Memoir of a medical career

In this autobiographical memoir, Dr Clyne Shepherd, a longstanding member of the society, describes a fascinating and varied medical career.
From undergraduate days in the 1940s through junior hospital posts and National Service in the 1950s, Clyne Shepherd paints a picture of life as a young doctor in the fledgling NHS.
His further training was geared toward a career as a missionary doctor in Africa and he describes his experience as a surgeon through war and peace in Nigeria. On return to Scotland he embarked on a very different career as a community medicine specialist in Lothian. Here he reflects on the changing pattern of health care which he experienced at first hand through a remarkable and wide-ranging medical career.
Read Dr Shepherd’s memoir here

RCPE History of medicine award

The purpose of this award is to support and develop the study of the history of medicine in Scotland.

The prize for this award is £500.

Eligibility

This award is open to all researchers in the history of medicine, or related social and cultural history fields. Researchers can be based in the United Kingdom or overseas. Please be aware that for overseas finalists, travel expenses to the event will only be paid from their point of entry into the United Kingdom.

Application and Selection Procedure

Research must be unpublished and must have been undertaken in the last 3 years. Research which has been submitted for publication will be considered, but details should be given of when and where it has been submitted, and if it has been accepted for publication. Abstracts must be based on original research in the field.

The deadline for submissions is 31 August 2018.

Abstracts must be submitted in either PDF or Word format along with a completed application form and curriculum vitae. The abstract must not exceed 1000 words in length. The curriculum vitae must not exceed two sides of A4.

Applicants, if chosen, must be willing to present their research on Friday 19 October 2018. This is a public event, to encourage engagement with the history of medicine in Scotland.

The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh will publish the winning paper. The winner will also be asked to submit a guest blog post on their research for publication on the College’s heritage blog.

The award can only be awarded to an individual once.

Click here for more info

100 years on from the death of Dr Elsie Inglis

After being told by the War Office ‘my good lady go home and sit still’ as women doctors and surgeons were not permitted to serve in front-line hospitals, Elsie offered her services to Britain’s allies. On their acceptance, she formed the Scottish Women’s Hospitals (SWH) and together with her colleagues and associates from the suffragist movement between 1914-1919 raised the equivalent of £53m in today’s money to buy equipment and get their stations to the front line.
Seventeen Scottish Women’s Hospitals were set up across France, Corsica, Greece, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia to treat soldiers, as well as a number of satellite hospitals and dressing stations, manned by nearly 1,500 women.

You can also learn more about Elsie and the SWH movement at www.ww100scotland.com

Edinburgh History of Medicine Group

The group holds a series of monthly talks between October and April each year. These are held in the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and  are open to all.

Details of the programme for session 2015-16 can be found here

Glasgow History of Medicine Group

The Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow are collaborating in a series of seminars on medical history, medical humanities and related topics.  Meetings will be in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow at 5.30 pm.  Tea/coffee from 5.00 pm.  All welcome.

For further information email: library@rcpsg.ac.uk

John Blair Trust

The Trust is a registered charity established in 1995 by the British Society for the History of Medicine and the Scottish Society of the History of Medicine.  John Blair had been President of both Societies and had played a major role in organising  meetings whose financial success led to the formation of the Trust.

The purpose of the Trust is “The promotion of the study of the history of medicine by undergraduate students of medicine and allied sciences”.

The Trustees invite applications from undergraduates in medicine and allied sciences throughout the UK, for grants-in-aid, up to £150, to enable them to pursue their studies in the history of medicine. Such applications might include funding for necessary photocopying, research fees and any other incidental or enabling expenses.

Application forms may be viewed and downloaded  as a Word Document from here  Blair Trust Application Form