History of Modern Medicine: Eighteenth Century to Present

3.0 credits

Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cost of medical treatment, the opioid crisis,and the steady rollback of gender-affirming and reproductive health services have focused attention onthe shortcomings of the U.S. healthcare system. This course positions these and other trends within the broader context of the history of modern medicine from the eighteenth century to the present. We will examine how the theory, practice, social effects, and cultural meanings of medicine have changed – and stayed the same – over time. Along these lines, we will explore sites of health and disease ranging from homes to hospitals; medical training and technologies; the intersections between medicine and science; the interactions between patients and medical practitioners; and the ways medicine has explained and contributed to longstanding inequities related to race, gender, class, and disability. This course will not only introduce several important themes from the history of medicine but also help you learn historical methods. We will cover applicable skills including close reading, critical thinking, primary and secondary research, and writing.