Health Activism and Social Justice in American Medicine, 1945 to the present

After the Second World War medical students and young physicians, as well as other health professionals, began to demand changes in the structure of the American medical profession and the delivery of health care. Attacks on anti-Semitism and racism, nuclear weapons testing and dehumanizing treatment of hospital patients was initially resisted by many who accused activists of Communism and anti-Americanism, but by the 1960s federal support of community medicine and other social programs gave such activists a place (as well as funding) to push for significant changes in medical training, hiring, admission and practice. This talk will briefly examine the legacy of this struggle and the continuing efforts to humanize American medicine. Please note: 12-1pm is our free meet & greet luncheon followed by the presentation and audience Q&A at 1-2pm.

Co-sponsored by the Research Theme in Health Equity & Translational Social Science (HETSS) and the Rangell Social Medicine Grand Rounds Series