We recently caught up with TEDxCLE 2015 speaker, Brandy Schillace, who is up to some exciting things at the Dittrick Medical History Center and Museum. She will be contributing some thoughts to the TEDxCLE Blog in the form of a guest post this week – enjoy!
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Public Conversations: Stimulating Discussion across Time and Space
Cleveland is on the rise; this has been the story across media of late—and it’s true. But what the wider world doesn’t always recognize is that this movement, this pulse of activity, of desire, or change, originated a long while ago and is born out of something we Clevelanders take seriously: community. It’s the driving force, the heartbeat that supports our public spaces, promotes our museums, and provides forums like The City Club or TEDxCLE. And community is also at the heart of what we do at the Dittrick Medical History Center and Museum.
How does a museum and library take part in community? By engaging, by offering free programs, and (most importantly) meeting people where they are, beyond the walls. This September marks the inaugural lecture series called CONVERSATIONS. What laid the groundwork for anatomy instruction? How did we get from Sherlock to CSI? When did birth become “hospitalized”? What were the ramifications of the Comstock Acts (making birth control illegal in the US)? And, more importantly, how do these fascinating histories continue to change our world and shape our experiences? As part of our newest project (an interactive digital wall, now in development), we are asking “How Medicine Became Modern”—and we want the Cleveland community to join in the discussion.
Each of these free public forums will begin with a 15 minute presentation given in much the same way as the TEDx talks: history of medicine rendered in all its quirky, vibrant detail. Then I will provide a few guiding questions to the discussants, experts in the field who can speak to the medical present. But that’s only the beginning. These aren’t lectures—they are conversations. And that’s where you come in: we are inviting the public to join a small audience of participants to engage in a discussion. Why? Because at the heart of medicine is the community, and your experiences, questions, and ideas matter.
So what to do next? The website and registration is now live and can be reached on the DittrickMuseumBlog.com Conversations page (choose See the Line Up or register now). Seating for the events has been capped to provide an atmosphere for discussion, so early registration ensures your seat! The first event is at the Dittrick Museum Zverina room, but others will be hosted at different institutions around town, including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Public Library. I hope you will attend—and join the conversation!
September 2015
Conversation: “Hard Labor”–Birth in the 19th century and Today [more]
Discussion Partner: Leslie Kushner, MSN, RN, CNM, Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Gretchen Mettler, CNM, PhD, University Hospitals Medical Center
Where: Dittrick Museum, Zverina Room
When: Thursday, Sept 24th, 6:00 PM register
November 2015
Conversation: Bodies Wanted—Anatomy and the Dissection Debate (w/museum admission)
Discussion Partner: Richard Drake, PhD, Editor Grey’s Anatomy, Cleveland Clinic College of Medicine
Exhibition: World’s Largest Dinosaur ($7)
Where: Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Rare Book Room
When: Wednesday, Nov 4th, 7:00 PM register
January 2016
Conversation: Edge of Disaster–Vaccines and Epidemics
Discussion Panel: Interdisciplinary panel, History, Political Science, Medicine, Anthropology
Where: Baker Nord Center for the Humanities, Clark Hall 207
When: Thursday, January 21st, 6:30PM register
March 2016
Conversation: It Runs like Clockwork–Automatons, Artificial Hearts, and Machines of Medicine (with museum admission)
MOCA Exhibit: Stranger ($9.50)
Where: MOCA Cleveland (Museum of Contemporary Art)
When: Thursday, March 3th, 7:00PM register
May 2016
Conversation: “The End of the World as We Know it”–PTSD, Shock, and Conflict
Discussion Partner: Shannon French, Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, Case Western Reserve University
Where: Inamori Center for Ethics, Seminar Room
When: Thursday, May 12th, 6:30PM register
August 2016
Conversation: Not so “Elementary”–getting from Sherlock to CSI
Where: Cleveland Public Library Downtown, Brett Hall
When: Saturday August 6th, 3:00PM register
NOTE: All talks will be given by Brandy Schillace, Public Engagement Fellow for Dittrick Museum. Discussion partners will take part in the Q&A, and public discussion is encouraged. You must register for the events (see the form below) because space is limited. *Please note that the November (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) and March (MOCA) events are free only with museum admission.
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