Shelie Vacek

Shelie Vacek serves as Faculty Librarian & Head of the Wegner Health Sciences Information Center (WHSIC) at the University of South Dakota, concurrently holding an Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Family Medicine within the School of Medicine. Her dual role bridges academic librarianship with medical education, focusing on evidence-based resource integration for healthcare training.

Education:

• MS, Health Professions Education, Rutgers, 2018
• MS, Library & Information Science, University of North Texas
• BS, Family & Consumer Science, South Dakota State University
• Graduate Certificate, Health Informatics, University of North Texas

Research Focus: Vacek investigates medical student information-seeking behaviors through librarian-led case learning, develops sustainable library assessment frameworks, advances health literacy initiatives, and critically evaluates AI tools for health information contexts. Her work emphasizes practical applications for clinical education and community health engagement.

Publication Trends: Recent works (2025-2015) reveal consistent exploration of technology-mediated health information access—from AI literacy frameworks to translator apps—while addressing healthcare disparities through palliative care research. The 2025 study demonstrates measurable impact of librarian interventions on clinical skills, reflecting her commitment to evidence-based educational design.

Professional Recognition:

• Senior Member, Academy of Health Information Professionals (MLA, AHIP)
• Statement of Achievement - Veteran-Friendly Campus (USD)

Grants & Leadership: Secured $200k+ in funding including a 2021-2022 state library grant for interactive health education classrooms. Multiple Teaching Improvement Grants (2014, 2016) support her library assessment innovations. As WHSIC Head, she directs space optimization initiatives and statewide health information partnerships.

Operational Scope: Leads the Wegner Health Sciences Information Center serving USD medical students, faculty, and South Dakota healthcare providers through curated resource access, instructional design, and community health literacy programs.