Objective: The increasingly complex nature of biomedical information requires the need for future information specialists to have subject knowledge and education in the biomedical and health sciences.  The objective of this program was to develop and test a model to recruit biomedical and health sciences undergraduates into careers in bioinformatics settings, including libraries and information centers.

Setting: Library and information science faculty from two state universities collaborated to develop an undergraduate course in biomedical information management.

Participants: Biomedical/health sciences undergraduate majors were the target population.  Recruitment efforts engaged undergraduate advisors from both universities.  Teaching faculty included library school faculty, practicing librarians, and biomedical/health sciences faculty.

Methods: A three-credit hour semester course was offered twice during the 2004-2005 academic year.  Course curriculum included concepts and practical skills in information management in the context of the biomedical and health sciences.  Ten fellowships in a school of library and information sciences are available to enrollees for graduate study with a concentration in bioinformatics starting Fall 2005.

Results: More than 90 targeted undergraduate students enrolled in the course and reported that the course introduced them to concepts and skills useful to them as students and as future information professionals.  It is anticipated that several of the students will pursue graduate study in library and information sciences with a concentration in bioinformatics.