History of Medicine
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science is a major centre for research, teaching and public engagement in history of medicine.
Making Visible Embryos: an online exhibition on the history of embryo images
The distinctive feature of our programme is that medical historians work in the largest and most distinguished department of history and philosophy of science in the UK. So students and researchers can both focus on history of medicine and take advantage of intellectual exchange with historians of physical sciences, sociologists and philosophers of science, staff in the Whipple Museum and bioethicists.
Expertise in medical history covers an exceptionally wide range, from the cuneiform scholarship of ancient Assyria to the Human Genome Project. We are especially interested in encouraging work on Generation to Reproduction. This is the theme of a Wellcome strategic award held for five years from 1 October 2009 by a cross-disciplinary group of Cambridge historians of medicine. The research will provide fresh perspectives on issues ranging from ancient fertility rites to IVF. A strongly grounded account, building on a lively field of historical investigation, will offer a fresh basis for policy and public debate.
The Department provides training in history of medicine at every level. We also welcome inquiries about postdoctoral research, including Wellcome research fellowships, short-term visits and affiliated research scholar status.
Ucam-histmed is an email list for people in the Cambridge area interested in history of medicine. To subscribe, please visit the Ucam-histmed information page.
- History of Medicine news
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May 2013
Research and teaching positions in history of reproduction
Many congratulations to Salim Al-Gailani and Jesse Olszynko-Gryn, who have been appointed to two-year positions supported by the Generation to Reproduction programme and HPS departmental funds.April 2013
Pregnancy testing – with toads
Generation to Reproduction PhD student Jesse Olszynko-Gryn spoke on BBC Radio 4's Making History on the history of pregnancy testing.April 2013
Peter Jones on Fit to Rule
Peter Jones appeared on Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History on BBC Two on 8 April. - History of Medicine events
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15–16 September 2013
Cities as Epidemiological Drivers and the Removal of the 'Urban Penalty'