Category Archives: Secretary’s Report

President’s Page / Secretary’s Report

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Our colleagues Sharon Purtee, director of the Health Sciences Library, and Devhra Bennettjones, archivist/curator, graciously hosted the CAHSLA membership meeting on October 8 in the Stanley J. Lucas Boardroom at the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions.

We began the membership meeting by reviewing proposed events for the coming year, including a holiday party, lightning talks, tours of the Oesper Collections and Cincinnati Children’s History Walk, and the spring membership meeting.

Treasurer Brian McConnell reported that our account balance is approximately $1,900. Please renew your membership—or join—today.

After the membership meeting, Devhra discussed the Lucas Boardroom exhibition associated with the most recent Cecil Striker Lecture, Pharmacy Education in the Queen City: 1850–2025, presented by Dennis B. Worthen, PhD. We also viewed the permanent exhibit of ceramics replicating a 15th-century Italian apothecary shop, created by Florence’s Cantagalli kiln for the 1900 Paris International Exposition. We then visited the Health Sciences Library’s main hall to learn about the Smoke Gets in Your Eyes exhibition, which features reproductions of cigarette advertisements from the Ahron Leichtman Papers and the Anatomy Lab Learning Lab of plastinated specimens. 

We then toured the Archives collection area and learned about the wide range of materials the staff collects, processes, and preserves. Highlights included the Albert B. Sabin Collection, medical equipment artifacts, rare and circulating books, drawings, and much more.

Attendees included Aja Bettencourt-McCarthy, Christine Jankowski, Matthew Cooper, Brian McConnell, Sharon Purtee, Devhra Bennettjones, and Jim DaMico.

Watch your email for more updates about upcoming meetings!

Submitted by Jim DaMico, President

Top: American Civil War Surgical Field Kit

Bottom: Daniel S. Young: American Civil War Medical Illustrations

Source: Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions, Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

Plates from Andreas Vesalius’s Fabrica

Source: Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions, Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

Leland Clark, PhD’s bubble defoam oxygenator. 

Source: Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions, Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

Secretary’s Report

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December 18, 2025

The CAHSLA holiday party was graciously hosted by our President, Matthew Cooper, and Michelle Cooper, along with special guest, Turbo.

In attendance were: Matthew Cooper, Michelle Cooper, Jim DaMico, Lauren Darpel, Amy Koshoffer, Christine Jankowski, Emily Kean, Zan McQuade, Turbo, Virginia Wilson, Lynn Warner

Good times were had singing holiday karaoke as well as some recent pop hits. The potluck offerings were enjoyed by all, especially Jim’s tasty legumes.

Forty-seven (!) children’s books were collected to be donated to a local children’s organization.

Respectfully submitted by Emily Kean

Secretary’s Report

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CAHSLA Membership Meeting

September 25, 2025

• Held at Cincinnati Public Radio, 2117 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207,

5:30—7:30 p.m.

• In attendance:

Devhra BennettJones

Matthew Cooper

Jim Damico

Alex Herrlein

Emily Kean

Amy Koshoffer

Chris Oaks

Akram Pari

Jennifer Pettigrew

Sharon Purtee

Crissy Ross

Virginia Wilson

• Chipotle catered supper and chocolate brownies for dessert.

• Meeting agenda:

Introductions;

Call for volunteers to edit the CAHSLA By-laws;

February meeting will be held at The Rubinstein Library, Cincinnati Children’s

Hospital. Lightening talks about current events at member’s libraries. Date to be

determined.

Discussed meeting at Proctor & Gamble. Matt will send out a Doodle poll to

determine a date.

Dan Smith, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, gave an outstanding

tour of the Cincinnati Public Radio facility.

Respectfully submitted by Devhra BennettJones

Secretary’s Report

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CAHSLA Business Meeting – 4/16/25, 5:45pm

Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati/Weavers Guild Fiber Arts Center

In attendance:

Lynn Warner, UC

Sharon Purtee, UC

Jennifer Bennett Jones, UC

Edith Starbuck, UC (Retired)

Matthew Cooper, Cincinnati Children’s

Jim DaMico, Cincinnati Children’s

Rachel French, Cincinnati Children’s

Lauren Darpel, Cincinnati Children’s

Karen Whyte, Cincinnati Children’s

Emily Kean

Jennifer Pettigrew, Christ Hospital

Amy Koshoffer, UC

Aja McCarthy, UC

Christine Jankowski – Lloyd Library

Akram Pari, UC (Retired)

Rachel Rembold, UC

Devhra BennettJones, UC

Weavers Guild president Amber Ostaszewsk gave attendees a fantastic tour of the Fiber Arts Center. We learned about the history of the building and the guild, as well as viewed spinning wheels and looms used for classes. Thank you to Jennifer Pettigrew for arranging our visit!

After the tour, there was a brief business meeting. Lynn Warner welcomed members and reminded the group that elections are coming up. Members who would like to run for board positions should contact Lynn. Nominations will go out soon. 

Thank you for Jim and Emily for sending out the latest Chronicle. 

Jim is presenting at the LAMPHHS conference in Boston about the history walk that was launched at Cincinnati Children’s last fall. Lynn proposed that we do the history walk as a group at some point.

