How to Use This Website

This Portal is designed to support students and independent researchers at all levels to explore the medical humanities, particularly the history of medicine. 

• Students in health sciences, humanities, art, social sciences, science, professional schools, who wish to research their own topic, create a digital module, write a conference paper, present at a conference, or add their thoughts to a blog. 
• Faculty and secondary school teachers will find images, texts, articles, and material for curricular activities at all levels, especially in the city of Hamilton. 
• Physicians, Ph.D. students, MD residents, and others who wish to undertake a substantial research project will find archives, libraries, museums, and digital resources to begin work.

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​​Find Your Sources:   Libraries, Archives, Museums, Digital Collections

The McMaster Library Collections page provides a description of archives, libraries, museums, and digitized collections on the McMaster University Campus.  Browse to find out more! The Library, Archives, and Museum Collections page has thematic listings of archives, libraries, museums, and digitized collections in the history of medicine from around the world.  We include the largest collections, specialized collections, digital collections, and special areas on Canada and Canadian History. An Aboriginal Health area will be added in 2018. 

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How to Pay for My Research Trip?

The Grants for Student Research page lists grants offered by McMaster University, by libraries and archives, by professional and scholarly associations, and by government in support of individual research projects in the history of medicine and medical humanities.

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How to Get Started?

Thematic modules and blogs are here for you to browse for ideas and inspiration,

• Graphic Medicine a new art form, applies comics and graphic novel format to the experiences of health care professionals, patients, caregivers, and others
• History of Medicine Digital Exhibits thematically-organized exhibits on the web in a variety of subjects
• Medical Humanities and Medical History Blogs informal blogs of all kinds with book reviews, cartoons, articles, and personal reflections

There will be learning modules created by McMaster students, faculty, and staff in the six thematic areas: 

• History of the Health Professions
• Hospitals, Institutions, and Medical Education
• The Public’s Health
• Blood, Leeches, and Quacks
• Arts, Literature, and Ethics
• Technology and Science

How to Get Started on Your History of Medicine Project page is designed to walk health sciences students through the research process, to begin their own projects in the history of medicine. Once you have written your project, consider presenting your work as a paper or poster at a History of Medicine Conference. Consult the Conferences page.

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How Can I Meet Colleagues and Students in Medical Humanities at McMaster?

You are always welcome to speak to the Hannah Chair Ellen Amster at the Hannah History of Medicine Unit in the Faculty of Health Sciences. We have invited our colleagues from a variety of departments and disciplines across McMaster University into a medical humanities interest group. Visit the McMaster University Programs Related to Medical Humanities page to learn more about their work. The Hannah History of Medicine and Medical Humanities Speaker Series is a yearly colloquium series open to the public featuring interdisciplinary speakers in the history of medicine and the medical humanities.