Health Sciences Library Informationist Finds Passion in University Outreach

Don Jason thrives when helping others. As a clinical informationist for the University of Cincinnati’s Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, Jason provides library resources to the UC Medical Center.

Jason starts each workday answering patrons’ research questions.

From journal article requests to assistance on complicated literature reviews, Jason contributes to the process of UC’s cutting-edge health research.  

But that’s just the beginning. From there, he gears up to teach a class on a clinical data capture tool called REDCap, and follows up the course with a few one-on-one consultations on the tool.

He often works through lunch, meeting with colleagues to brainstorm ideas on grant proposals. He attends meetings for the UC Libraries Executive Committee and contributes to the leadership and strategic planning and development for the library.

He’ll cap off his day with self-guided professional training, like completing an online webinar or reading a pertinent article on health information.

“I enjoy learning,” he said. “I strive to learn something new every day.”

Jason earned his MLIS and MS in Health Informatics from Kent State University. While he was in graduate school, Jason made several trips to the UC Libraries. Originally from Cincinnati, Jason was interested to see what UC had to offer.

“One thing that stood out to me was the approachability of the UC Libraries leadership team,” he said. “It was so easy to build rapport with the dean, associate deans and their cabinet of advisers. The conversation flowed naturally and I felt comfortable expressing my ideas and opinions.”

He said everyone he met with at UC seemed genuinely interested in his professional success and career goals.

Before moving back to Cincinnati, Jason lived in Maryland and participated in a year-long associate fellowship with the National Institute of Health — National Library of Medicine. His research interests include: defining core competencies for health information outreach and measuring the impact of library instruction.

“I like the idea of defining core competencies to increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace,” he said.

Jason said he’s glad to be back in his hometown, working for UC. His favorite aspect of UC is its diversity.

“The university gives me the unparalleled opportunity to interact with people from around the world,” he said “I truly enjoy hearing about different counties and cultures. The university allows me to meet people that I might not encounter otherwise.”

Under Dr. Beverly Davenport’s leadership, the Office of the Provost has invested more than $800,000 in diverse, strategic faculty hires.

“We, as a university, are committed to supporting a more diverse, inclusive faculty. It is our mission to attract and retain top talent at UC,” Davenport said. “Don’s work for UC Libraries, his ambition and skill contribute to the excellence we strive for at the University.”

Jason’s passion is rooted in interactions with others. His favorite career moments occur when he’s able to engage in outreach on behalf of the library.

“The library participated in a health and technology fair that was a component of UC Research Week,” he said. “The fair attracted members of the public along with UC faculty, staff and students, and I really enjoyed interacting with all of these stakeholders and answering their questions.”

Jason encourages students to be ambitious during college but to remain cautious about overextending themselves.

“I would encourage students to celebrate the success and accomplishments of their peers,” he said. “It costs nothing to congratulate someone on a job well done.”