Come celebrate the opening of the National Library of Medicine Politics of Yellow Fever in Alexander Hamilton’s America exhibit with brief talks by Dr. Andrew Simpson, History Department, and Dr. Faina Linkov, Public Health. After the talks, enjoy music by Mr. Isaiah Small, Pittsburgh Pianist, and refreshments provided by Gumberg Library. This event is free and open to the public.
If you are interested in participating, you can request a copy of the book from Terra Merkey or pick one up at the Exhibition Kickoff on September 5th.
For centuries, Black Americans overlooked and exploited by the mainstream medical system have responded by creating their own community initiatives for medical training and care. From the country's first paramedic service Freedom House, to the community outreach work of Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, to the trauma-informed community development of the Neighborhood Resilience Project, Pittsburgh's Black communities have a long history of creating the tools they need to tend to their neighbors and families—and in the process, have helped to push the medical field forward for everyone. Three local community-based healthcare practitioners and organizers will discuss their experiences building and providing services over the last sixty years, and the progress still being made today.
This event is free and open to the public.
From the Black Plague to HIV/AIDS, from 1918's influenza to 2020's coronavirus, pandemics and epidemics have always shaped and been shaped by politics. Mass disease outbreaks heighten economic and racial disparities, inflame debates over science and education, and expose vital questions of ethics and public policy. Over centuries of pandemics, doctors, scholars, citizens, and leaders have had surprisingly similar arguments over how to mitigate and treat disease, who and what to devote resources to, and even whether the disease exists at all. Join Gumberg Library for a panel discussion on the political dimension of pandemics. Part of the National Library of Medicine “Politics of Yellow Fever in Alexander Hamilton’s America” exhibit, this panel will feature three esteemed speakers: