The Mayor's 8th Annual Medical Lecture
‘Man and Machine in perfect Harmony - A brief history of UK dialysis’ by Doctor Stephen Spencer
Consultant Physician and Nephrologist to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital
The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Jabbar Riaz, would like to invite you to this year’s Annual Medical Lecture at the Guildhall on Tuesday 16th April 6.30pm for 7.00pm.
Tickets are £10.00 (students £5.00), to include a glass of wine/soft drink, available from the Tourist Information Centre at the Guildhall and the Mayor’s Office – civicoffice@worcester.gov.uk or tel. 01905 722001.
All proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s Charities – Worcester Community Trust, Worcester Live and St Richard’s Hospice
Free resource about Spanish Flu
SPANISH FLU IN WORCESTERSHIRE
George Marshall Medical Museum (GMMM) is delighted to have hosted a British Society for the History of Science (BSHS) Engagement Fellowship during 2018. Supported by the BSHS, this project enabled us to work with a postgraduate student to carry out research into the Worcestershire story of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19, drawing on the unique collections at the museum and public archives.
Laura Robson-Mainwaring produced the final booklet, in collaboration with the Museum, and this is available for you to download free, here. Simply click here and a new window will open for your download (1.7mb).
This research booklet supports a touring exhibition from The Florence Nightingale Museum, who secured Wellcome Trust Funding for an exhibition and events programme about the Influenza Pandemic, in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Queen Mary University London. George Marshall Medical Museum will be hosting the touring exhibition about this project during 2019, and research and activities about this deadly pandemic will continue.
With further funding for engagement programmes from the BSHS, we have also created a KS2 workshop, called “Out do the Flu”. Please contact us to book this workshop, which we will be offering for free to Worcestershire’s schools during 2019 (max 30/class).
First Impressions, guest blog by Amanda Bailey
Hi,
My name is Amanda Bailey and I’m studying English Literature at the University of Worcester. I’m in my third year and I’m at George Marshall Medical Museum (GMMM) on a work placement. Being unsure of what direction I want to head in when I finish my degree I thought some work experience was good idea. So here I am!
The museum houses a large and interesting collection charting the development of medicine and the medical profession. It is small and modern in design with glass cases on both sides which house the many interesting objects. The size and layout make the museum experience really intimate which is great for its subject matter. The exhibits are so close that all the detail can be seen, some of these will make your eyes water (the obstetrics cabinet) and some will make you gasp (again the obstetrics cabinet).
Take a look in the orthopaedics cabinet. The items in this display are intriguing, they look so dated compared to the modern prosthetics in use today, yet these replacements were still being used in the 1990s. Having previously worked on the trauma and orthopaedics ward and witnessing knee replacement surgery I find the display fascinating. It’s a reminder of how fast the medical profession progresses.
The dentistry cabinet holds many delights for those of us who need to satisfy our macabre curiosity. Items and historical facts that give us a frisson of excitement when we look and read about them: dental keys, ‘used to prise teeth from their sockets’ and the all-important dentists’ drill. Yet more macabre, look closely and see teeth removed from bodies on the battlefield, set into metal frames to create dentures ready for their new wealthy owners!
I came to the museum to get an of idea of working in the heritage sector, I love museums, art galleries and all things cultural and I thought work experience in this area would be enjoyable and beneficial. However, it’s not just about enjoying myself, it turns out I can’t just wander around the displays, smelling herbs and potions in the apothecary and trying on the nursing costumes, I had to do some work as well! Luckily this was also a lot of fun. So far, I have devised and presented ‘Happiness in a Box’ – a well-being and mindfulness inspired activity where visitors were asked to think of something that made them happy; a holiday, a pet, a sporting moment and then recreate this as a diorama in a box or jar. The results were fabulous, really inventive with some great engineering.
I have also designed a creative writing task to go into the museum’s activity ‘backpack’. I’m now working on a heart themed activity ready for half term next year. So, work can be fun and engaging, but of course behind the scenes a lot of work goes in to preparing and organising events and activities.
I’m gaining a behind the scenes insight and beginning to understand the heritage world as a perspective employee. There is so much to learn and understand and I’ve been really lucky to have such a great opportunity.
Just what the doctor ordered!