West Side Branch | Librarian to the Rescue!

Join the West Side Branch at The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association in Oak Park on September 8, 2026 for the lecture “Librarian to the Rescue! Artificial Intelligence, Levels of Evidence, and Health Misinformation” presented by Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker, MLS, Assistant Professor, Information Services & Student Success Librarian and Liaison to the College of Dentistry at UIC.

Course Description: In this day and age, information is everywhere. While data has become more accessible, it is also at its most unreliable. Artificial Intelligence is changing the way our patients search for information, and social media has provided a platform for all sorts of people to promote health information. Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker from the UIC Health Sciences Library helps us understand these trends, locate quality evidence, and communicate this information effectively.

Speaker Bio: Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker serves as Assistant Professor, Information Services & Student Success Librarian and Liaison to the College of Dentistry. He has a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Math (STEAM), STEAM education, equity and inclusion, medical informatics, and library science. He strives to promote equitable access to technology, medical information, and educational resources through traditional and non-traditional librarianship, public service, and STEAM instruction. Prior to his current positions at the University of Illinois Chicago and Oakton College, he specialized in makerspace leadership, development, equipment, staff training, and successful practices.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand what artificial intelligence (AI) is.
2. Understand how clinicians, patients, dental vendors, and insurance companies use artificial intelligence.
3. Evaluate levels of evidence for scientific claims.
4. Gain tools to effectively combat misinformation and share evidence-based recommendations.

CE Hours: 1.5