History of Modern Medicine

(4 Credits)

This course covers the history of medicine in Europe and North America from the eighteenth century to the present. We will explore how perceptions of illness and health changed over time in relation to transformations in politics, society, science, and technology. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, you will learn how to place medical texts, techniques, and artifacts within their epistemic, historical, and socio-political contexts. Topics will include: the historical development and organization of medical knowledge and its branches; corresponding shifts in explanations of disease; the role of modern institutions and technologies in the study and control of diseased individuals and infected populations; the rise of the hospital; the relationship between medicine, science, and industry; the shifting doctor-patient relationship; the social meanings of illness; and the changing burden of disease. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: CORE STS; Humanities Other Introductory course; Social Science Focus Global Health 200 level.