Long Night of Museums at the 21st Century Anatomical Theatre

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, this Saturday, 14th May, from 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., we extend a warm invitation to join us for the Long Night of Museums at the WUM Museum of the History of Medicine. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore a modern museum and educational space while delving into the mysteries of the human body at the “Anatomical Theatre of the 21st Century.” Continuing the traditions of European anatomical theatres, this arrangement promises an enlightening experience.

During the Long Night of Museums, we have an exciting line-up of activities and presentations. One of the highlights is a captivating 3D multimedia show accompanied by an anatomy lesson conducted by WUM ArsMedica students. We will also feature a film titled “Milestones,” which delves into the captivating history of anatomy.

In addition to these main attractions, we are delighted to offer the following:

Workshops:

  1. “Anatomy Lesson” – A multimedia show utilizing advanced 3D technology.
  2. “Spontaneous Rescue” – A first aid workshop covering wound dressing and CPR. Hosted by students from IFMSA-Poland Warsaw Branch.

Stands:

  • “Health under Control” (Operated by students from IFMSA-Poland Warsaw Branch)
  • Activities related to healthy nutrition, blood pressure and sugar measurement, DKMS registration, and cancer prevention self-monitoring.

Lectures:

  • 20:30: Dr Hanna Pliszka will deliver a lecture on “Anatomy and Pathology in Paintings from the Collection of the Pinacoteca of Milan.” Dr Pliszka, an anthropologist at the Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy at the Medical University of Warsaw, specializes in human biology, anatomy, and paleopathology. Through her studies of human remains, she unravels mysteries from the past.
  • 21:30: Aleksandra Hyży will present on “Food and Health through the Ages – What Was on Our Plates.” Aleksandra Hyży is a dietitian and a PhD student at the Department of Education and Research in Health Sciences, WUM. She is currently completing an additional Master’s degree in Public Health. Her primary research interests revolve around health education, health promotion, and communication.

Join us for an engaging and informative Long Night of Museums as we delve into the fascinating world of human anatomy and its historical significance.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS “Academic heritage for the future of science” 26-29 April 2022, Warsaw

 

The International Scientific Conference of the Association of University Museums, titled “Academic heritage for the future of science,” took place in Warsaw between 26th and 29th April 2022. Our Museum was privileged to participate in this prestigious event. On Wednesday 27th April, Grażyna Jermakowicz, the Museum Director, delivered a speech on anatomy lessons in the Anatomical Theatre of the 21st Century. On Friday 29th April, our Museum had the honour of welcoming esteemed representatives from university museums in Poland and abroad. This distinguished group included key European heritage and academic museum organizations such as UMAC ICOM (International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections) and UNIVERSEUM (European Academic Heritage Network). Our guests had the opportunity to explore our permanent and temporary exhibitions. Additionally, first- and second-year students from the Faculty of Medicine at WUM presented on the multimedia lessons conducted in the 21st-century Anatomical Theatre and the growing collaboration between students and the Museum of the History of Medicine.

The art of healing in painting and printmaking of the modern era

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we cordially invite you to explore our newly opened exhibition located in the connector between the Rectorate and LIC (Library-Information Centre) buildings. The Museum of the History of Medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw takes great pride in presenting reproductions of paintings and prints, primarily focusing on Dutch and Flemish art from the 17th century. The central theme of the exhibition revolves around the interaction between patient and doctor.

The equating relationship between medicine and art can be traced back to the classical definition of art, first articulated by Aristotle and further developed by St. Thomas Aquinas. According to Aquinas, art is the principle of creating intentional works that aim to compensate for the deficiencies left by nature. He famously stated, “Ars imitatur naturam et suplet defectum naturae in illis inquibus” (“Art imitates nature and compensates for its deficiencies.”). When we reflect upon the most profound deficiency experienced by humans, it becomes evident that it is the lack of health. In a similar vein, medicine also imitates nature, particularly in its fundamental characteristic of intentionality. The art of medicine recognizes the potential to address and remedy specific deficiencies permitted by nature, acting as a reflection of knowledge about the world and a means to restore it. This humanistic purpose is crucial in preventing the scientific dimension from overshadowing the essence of medicine—the patient—and ensuring that medical care does not reduce the human being to a mere case of illness.

The journey towards medicine’s recognition of the laws of nature was fraught with challenges and obstacles. Prior to the 20th century, even less severe illnesses could often result in death or permanent disability. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the relationship between the sick person and the healer was a prevalent theme in fine arts, sometimes depicted with a touch of humour.

Genre painting gained popularity during the modern era, particularly among Dutch and Flemish artists. They explored various aspects of everyday life and incorporated them into their works. Medicine became a popular subject, with artists portraying doctors engrossed in caring for sick and suffering individuals, as well as condemning the actions of charlatans and ridiculing the gullibility of uneducated patients. These scenes were often set in humble inns, bustling fairs, or the homes of the affluent bourgeoisie.

