Osler Society at Western

Osler Society meets monthly-- Join Us!

 

Osler Society Co-presidents for 2024-25 (Outgoing)

Osler Society Co-presidents for 2024-25 (Incoming)

- Wyatt Pickrell, Meds 2027 (London) - Nikita Burman, Meds 2028 (London)
- Maryam Othman, Meds 2027 (London) - Ariela Jamshidi-Shahvar, Meds 2028 (London)
- Shirley Fan, Meds 2027 (London - Alexander Moersch, Meds 2028 (London)
- Vanessa Chen, Meds 2027 (Windsor) - Abu Bakar Butt, Meds 2028 (Windsor)

The Osler Society at Western facilitates exchange among medical students and faculty through their engagement with various themes in the history of medicine. Facilitated by the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine, this club is run by and for medical students and meets throughout the year.

 

Osler Society Meeting Schedule for 2024-25
* Light refreshments provided at meetings, held in HSA 041 unless otherwise stated

 

WINTER TERM 2024

 Thurs Jan 30
12:30-1:20 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Dr Roya Etemad Rezai, Radiologist and Associate Professor, Medical Imaging, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University – “Radiology throughout the Years"

 Dr. Roya Etemad Rezai presenting

 Dr. Roya Etemad Rezai audience

Thurs Feb 27
12:30-1:20 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Dr Lucy Vorobej, Medical Historian and Fellow, The Wilson Centre, University Health Network and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto  -- “The Prince Who Fell into a Lake: Translating the Value of History in Global Health”

Read Dr Vorobej’s recent BMJ article, “Probing the Past” BMJ (2024) https://gh.bmj.com/content/9/11/e015415

Dr. Lucy Vorobej Presenting 

Dr. Lucy Vorobej Presenting

 Dr. Lucy Vorobej Presention audience

 Thurs Mar 6
10 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Practice Session (Drop-In) for HMD Calgary presentations

Sign-Up sheet for students (a “sign-up for a time slot” google document to be circulated by Co-Presidents); Opportunity (not mandatory) for students who wish to “practice” their HoM presentation for Calgary; All medical students invited to attend as audience members to listen to presentations; Drop-In during the day to hear terrific bits of medical history and support your peers!

 Mar 13-15

History of Medicine Days conference, University of Calgary, Alberta

HMD Calgary website with Call for Abstracts and Conference Program at https://www.ucalgary.ca/programs/history-medicine/hmd

( SSMD break Mar 10-18)

Thurs Mar 27
12:30-1:20 p.m.

2025 History of Medicine Rounds

Guest Speaker:  Dr Creighton Avery, Medical Anthropologist, University of Toronto – “Vampires in the Time of Cholera: The Bioarchaeology Study of Disease”

2025 History of Medicine ROUNDS 2025 - Guest Speaker: Dr. Creighton Avery, U of Toronto; Showcase and Awards: SSMD Student Research Projects

Awards Ceremony for SSMD Student Research Projects --  includes The Rowntree Prize in Medical History (est.1929); The Harvey Club of London Prize (est.2008)

Thurs, April 24
12:30-1:30 p.m. 

The Osler Society at Western - schulich.uwo.ca/historyofmedicine - Presents "Dare we Dream" Celebrating 100 years of the Osler society of London - A talk and discussion with the "Dare we Dream" exhibit team: Dr. Vivian McAlister, History of Medicine Program - Anne Quirk, Archivist, Western Libraries - Abigail Parson, FIMS candidate - Thursday, April 24 12:30 - 1:20 p.m. HSA 041 (London) MEB 2100 (Windsor)

  • Visit "Dare We Dream: An Exhibition for the Osler Society's Centennial Year" which is a 5-case display at The John A. Schweitzer Gallery, located at the entrace of the public reading room of the Archives and Research Collection Centre (ARCC), located on the main floor of the D.B. Wldon Library, Western University
  • Peruse the digital "Dare We Dreamexhibit (in progress - see here)
  • Challenge: find this 2025 photo of the Osler Society (see below) in "Dare We Dream"

 A group of 24 people arranged into three rows in front some full bookcases. The photo is in black and white.

FALL TERM 2024

Thurs Oct 3
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.

WELCOME / Meet-and-Greet

Come meet Osler Society Co-Presidents (London & Windsor) and learn about Osler Society and its planned club activities for this academic year!

Thurs Oct 17
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.

Guest Speaker:  Dr Thomas Freeman, MD, MCISc, CCFP, FCFP, Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine

Presentation: “Dr Ian McWhinney and the Holistic Approach in Family Medicine” (talk and discussion)

Freeman-Audience_350_2024.10.18.png Freeman_350_2024.10.18.png

Thurs Nov 14
12:30-1:20 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Walt Schalick, MD, PhD, Pediatrician and Professor, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health

Read “Scholar-physician juggles culture, care, compassion” write-up at https://news.wisc.edu/scholar-physician-juggles-culture-care-compassion/

Presentation: “How the Hydra Can Be Your Friend: Experiences of a Physician-Historian” (talk and discussion)

Schalick-Osler-Society-Speaker-Poster_400_2024.10.18.png

Thurs Nov 14
5:30-7:00 p.m.
DSB 1002

"Silvester’s Choice: Medical Ethics, Disability, and Innovation in the Middle Ages"
Public Lecture to SSMD Community (all students and faculty welcome!)

2024-VSS_350_Walt-Schalick_social-media.png

Thurs Dec 5
12:30-1:20 p.m.

Doing an Independent HoM Research Project: Topic, Question, Presentation

Come learn about the national HMD Calgary Conference and how to design an abstract and research project to participate!  Demonstration presentations from past medical research projects will be offered.

Doing a history of medicine research project: topic, question, presentation. Moderated by Osler Society co-presidents. Thursday, Dec 5 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor). Pizza available at 12:15. PDF linked for text

Thurs Dec 12
12:30-1:20 p.m.

Thinking of Submitting an Abstract for a History of Medicine Project? Drop in!

Come by to speak with faculty members and other students on how to submit an abstract for your History of Medicine project to be accepted for presentation at the 2024 History of Medicine Days conference in Calgary.

 

 


History of Medicine Rounds at Schulich Medicine

Likely early March, which features the history of medicine independent research projects. Learn More.


History of Medicine Days at University of Calgary

Likely mid-March, with an abstract deadline in January. Learn More.


A group of nine people standing in front of three full bookshelves. The woman at the center of the group holds a silver plaque in her hands. There are three lithograpbhic portrait prints in frames on the walls.
Congratulations to 2025 prize winners!  L-R (back):  Dr Vivian McAlister, Raymond Tu (Rowntree Prize winner), Dr Shelley McKellar.  L-R (front): Poojitha Pai (Rowntree Prize winner), Dr Shauna Devine, Dr Roya Etemad-Rezai, Shirley Fan (Roundtree Prize honourable mention), Nikita Burman (Harvey Club winner), Dr Thomas Freeman.

Past Events

Learn more about Osler Society events from previous years.