The Importance of the Institution of a Robotic Curriculum on Resident Training and Performance

In 2018, general surgery topped the number of robotic cases. Over 90% of residents participate, but only 65% of programs have a formal curriculum, and less than half track progress. Many are insufficient at training due to an observational role. This paper reviews Marshall University General Surgery Residency program’s robotic curriculum, which started in 2018. The curriculum consists of a weekend course and simulations, enabling residents obtain certification. Residents participated in Intuitive’s Resident Robotic Olympics with first place in 2019 and second and third place in 2020. For the 2021 year, the robotic curriculum was revised into phases based on year. Deadlines and forms help improve and track progress. It is important to develop a curriculum with a protocol for training, monitoring, and credentialing to ensure proficiency. Marshall University General Surgery robotic curriculum has been successful at improving robotic skill, enabling residents to obtain a robotic surgery certification upon graduation.

Pre- and post- Covid-19 Outreach Experiences at Marshall University Libraries

This article will provide insight into how MU Libraries’ cross-departmental system has evolved over the years, and how the recent finalization of their Outreach Plan led to a successful transition to online outreach during the COVID pandemic. Specifically, the authors will address: the history of library outreach at the university; the formation of the Outreach Librarian position; the audit the Outreach librarian performed on the library’s practices; the creation of an Outreach committee and subsequent Outreach Plan guide; and, how the library adapted their approach during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020.

Breece D’J Pancake

Although Breece D’J Pancake published only a handful of short stories during his brief life, their mastery has secured him a high ranking in Appalachian literature. Born and reared in Milton, West Virginia, Pancake completed his BA degree in English education at Marshall University in 1974. He taught at two military high schools, Fort Union and Staunton, before studying creative writing at the University of Virginia. Pancake felt culturally at odds with the university’s traditionally elite student body, and while there, he cultivated a “mountain man” persona. (In truth, Pancake did enjoy hunting and fishing throughout his life.) Pancake’s unusual middle name was the result of a printer’s error at the ...

Ending the Silence: Utilizing Personal Experiences to Enhance a Library Mental Health Initiative

This article summarizes a panel presentation given at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington D.C. (June 22, 2019). The panel consisted of Sabrina Thomas, research and instruction librarian at Marshall University; Leah Tolliver, director of wellness programs and the Women’s and Gender Center at Marshall University; C. Michelle Alford, senior library IT consultant at Marshall University; and Kacy Lovelace, research and student success librarian at Marshall University. Tenikka Phillips, EAP coordinator at Cabell Huntington Hospital, worked extensively on the project but was unable to take part in the panel presentation. The following is a conversation between Sabrina Thomas and Kacy Lovelace discussing how their own personal experiences with mental health challenges and trauma served to enhance the mental health initiative in their academic library.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Statistics and Probability, Vol. 8, No. 6

International Journal of Statistics and Probability wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Their help and contributions in maintaining the quality of the journal is greatly appreciated. Many authors, regardless of whether International Journal of Statistics and Probability publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Reviewers for Volume 8, Number 6   Carla J. Thompson, University of West Florida, USA Felix Almendra-Arao, UPIITA del Instituto Politécnico Nacional , México Gabriel A. Okyere, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Kassim S. Mwitondi, Sheffield Hallam University, UK Krishna K. Saha, Central Connecticut State University, USA Mohieddine Rahmouni, University of Tunis, Tunisia Nahid Sanjari Farsipour, Alzahra University, Iran Olusegun Michael Otunuga, Marshall University, USA Philip Westgate, University of Kentucky, USA Sajid Ali, Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan Shatrunjai Pratap Singh, John Hancock Financial Services, USA Tomás R. Cotos-Yáñez, University of Vigo, Spain Vyacheslav Abramov, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia Wei Zhang, The George Washington University, USA Weizhong Tian, Eastern New Mexico University, USA Wojciech Gamrot, University of Economics, Poland   Wendy Smith On behalf of, The Editorial Board of International Journal of Statistics and Probability Canadian Center of Science and Education

Combining efforts: Libraries as mental health safe spaces

In the face of seemingly insurmountable, persisting problems, what is one thing that you could do to lift that burden in your own space, in your own building, or on your own walls?This defining question led to the creation of Marshall University (MU) Libraries Mental Health Initiative. The initiative began with an art exhibition titled: “Don’t Call Me Crazy: Resiliency through Art.” The goal of this exhibition was to encourage students, faculty, and staff to create artwork informed by mental health or to help process their own mental health. With more than 30 artists and 50 pieces filling the four floors of the library, we used this artwork to launch other aspects of the initiative.

In the News

Welcome to the November 2019 issue of C&RL News. Many academic libraries have begun focusing efforts on addressing the mental health and well being of their populations. Marshall University in West Virginia, one of the states hit hardest by the recent opioid crises, focused on their libraries as mental health safe spaces. Sabrina Thomas and Kacy Lovelace discuss their collaborative campus project in “Combining efforts.” Learn more about resources available for “Mental health awareness” in this month’s Internet Resources article by Emily Underwood.