Christine invited the group to Lloyd Library’s exhibition opening event on April 25. The exhibition, titled “The Enduring Impact of the African Plant Diaspora” runs until July 25. More information can be found here:https://lloydlibrary.org/exhibits/

There was a final UC Respect committee meeting on Friday, April 18, where they will be showing a film on race and racism in Cincinnati.

Our tour guide, Amber, also let us know that Renee Fleming will be doing a panel talk and Q&A at Music Hall on May 20. More information can be found here: https://mayfestival.com/concerts-and-events/buy-tickets/2025-season/music-and-mind-conversation-with-renee-fleming/

The meeting was adjourned and members enjoyed dinner together.

Submitted by Karen Whyte, Secretary

Annual Summer Picnic – 6/4/2025, 4:30 PM

The annual CAHSLA summer picnic was held at French Park. A main course of fried chicken was supplied by CAHSLA, with members contributing several delicious side dishes, drinks, and some truly addictive cookies.

Although attendance was sparse, the conversation was lively and mostly focused around music, namely a saxophone player from some movie I’ve never seen.

Outgoing President Lynn Warner was presented with a hand-made card and gift card for her service.

As incoming CAHSLA President, Matthew Cooper noted, “…let’s celebrate the season in all its contradictions. Let the sun warm your fears, let the winds carry them away. And if you see a flower with teeth… just back away slowly.”

Attendees:
Matthew Cooper
Jim DaMico
Alex Herrlein
Emily Kean
Amy Koshoffer
Lynn Warner

Respectfully submitted by Emily Kean

Secretary’s Report

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February Workshop Meeting

Wednesday, February 20, 2025, 5:30pm

In attendance: Matthew Cooper, Cincinnati Children’s; Emily Kean, Unaffiliated; Jim DaMico, Cincinnati Children’s; Lauren Darpel, Cincinnati Children’s; Christine Jankowski, Lloyd LIbrary; Jennifer Pettigrew, The Christ Hospital; Lynn Warner, University of Cincinnati; Karen Whyte,  Cincinnati Children’s

CAHSLA members toured the historic Surgical Amphitheater at University of Cincinnati’s Surgical Department. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, surgical amphitheaters played an important role in teaching new surgeons. Christian R. Holmes set out in 1915 to create a medical center in Cincinnati based on the Johns Hopkins University teaching hospital model. As a result of Holme’s work, the Cincinnati General Hospital was opened, including the surgical amphitheater we toured. 

It was restored and rededicated in August 2005 after a 5-year project to repair the original skylight, update audio-visual equipment, and add new seating and windows, in addition to other upgrades. 

As of 2025, the amphitheater serves as a non-surgical classroom, conference, and meeting space and hosts visitors from around the country.

After a tour of the amphitheater, members traveled over to the Health Science Library to view and discuss the new plastinated body specimens in the recently opened Anatomy Learning Lab. The current collection features 10 specimens including torsos, kidneys, hands, and other body systems. The Anatomy Learning Lab is located on the E level of the library and open to students and faculty during library hours. Thank you, Lynn, for hosting us and providing fascinating information about the new specimen collection!

After a brief discussion of holding our next meeting at the newly renovated Mercantile Library, the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Karen Whyte 

Secretary’s Report

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This year, there was a new twist on a beloved CAHSLA tradition at our annual holiday party! We reserved a room at Tokyo Kitty karaoke bar and sang some holiday carols, including (but not limited to): You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch; All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey; Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton and numerous other hits from the Dolly/Kenny Rogers album Once Upon a Christmas (even though Emily was the only one who knew this Christmas album…), Last Christmas by Wham!; Felix Navidad; Jingle Bell Rock, and more.

After about an hour of gnoshing and singing holiday songs, we switched to contemporary music to round out the night.

Attendees included: Matthew Cooper (Cincinnati Children’s), Jim Damico (Cincinnati Children’s), Liz Lang (Cincinnati Children’s), Emily Kean (Unaffiliated), Jennifer Pettigrew (The Christ Hospital), Lisa Raney (The Christ Hospital), Lynn Warner (University of Cincinnati)

Respectfully submitted by Matthew Cooper, Vice President

Secretary’s Report

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CAHSLA Annual Membership Meeting

10/10/24, 5:30-6:30pm

In attendance: Matthew Cooper, Jim DaMico, Alex Herrlein, Emily Kean, Amy Koshoffer, Abrams Pari, Lynn Warner

The Annual Membership Meeting was held at Lloyd Library. 

There was a discussion of moving the Chronicle to WordPress. Jim is helping with the Chronicle and has already moved over past articles.

Matthew notified attendees that CAHSLA has a new LinkedIn group which will serve as an additional place to receive updates. Emails will still be sent, but we know there are sometimes issues with emails being received.

Lynn asked attendees to save the date for our holiday party on December 11th. She also noted that we have a robust year of programming being planned.

Lynn introduced the new executive council:

President – Lynn Warner

Vice President – Matthew Cooper

Secretary – Karen Whyte

Treasurer – Emily Kean

The meeting concluded with a round-robin of attendees.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Whyte, Secretary