To heighten awareness of the pivotal role that health care providers play in preventing, identifying, treating and addressing the physical and mental health effects of domestic violence, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences offers several related exhibits, a discussion and a film screening.

“As research and education librarians, we see offering interactive learning programming as integral to the broad role libraries play at VCU,” says Emily Hurst, who heads the research and education department and also serves as library deputy director. “VCU Libraries strives to bring our academic and health science communities together with learning opportunities like this.” 

Events at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, scheduled during the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month, are:

“Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives,” National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit
Sept. 24-Nov. 3, Special Collections and Archives Reading Room

Activists and reformers in the United States have long recognized the harm of domestic violence and sought to improve the lives of women who were battered. During the late 20th century, nurses took up the call. With passion and persistence, they worked to reform a medical profession that overwhelmingly failed to acknowledge violence against women as a serious health issue. Beginning in the late 1970s, nurses were the vanguard as they pushed the larger medical community to identify victims, adequately respond to their needs, and work toward the prevention of domestic violence. This story is told in “Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives,” a new exhibit up through Nov. 3.  

Film Screening “Domestic Violence and Health Care”
Oct. 11, noon to 1 p.m. Special Collections and Archives Reading Room

This documentary offers an inside look at the highly regarded domestic violence program at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Participants are invited to bring their lunch. Popcorn, drinks and sweets provided.

The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Tameika S. McCoy, M.A., C.A., advocate coordinator, University Counseling Services featuring experts from VCU and VCU Health:

• Maria Altonen, M.A., EMPOWER coordinator, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, VCU Health
• Amy Cook, Ph.D., chair of the Criminal Justice Program, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
• Elizabeth "Liz" Cramer, Ph.D., professor, VCU School of Social Work

Seating is limited. Register for this Oct. 11 event. This screening is part of the ongoing Real Life Film Series

The Clothesline Project exhibit   
Oct. 8-12

An exhibit featuring T-shirts decorated with powerful messages by sexual assault survivors or by those who have lost loved ones to sexual assault. The exhibit is intended to raise awareness in the about the prevalence of sexual assault and violence against women and to foster a culture of support and healing. This exhibit is organized by Students Advocating Violence Education and Support (SAVES), a student-led initiative of the VCU Wellness Resource Center.

Silent Witness exhibit
Oct. 8-12 

This traveling memorial for Virginians killed by domestic violence, features lifesize silhouettes of victims. The memorial is organized by Amy Cook, Ph.D. and students from her service-learning course Crime and Delinquency Prevention and is a partnership between the Wilder School and SAVES.