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Faculty of Health Sciences-Health Sciences Program
HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE
HSS 2121
Description of the course:
The focus will be on the history of health and health care systems placed in their social, cultural and political context. Ideas, events and people are introduced and examined for
their influence, interrelationships and significance. Special attention will be given to the
place of the non-physician health professional in the scheme of events and on the development of multidisciplinary team approach. Time period will span mainly the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, emphasizing the relationship of gender, race, class, age and sexuality in relation to the concepts of health, disease and illness in Western Europe and Canada. Some of the topics covered will be sexual relations, sexually transmitted illnesses, contraception, medical ethics, abortion, mental illness and
childcare. The impact of lay groups and lay individuals on the concepts of health, disease
and illness will be examined. This course holds that it is fundamental for students to draw
links between the past and the present, particularly given current international and
national debates about health care reform, human rights.
Goals of the Course:
1. To raise awareness of history as a research discipline that can enrich understanding of the
present.
2. To instill a sense of skepticism (educated doubtfulness) with regard to medical beliefs,
knowledge and opinions. 2 C. Sethna
3. To think critically about the intersecting impact of variables such as gender, race, class,
and sexuality on our understanding of health, disease and illness.
4. To learn how the historical study of health care provides a window into society and its
values.
5. To focus on major themes and concepts in the history of healthcare as outlined in the
required readings and lectures.
Required Readings:
1. Jacalyn Duffin, History of Medicine: A Scandalously Short Introduction 2nd edition (Toronto:
University of Toronto Press, 2010.
Available at: mother tongue books/femmes de paroles
1067 Rue Bank St. (near Sunnyside St., past Lansdowne Park)Tel: 613-730-2346
Directions: From Bank St. Take Bus No. 1 or Bus No. 7 to Sunnyside St.
2. Course Reader
Available at: Rytec (Envirocopies)
404 Dalhousie St. (at Besserer St.) Tel: 613-241-2679
Course structure:
This course is based on readings, audio-visual material, lectures, guest lectures and class discussion. These are intended to complement one another – none replace or duplicate the others.
The Uses of History: “History helps us understand who we are, where we come from and, ultimately, where we are headed. The purpose of historical inquiry is not only to establish the facts and place events on a timeline, but to search for new meanings and interpretations of the past. Past societies have to be perceived and understood within their own context, taking into account the belief systems, values, and institutions that exist in a given time. At a practical level,
the study of history enables students to gather information and critically assess evidence, while providing them with solid analytical skills. Graduates in History are also known for their ability to express themselves well, both verbally and in writing. Skills acquired through the study of history open a number of careers: in addition to education, our graduates are very successful in areas such as diplomacy, journalism, public service, museums, law enforcement, and banking.”
---The Department of History, University of Ottawa
http://www.history.uottawa.ca/study-in.html Retrieved November 13, 2010
Evaluation:
MIDTERM (Weight: 30% of final grade) on February 13th. (1 hour)
The exam will be composed of a selection of essay questions, short answers, definitions,
matching columns, multiple choice, fill in the blanks and true and false statements.
Quizzes are similar it format to the midterm; they will test students on the readings.
QUIZ #1 (15% of final grade) on March 5 (30 minutes)
QUIZ #2 (15% of final grade) on March 26 (30 minutes)
Faculty of Health Sciences-Health Sciences Program
HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE
HSS 2121
Description of the course:
The focus will be on the history of health and health care systems placed in their social, cultural and political context. Ideas, events and people are introduced and examined for
their influence, interrelationships and significance. Special attention will be given to the
place of the non-physician health professional in the scheme of events and on the development of multidisciplinary team approach. Time period will span mainly the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, emphasizing the relationship of gender, race, class, age and sexuality in relation to the concepts of health, disease and illness in Western Europe and Canada. Some of the topics covered will be sexual relations, sexually transmitted illnesses, contraception, medical ethics, abortion, mental illness and
childcare. The impact of lay groups and lay individuals on the concepts of health, disease
and illness will be examined. This course holds that it is fundamental for students to draw
links between the past and the present, particularly given current international and
national debates about health care reform, human rights.
Goals of the Course:
1. To raise awareness of history as a research discipline that can enrich understanding of the
present.
2. To instill a sense of skepticism (educated doubtfulness) with regard to medical beliefs,
knowledge and opinions. 2 C. Sethna
3. To think critically about the intersecting impact of variables such as gender, race, class,
and sexuality on our understanding of health, disease and illness.
4. To learn how the historical study of health care provides a window into society and its
values.
5. To focus on major themes and concepts in the history of healthcare as outlined in the
required readings and lectures.
Required Readings:
1. Jacalyn Duffin, History of Medicine: A Scandalously Short Introduction 2nd edition (Toronto:
University of Toronto Press, 2010.
Available at: mother tongue books/femmes de paroles
1067 Rue Bank St. (near Sunnyside St., past Lansdowne Park)Tel: 613-730-2346
Directions: From Bank St. Take Bus No. 1 or Bus No. 7 to Sunnyside St.
2. Course Reader
Available at: Rytec (Envirocopies)
404 Dalhousie St. (at Besserer St.) Tel: 613-241-2679
Course structure:
This course is based on readings, audio-visual material, lectures, guest lectures and class discussion. These are intended to complement one another – none replace or duplicate the others.
The Uses of History: “History helps us understand who we are, where we come from and, ultimately, where we are headed. The purpose of historical inquiry is not only to establish the facts and place events on a timeline, but to search for new meanings and interpretations of the past. Past societies have to be perceived and understood within their own context, taking into account the belief systems, values, and institutions that exist in a given time. At a practical level,
the study of history enables students to gather information and critically assess evidence, while providing them with solid analytical skills. Graduates in History are also known for their ability to express themselves well, both verbally and in writing. Skills acquired through the study of history open a number of careers: in addition to education, our graduates are very successful in areas such as diplomacy, journalism, public service, museums, law enforcement, and banking.”
---The Department of History, University of Ottawa
http://www.history.uottawa.ca/study-in.html Retrieved November 13, 2010
Evaluation:
MIDTERM (Weight: 30% of final grade) on February 13th. (1 hour)
The exam will be composed of a selection of essay questions, short answers, definitions,
matching columns, multiple choice, fill in the blanks and true and false statements.
Quizzes are similar it format to the midterm; they will test students on the readings.
QUIZ #1 (15% of final grade) on March 5 (30 minutes)
QUIZ #2 (15% of final grade) on March 26 (30 minutes)
