Director, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library

Overview

The Director of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library provides strategic vision and operational leadership for the Yale School of Medicine’s Medical Library and Medical Historical Library and is responsible for advancing research, education, and clinical care by connecting the health sciences community with the information, data, and evidence needed to improve human health.

The director leads an organization based in Yale School of Medicine (YSM) that also serves Yale New Haven Health system (YNHH) and its healthcare delivery network, Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), Yale School of Nursing (YSN), and the broader health sciences community. In this role, the director shapes a vision for library services that responds to rapid advances in health care, bioinformatics, data science, artificial intelligence, and pedagogy. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in health sciences librarianship with a forward-looking vision for biomedical information services, including integration of these resources into medical education, research, and patient care.

This position reports directly to the Dean of Yale School of Medicine, with a dual reporting relationship to the Yale University Librarian or their designee. This reporting structure promotes synergy and accountability to the priorities of YSM, YNHH, YSPH, and YSN, while aligning with Yale University Library (Yale Library)’s strategies and services to support special collections, information accessibility, and the interests of the wider university community. The incumbent is responsible for budgetary oversight of approximately $10.3M annually, funded by YSM and the Medical Historical Library, inclusive of multiple endowments and gifts owned by YSM and other operating revenues from YSM, YNHH, YSPH, and YSN.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships with academic, clinical, and administrative stakeholders.
2. Strong understanding of evidence synthesis methodologies and their role in research and clinical practice.
3. Knowledge of current trends in biomedical informatics, data science, AI, and research data management.
4. Proven record of working with teams from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
5. Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including clinicians, researchers, students, and administrators.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Advanced degree in a health sciences discipline, informatics, or related field; Distinguished Membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP).
2. Experience managing or developing evidence synthesis, bibliometric, and/or informatics programs or services.
3. Experience providing library services in clinical settings, including integration of resources into patient care.
4. Knowledge of and experience with federal research, foundation, and grant funding programs.
5. Record of scholarly and professional contributions to the field.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Provides strategic vision and operational leadership for the CWML and the Medical Historical Library, serving YSM, YNHH, YSPH, YSN, and related interdisciplinary programs and the broader health sciences community.
2. Collaborates directly with the YSM Dean’s designees with regard to the clinical, research, and medical education mission of CWML and with the University Librarian’s designees to promote alignment with relevant strategic priorities of Yale Library, such as preservation of special collections and information accessibility.
3. Develops spaces, services, and programs that synergize and advance the strategies and priorities of all stakeholders.
4. Negotiates budgets with relevant stakeholders across YSM, YNHH, YSPH and YSN and negotiates institutional contracts with publishers, information/data sources, and relevant external vendors.
5. Oversees stewardship of endowments, grants, and gifts directed to support CWML and the Medical Historical Library.
6. Develops financial strategy and works directly with YSM Deputy Dean for Finance and Administration to prepare annual CWML budget and oversee adherence to this budget.
7. Provides leadership and performance management for a highly skilled team of 38 FTE.
8. Engages with deans, chairs, directors, faculty, staff, and students in support of the medical education, research, and clinical missions of YSM, YNHH, YSN, and YSPH.
9. Collaborates with colleagues throughout Yale Library and other campus units to support the broader research and education mission of the University.
10. Chairs the Advisory Board of the Cushing Center, coordinates the Medical Library Associates and Trustees, and represents CWML in philanthropic and development efforts.
11. Provides oversight and strategic guidance for the Medical Historical Library and its unique special collections within the library, in partnership with Yale University Library's special collections leadership, ensuring that the collections remain integrated with the educational, research, and clinical mission of YSM.
12. Provides oversight and strategic guidance for other units within CWML, including Access and Delivery Services, Academic Research and Education, Technology and Innovation, and Clinical Care and Evidence-based Practice.
13. Contributes toward organizational assessment initiatives to support data-driven planning and decision making.
14. Engages with and contributes to national conversations relating to medical librarianship, with an emphasis on evidence synthesis, bioinformatics, research impact, education and clinical information services, and/or research data services.
15. Represents the CWML in national and regional organizations and contributes to the advancement of health sciences librarianship. Participates in professional activities outside of Yale and monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to encourage innovation and ensure excellence.
16. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts. May be assigned to work at any Yale University location during such efforts.
17. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Master's degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited program, or equivalent; Progressive responsibility in an academic health sciences library, with at least eight years in an administrative capacity including personnel oversight and resource planning; Experience in developing and implementing strategic priorities for enhancing organizational effectiveness and growth. National participation in professional organizations such as the Medical Library Association, Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, or similar.