. It focuses on building professional capacity to support NNLM's mission and enabling libraries and other organizations to train staff for delivering reliable health information. The grant supports professional development beyond usual organizational associations, covering activities like classes, conferences, or workshops for individuals or groups associated with NNLM institutional members. Project ideas may introduce students to health sciences, prepare individuals for leadership roles in medical libraries, promote reading clubs with a focus on health information access, cover speaker expenses for educational talks, and include educational activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The grant encourages applications that describe how the proposed professional development activity will enhance the applicant's ability to provide improved health information access related library services to their communities, focusing on both individual and institutional development within fields such as patient safety, diversity, and data services. Successful applications will demonstrate collaboration between community-based health organizations, public health organizations, and libraries to address the health information needs of NNLM priority populations. Proposals should align with NNLM Region 4's core aims, including creating inclusive programming, increasing access to health information, and supporting a well-trained workforce in biomedical and health information sciences.