Medical librarians

What is a medical librarian?

Medical librarians are librarians who have training in searching trusted medical databases and websites to find information on:

• Conditions
• Diseases
• Medicine
• Supplements and herbs 
• Therapy and treatment options

Medical librarians typically have a degree in library science and work for hospitals and medical schools. 

What type of information can a medical librarian provide?

At Children’s Health, our medical librarians are here to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information by checking on accuracy, writers’ authority, bias and whether the information is up to date. They can also help you research specific health topics and sources of information on the health and wellness of your child and family.

These are some of the things they can help you with:

• Newly diagnosed conditions
• Procedures and treatments
• Nutrition and dietary information
• Clinical trials

Trusted websites 

In addition to the childrens.com and our Health and Wellness Library, you can trust these websites. Feel free to stop by the library or email the Family Resource Libraries. Please review our library disclaimer.

• Medline Plus

  The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) created MedlinePlus as a portal of information on hundreds of diseases, conditions, medication and supplements.
  MedlinePlus is available in English and Spanish

• Family Doctor

  Family Doctor is organized by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). All the information has been written and reviewed by AAFP providers and patient education professionals.
  Family Doctor is available in English and Spanish.

• Healthy Children

  Healthy Children is sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The website covers a wide range of topics from prenatal to young adults to everything in between.
  Health Children is available in English and Spanish.

• Kids Health

  KidsHealth is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. All articles, animation, games and other content are reviewed by pediatricians and other medical experts.
  KidsHealth is available in English and Spanish.

• Mayo Clinic

  Mayo Clinic is an extensive and comprehensive collections of health and medical information for patients of all ages. The material is reviewed by Mayo Clinic physicians.
  Mayo Clinic is available in English and Spanish.

Meet the Team

Kelly Ihejiawu, MA

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  Kelly Ihejiawu is the Director of the Family Resource Library and School Services Program at Children’s Health. She earned her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona, where she also received her M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis on inclusion.

  Mrs. Ihejiawu is originally from Tucson, AZ where she began her career in special education in a childcare facility for children with disabilities. She has worked in education for over 25 years.

  Kelly is a graduate of Leadership ISD Legislative Voices class of 2020 in Dallas and focuses on racial equity in public schools. Kelly’s main interest is working with educators to train them on working with students of varying abilities. She is committed to ensuring the best educational outcomes for all students with medical and mental health needs, as well as advancing the profession.

Lauren Dehdari, MLS, MS

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  Lauren Dehdari is a Medical Librarian at Children’s Health. She earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from Texas Woman’s University and M.S. in Sports Physiology from Texas A&M University. 

  Lauren developed a passion for research in graduate school and a deep love for reading and the library growing up. This led her to switch professional gears and combine her interests. In 2017, she graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Master of Library Science degree. 
   
  After working as a practicum student at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, she joined the team as a full-time Medical Librarian in August 2018. She now spends her days on a mission to spread joy throughout the hospital – one book at a time! 

  “Whether helping a family locate credible health information or assisting staff with their research, I am honored to make lives better for children at the Karahan Family Resource Library,” says Lauren.

Carol Miller, MLS, MA

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  Carol Miller is a Medical Librarian at Children’s Health. She earned her M.A. in early childhood education at Alabama A&M University in Normal in 1987 and Master of Library Science from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1993. Carol inherited her love for books from her mom, a retired librarian and dad who was a retired research physicist and Marine. 

  She worked in a public library as a teen and was an assistant branch manager and branch manager of recreation center libraries, storefronts and a supermall while earning her MLS in Alabama before moving to Texas in 2002. 
   
  Carol was the Branch Manager in two housing community libraries in Fort Worth before coming to Children’s Health in 2007. She enjoys taking book carts to inpatient and outpatient areas, helping patient families find health information, having mini story times and so much more. Carol enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and is a huge fan of HGTV and the Food Network Channel. 
     
  “I thoroughly enjoy working at Children’s Health, knowing that our whole team makes life better for children,” says Carol.

  Carol's favorite book at a child was Be Nice to Spiders. As she matured she loved mysteries including The Boxcar Children.

Amy Six-Means, MLIS

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  Amy Six-Means is a Medical Librarian at Children’s Health. She earned her B.A. in elementary education from Eastern University and her MLIS at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is inspired by interacting with patients looking for a book to take their minds off being in the hospital.

  Amy has been a passionate reader and was often in trouble as a teen for staying up too late to read. Even when working full-time, going to school part-time and helping a pre-teen navigate middle school, Amy didn’t let a day go by without reading something. Lately, she has gotten into audiobooks, so she is immersed in a book even while driving.

  Amy came to Children’s Health to combine her interest in elementary education with librarianship, and here she has found her home. Working in a children’s hospital and helping patient families find some stress relief is incredibly rewarding.

  “Seeing their excitement at finding a title that they’ve wanted to read but never expected to find while in the hospital is such a joy,” says Amy.

  Amy's favorite collection of books includes The Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan.