Past Events
Below you will find descriptions and photos of previous Osler Society events.
2022-2023
Wed May 3 – 6 p.m. – Tour of Banting House with curator Grant Maltman – 442 Adelaide Street North, London
- Learn about Sir Frederick Banting and his work in discovering insulin; this house is designated as the “Birthplace of Insulin” and people from all around the world travel to this house to see the bed from which Banting woke up at 2 o’clock in the morning on Oct 31, 1920 to scribble down a 25-word hypothesis to record his idea for insulin.
- Join Us! All medical students welcome!
Thurs Apr 27 – 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. – HSA 041 (London) / MEB 113 (Windsor)
"So you've conducted a History of Medicine project.. where to from here?"
- In this informative and engaging session, we will learn from faculty and former students how to further develop and increase the rigour of our HoM projects for additional scholarship.
Thurs Mar 23 AND 30 – 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. -- History of Medicine ROUNDS -- HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor)
Medical student presentations to SSMD Community – Rowntree Prize & Harvey Club Prize
Thurs Mar 9 -- 12:30 to ???? -- HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor)
“Practice Session for HMD Calgary”
- (optional practice sessions) for Calgary HMD (March 17 & 18, 2003) note that March Break is Mar 13-17
- All students welcome to listen to all presentations
Thurs Feb 23 – 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. -- Meeting for students with accepted abstracts to Calgary HMD
“Preparing for HMD Calgary”
- Meet fellow students traveling to Calgary; Discuss logistics
- Meet with Professors Devine, Potter, McKellar and others to discuss individual projects (next steps clear?)
Thurs Feb 9 – 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. -- HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor)
Dr Charys Martin, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Western, “Eponyms in Medicine”
Thurs Jan 26 – 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. -- HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor)
Dr Ariel Gershon, Meds 2019 and Dr Tehmina Ahmed, Meds 2017 – Western Alumni Visitors
“Practicing during a Covid Pandemic: Linking my HoM Exposure to the Challenges Faced”
November 24, 2022
| Roundtable: Doing an Independent HoM Research Project: Picking a Topic, Researching a Research Question, Presenting my Findings | |
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Moderated by Osler Society Co-Presidents Claire Vannelli, Rahman Ladak, Chris Zajner, Tarquin Opperman Thursday, November 24 |
October 20, 2022
| The Curious History of Leeches: From Antiquity to the FDA | |
| Dr. Mindy Schwartz, M.D. Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago Thursday October 20, 2022 HSA 041 (London) / MEB 1113 (Windsor) 12:30-1:30pm |
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September 29, 2022
| A history of the changing societal obligations of the medical profession. | |
Thursday, September 29
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September 8, 2022
| WELCOME / Meet & Greet | |
Thursday, September 8
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2021-2022
March 1
Dr Roland Del Maestro, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS, DABNS"Leonardo da Vinci and the Search for the Soul"
A Joint Session of Western's Osler Society (Schulich Medicine) with the McGill Osler Society
Abstract: Where is the anatomical location of the soul? Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) used a myriad of innovative methods acquired from his knowledge of painting, sculpture, and architecture to define more clearly the site of the “senso comune”—the soul. In this presentation Dr Del Maestro examines some of the sources of this ancient question, the knowledge base tapped by Leonardo for his personal “search for the soul,” and how modern concepts such as artificial intelligence shed further light on Leonardo’s quest.
Biographical Profile: Dr Rolando F. Del Maestro (UWO Meds’73) is a Canadian neurosurgeon, scientist, innovator, and Director of the Neurosurgical Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre. He has led Brain Research Laboratories at Western University prior to joining McGill University in 2000. With over 40 years of experience, he has trained >100 neurosurgical residents/fellows with a practice focused on complex neuro-oncology procedures.
February 16
Online Visiting Speaker Series: Dr. Susan Lamb, "Why do Psychiatric Diagnoses Appear and Disappear from the DSM?” A History of Mental IllnessesA Joint Session of Western's Osler Society (Schulich Medicine) with the Psychiatry and Mental Health Interest Group (PMHIG) at the University of Ottawa Medical Faculty.
December 1
Banting House Private Tour
Members of the Osler Society had a private tour of Banting House on December 1, 2021, where they learned about Sir Frederick Banting and his work in discovering insulin. Photos from the trip are below:
November 10
Online Visiting Speaker Series
Visiting Speakers Erika Dyck & Maureen Lux presented a powerful talk about "Challenging Choices" -- discussing reproductive politics, narratives of overpopulation, continued limited choices for many (contrasting with media reporting of a sexual liberation & freedom age), and more by highlighting four case studies: Indigenous women & family planning; Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities & birth control; Men & vasectomies; Teenage women & unplanned pregnancies.
November 2
Welcome meeting of the Osler Society
Students came out to learn about forthcoming club activities and met the Osler Society Co-Presidents.
2020-2021
March 11 and 12, 2021
History of Medicine Rounds
Prizes were awarded to student presentations on a range of history of medicine projects. View the HOM Rounds page for more details.
February 12, 2021
Guest Speaker: Prof Susan Lamb, University of Ottawa
Title: "Why do Psychiatric Diagnoses Appear and Disappear from the DSM?” A History of Mental Illnesses
Drawing a high turnout as a joint session with the Psychiatry and Mental Health Interest Group (PMHIG) at the University of Ottawa, we now know the origin of terms such as "crackpot" and "bedlam"! Key takeaway is understanding mental illness is defined by culture and social norms. Thank you Prof Lamb!
December 1, 2020
Guest Speaker: Dr. Shauna Devine, Western University
Title: "Smallpox and the Science of Bacteriology in the Civil War South"
Thank you Dr Devine for presenting your research on medicine during the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865). As the Confederate Army and southern physicians grappled to understand and to contain smallpox outbreaks by vaccination, there were certainly similar concerns and questions asked to many Covid-19 vaccine issues. We look forward to your forthcoming book on Medicine in the Civil War South.
100th Anniversary of the Discovery of Insulin
7:30 p.m.
November 3, 2020
ZOOM meeting
Our meeting with guest speaker Grant Maltman was a great success. We learned about Dr. Fred Banting's humble beginnings until his famous scribbling of 27 words on paper at his bedside table, at 2 a.m. on the morning of Oct 31st, 1920 -- 100 years ago -- here in London at 442 Adelaide Street North. Those words were:
Diabetus. Ligate pancreatic ducts of dog. Keep dogs alive till acini degenerate leaving Islets. Try to isolate the internal secretion of these to try to relieve glycosurea. — Sir Frederick Grant Banting
WELCOME meeting -- Osler Society
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
ZOOM meeting
Come learn about forthcoming club activities & meet the Osler Society Co-Presidents for 2020-21:
- Aly Balbaa, Meds 2023
- Matthew Bentley, Meds 2023
- Andrea Kassay, Meds 2023 [Windsor]
- Kevin Lane, Meds 2023
2019-2020
Don't be left out in the cold! and Preparing for Calgary HMD
Wednesday, February 26 -- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 041, History of Medicine Library
with "Zoom" videoconferencing to Windsor
The Knick Screening
Wednesday, January 29 -- 6:00 p.m.
DSB 1002 (London) and MEB 1113 (Windsor)
History of Medicine Research Project Workshop
Wednesday, December 11 -- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 041 History of Medicine Library
Students learned about refining a research project and crafting an abstract in preparation for Calgary's HMD Conference.
Meet and Greet the 2019 Visiting Speaker -- Dr Scott Podolsky, M.D., Harvard University
Thursday, November 21 -- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 041 History of Medicine Library (London)
Dr. Podolsky gave an informal talk (and chat) to medical students around: "Physicians and History of Medicine Projects: Using Medical Journals as both Digital Sources and Historical Forces”
* Special Tour * of Banting House -- Grant Maltman, Curator
Tuesday, Oct 29 -- 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
42 Adelaide St N, London
Tackling a History of Medicine Project
Tuesday, October 8 -- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 041 History of Medicine Library (London)
Osler Society Presidents shared past projects and strategies for tackling a history of medicine project with attendees. Thank you to the Windsor group (photo above right) for joining us!
Kick-Off meeting for the Osler Society
Thursday Sept 26 -- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 101 (London) and MEB 2102 (Windsor)
- Meet the co-Presidents and learn about upcoming events for the club
- Dr. Dale Smith , Professor of Military Medicine & History, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland “Is there a Canadian Medicine? Defining and Documenting its Heritage to Improve It”
Read what Dr. Smith tells USU medical students about Dr Jonathan Letterman, an Army physician at the Battle of Antietam at "Future Military Providers Learn ..."
2018-2019
History Month Talks: Student Showcase
Tuesday, April 16, 2019 -- 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.
HSA History of Medicine Library
- Sean Wong, "The Alexandria Plan: Dr. James Mills and a New Emergency Medicine Hospital Model in 1960s America"
- Sarah Cocco, "Lessons from Woodstock ’69: The Tumultuous History of Mass Gathering Medicine (MGM)"
- Nicole Lam, "Robbing Rights and Dignity After Death: The Illegal Dissections of African American Cadavers by Medical Schools in Late 18th Century America"
- Wesley Tin, "Cause for Pause: The Overzealous Media Coverage of CTE and its Negative Effects"
Sexual and Reproductive Health Session: A Joint Session of the Osler Society & Local Officers of Reproductive and Sexual Health of the CFMS Global Health program
Thursday, February 21, 2019 -- 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.
MSB 146 (London) and MEB 1115 (Windsor)
- Dr. Shelley McKellar, Hannah Chair, "Public Health Campaigns and Sexual Health: What's Changed? Dare to be Shocked!"
- Bojana Radan, Med Class 2021, “The Decade in Romania with No Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Access”
- LORSH 2022 executives, "Contraceptive Testing on Puerto Rican Women"
Pizza & Talk: Dr Maureen Lux, author of Separate Beds -- "Race, Medicine and the State: Indian Hospitals in Canada"
Friday, November 23, 2018, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
HSA 101 -- an OTN Video-Conference session with Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) History of Health & Medicine lecture series
Guest Speaker: Dr. Susan Reverby, 2018 Visiting Speaker in the History of Medicine
"How to escape Melodrama when you discuss Immoral Medical Research"
Tuesday, October 30, 2018, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
HSA 041 History of Medicine Library
- Dr. Reverby is author of the prize-winning book, Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and its Legacy (UNC, 2009). ( Read more here about Dr Reverby's work.)
Fall 2018 Welcome Meeting
October 11, 2018
- "Don't Miss Out!" Medical Student Activities and Opportunities in the History of Medicine; a presentation by Co-Presidents Sean Wong, Wes Tin and George Kitching
- "Lifesaving Devices? Artificial Hearts and Efforts to Thwart Death"; a short presentation by Dr Shelley McKellar on the history of artificial hearts and mechanical circulatory support systems today ( Read more here about Dr McKellar's newest book, Artificial Hearts: The Allure and Ambivalence of a Controversial Medical Technology.)
2017-2018
Osler Opioid History Day with Dr. Sharon Koivu and medical student presentations
March 29, 2018 
Banting House Tour
January 19, 2018
Guest Speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Baker, Duke University
"Alternative Facts, Alternative Stories: Talking to Patients Who Don't Trust Science"
October 3rd, 2017
Welcome Meeting
Dr. Mindy Schwartz, University of Chicago
"Leeches: Old Medicine is New"
September 12, 2017 -- 12:30 p.m. History of Medicine office, Health Sciences Addition, Rm. 041
