2016 Visiting Speaker
2016 History of Medicine Visiting Speaker Lecture
On October 18, Prof. Jacalyn Duffin captivated her audience with her 2016 History of Medicine Visiting Speaker Lecture -"The Stethoscope at 200: A Revolutionary Device now Obsolete?" The speaker presented the invention and adoption of the stethoscope in the early 19th century within the increasing focus on anatomy to understand disease. An early monaural stethoscope made its way around the audience, and a binaural stethoscope that was 3D printed was presented to the speaker! The talk closed by querying the contemporary relevance of the stethoscope alongside new portable imaging devices now available for use. The History of Medicine Office at Schulich Medicine and Dentistry is grateful for the opportunity to bring such high-caliber speakers like Prof. Duffin to Western through this donor-sponsored Visiting Speaker Series.
Dr. Jacalyn Duffin, Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine, Queen's University
A practicing physician, hematologist, and historian, Dr. Jackie Duffin has combined her training and experience as a medical professional into ground-breaking and infectious historical research. Duffin, an advocate of history as part of medical education has effectively bridged the gap between medicine and the humanities. She is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed articles, two edited anthologies and six monographs, including, History of Medicine: A Scandalously Short Introduction, which is widely-read in medical schools and history departments across Canada and around the globe.
Lecture: "The Stethoscope at 200: A Revolutionary Device now Obsolete?"
Invented in Paris in 1816, by René Laennec the stethoscope made anatomical changes accessible at the bedside and fostered a revolution in thinking about disease. It has undergone many modifcations since its early days as a single hollow cylinder — but some contend that it is now obsolete. Based on her research with Laennec’s personal papers and patient records, and tracing the evolution of the instrument Duffin will explore its creation, impact and possible demise.
- Event Poster (PDF, 3.4MB)
Interview: "How did you first become interested in the history of the stethoscope?"
Read Dr Jacalyn Duffin's answer to this question and more in an interview conducted by Dr. Shauna Devine earlier this month. Click here for interview transcript.
News Article: "Could the Stethoscope be Gone in a Heartbeat?"
Read the CBC article here.
Event Recap: "Showcasing the stethoscope’s evolution"
Read more in the October 2016 issue of the Pulse.
