Texas A&M Librarian Receives Award For Work Supporting Veterinarians
Heather K. Moberly, the coordinator of veterinary information and research services at the Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library, has received the 2020/2021 Michael E. DeBakey Library Services Outreach Award for her esteemed work providing crucial support and knowledge to practicing veterinarians.
The Michael E. DeBakey Award, presented by the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM), was established in the 1990s to recognize contributions to medical education and librarianship by DeBakey, a world-renowned cardiac surgeon, medical educator, and international medical statesman. It recognizes practicing librarians of health sciences who work in the tradition of DeBakey’s medical innovations and advances by providing valuable health information to underserved and rural populations.
“I am honored by this recognition,” Moberly said. “To have veterinarians recognized as an underserved population related to information is an important step in the path to resolving that inequity. My goal is to help create information skill independence in our students and veterinary teams.
“I’m pleased that the work I, and others, put into improving access to veterinary information is being acknowledged and appreciated,” she said. “Our work with evidence-based veterinary medicine—in both the curriculum and in continuing education—is vital.”
Moberly began her career as a science librarian in 1996 and has worked in the fields of life sciences, agricultural sciences, and, finally, veterinary sciences. Her career took her to Penn State University, Oklahoma State University, and the National Agricultural Library before bringing her to Texas A&M.
During her time as a veterinary librarian, Moberly has worked alongside practicing veterinarians to improve their use of and access to information essential to providing quality veterinary care.
“I am pleased to have Heather recognized for her tireless work and continued innovation in supporting evidence-based practice for veterinarians through education, tools, and open access initiatives,” said Stephanie Fulton, associate dean and director of the Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library, the primary library for the Department of Health & Kinesiology, School of Public Health, and colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
“She truly represents the spirit of the Michael E. DeBakey Library Services Outreach Award with her career-long outreach work in supporting practicing veterinarians,” Fulton said.
Moberly’s work reinforces veterinarians’ ability to provide the high-quality medical care and advancements that the CVMBS is known for.
“I have no doubt that Heather’s work has led to improved veterinary medical care and evidence-based practice for food producing animals,” said Dr. Virginia Fajt, a clinical professor in the CVMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP).
Moberly is scheduled to receive her award in Washington, D.C., at the FNLM Annual Awards Dinner in September 2021.
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Story by Marissa Vargas, CVMBS Communications
For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of CVMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu; 979-862-4216
