Hello! I am Erin, a new Librarian here at Banner Health based out of Iowa. Technically, the geographic region I live in, coined the "Quad Cities", is particularly unique in that it comprises both cities, Iowa & Illinois, that  straddle the mighty, muddy Mississippi River. It's typical for people to live in Iowa and work in Illinois (or visa versa) since a commute consists of a quick jaunt over one of three local bridges. But how cool is it that I also get to work with you in Arizona as well as many other beautiful states in the Southwest!  I am grateful to work with such a savvy, dedicated, and compassionate team. 

Supporting you in making healthcare easier so life can be better resonates with me. It is truly my honor to help you in caring for others in their most vulnerable time. Being at another's mercy in times of sickness can be healing or harmful and sometimes both.

I derive satisfaction and purpose in working where living, breathing human beings intersect with information systems. When you arrive at a fork in the road, consider me a guide who can point you toward an easier and quicker route.  Because information systems are unwieldy and downright frustrating, I strive to humanize those interactions and to help make them meaningful. All you have to do to summon me or my colleagues in real-time is start a live chat on the library website or power on that Jabra headset and catch me on Teams!  Poof! Instant medical librarian. 

In my 13-year career--7 of those in health libraries--I have learned that improving access to authoritative and evidence-based information influences decision-making efforts. That decision-making affects real people: it translates directly into developing treatment plans, diagnosing rare illnesses, or implementing practice changes. It is an understatement to say that access to high-quality clinical information is a big deal!

It is my hope that you reach out to me or another Banner Library staff member to support you in making healthcare easier. If you have a positive experience with a medical library staff member, we would be grateful if you would please share that experience. 

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I figured it might also be fun to share some personal tidbits of information to endear myself to you over the miles. Here is a picture of me in my natural habitat:) Since this picture was taken, my beloved green faux fur coat met its untimely demise after being (accidentally) tossed into a dryer. This photo was taken in the "Village of East Davenport", a small residential neighborhood on the banks of the muddy Mississippi river. Some of my favorite coffee, wine, food, and clothing is located here!

Who is your hero?: So many. Too many to name. Lots of them are musicians or artists like Prince or Billie Holiday. I could ramble on and on! One of my long-time heroes, though, is Janis Joplin. She defied the social and gender constraints of her time and found her own voice. Though she lived in another time, I have always admired her work ethic. She relentlessly obsessed over her craft, practicing the vocal delivery of one song hundreds of times to perfect and polish it. Ultimately, my heroes are underdogs. Find me someone defying odds and facing adversity and you have found my heroes!

What would you sing at Karaoke night? Haha. Good one. The last couple of times I sang "Tyrone" by Erykah Badu and "Something To Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt. 

What was the last movie you went to? So, pre-pandemic. It has been SO long. It was The Conjuring 2. It was horrifying and kind of cheesy in parts. I genuinely love movies/films though and adore most genres. I will say I watch WAY too much Netflix and Hulu.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Well, I would fear that I would be cursed. Don't people who win the lottery have horrible things happen to them?  In all seriousness, I would open a multi-purpose music/creative cooperative to provide hands-on learning opportunities and resources.  Also, go on a "food tour": I'd go to Thailand to eat khao soi, Korea for bi bim bop, and India for one of my favorite dishes. I'd also learn to invest and get a souped-up bus or van and tour the country with my family while making music. I guess these are all things to put on the visionboard! 

Thanks for taking the time to read my writing. I look forward to working with you all and learning more about you, too!