One recurring subject depicted in these artworks was the examination of the pulse and urinalysis by physicians. Another frequently portrayed motif was doctors being summoned to attend to girls afflicted with lovesickness. Toothaches were often satirized by artists, along with depictions of simple surgical procedures performed by medical practitioners, such as the removal of the “madness stone” from the skull of an insane patient.

200 years of the Warsaw Medical Association

 

Dear Sirs and Madams, we are pleased to inform you that the 200th anniversary celebration of the uninterrupted activity of the Warsaw Medical Association will be held on the 6th December at 13.00 at the WUM Didactic Centre.

The Warsaw Medical Association begins its celebrations with an exhibition of portraits of Warsaw doctors – members and friends of the Warsaw Medical Association – contemporary representatives of our great academic community. The creator of the portraits on display is the painter, artist Tytus Byczkowski, and the exhibition is co-organised by our Museum.

Established on 6th of December 1820 at the initiative of a group of professors from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Warsaw, the Warsaw Medical Association pursued its chief motto – “To Serve the People and the Homeland” – throughout the next 200 most difficult years of Poland’s history, preserving and developing the most beautiful traditions and best models of medical behaviour.

Exhibition to mark 70 years of the Warsaw Orthopaedic Clinic

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are very pleased to inform you that our Museum has co-organised an exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Orthopaedic Clinic.

The exhibition is located at 4 Lindley Street in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and accompanies a ceremonial meeting of the Polish Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. You are cordially invited to explore the history of the Clinic.

 

Józef Piłsudski – the first honorary doctor of the Faculty of Medicine

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

We would like to invite you to visit our new exhibition, located in the Rector’s Office building, prepared to commemorate a significant event in the history of our university, which took place 100 years ago. The exhibition runs between 01.10.2022 and 12.12.2022

On 2nd May 1921, for the first time in the history of the University, an honorary doctorate was conferred on the Faculty of Medicine – it was awarded to Marshal Józef Piłsudski. On that day, the dean’s and rector’s insignia were conferred on the University authorities.

The decision to honour Józef Piłsudski ‘in recognition of his services to Polish science in general, to Polish medicine and in particular the University’s Faculty of Medicine’ was made at the request of the Faculty Council on 30 April 1920, when military operation was held and many professors were on military service.

 

Józef Piłsudski – the first recipient of an honorary doctorate awarded by the Faculty of Medicine. “The one who healed the hearts of Poles, who were oppressed by slavery “

Soon, on 2nd May, we will celebrate the centenary of the first honorary doctorate awarded by the Warsaw Medical Faculty. One hundred years ago, on 2nd May 1921, Marshal Józef Piłsudski was awarded in Warsaw this most prestigious form of recognition in the academic world. In reference to this extremely important anniversary in the history of Polish higher education, we invite you to see our latest video production, entitled “Józef Piłsudski, the first doctor honoris causa of the Faculty of Medicine. The one who healed the hearts of Poles, who were oppressed by slavery”

From the video you will learn, among other things, what is the significance of this famous academic degree, where the May promotion took place one hundred years ago, and who were the following honorary doctors in the walls of the University of Warsaw, the Medical Academy and the Medical University of Warsaw. Perhaps the future doctor honoris causa of our university will be among the audience of our video?

 

“In the world of skeletons, dragons and ghosts, or about the symbolism of representations of infectious diseases in the visual arts”

We would like to  present our new online exhibition entitled “In the world of skeletons, dragons and ghosts, or about the symbolism of representations of infectious diseases in visual arts.” Due to the current epidemiological situation, it is currently only available in the virtual world, but after returning to normality (we hope as soon as possible), we invite you to see it at the Medical University of Warsaw – in the Library and Information Center.

The language of allegory has always played an important role in depicting infectious diseases. In particular many representations of this kind appeared in mediaeval art, because at that time pestilence was associated with a divine punishment for the sins and transgressions of people. Polychrome paintings and sculptures depicting devils, dragons and ghouls as epidemics can today still be found in early European churches. Many of these sacred representations, such as the famous danse macabre (or Dance of Death) motif, were associated with the Black Death – the most terrifying plague in human history. Emperors, queens, popes and ordinary townsfolk, peasants and even the homeless took part in the dancing procession led by a skeleton symbolizing death. The theme of infectious diseases was also taken up by numerous early modern artists, such as Albrecht Dürer, Peter Bruegel the Elder and Hans Holbein. Continue reading ““In the world of skeletons, dragons and ghosts, or about the symbolism of representations of infectious diseases in the visual arts””

The long-awaited completion of the work on our permanent exhibition – the anatomical theater of the 21st century

Today we are delighted to share with you the exciting news about a very important event in the history of our Museum. The completion of the first showroom of our anatomical theater has just finished, and thus we are starting the arrangement of our new exhibition. The display is being prepared, and more artefacts are taking their rightful place in museum display cases. Another task is to perform 3D mapping – after its completion and after lifting the restrictions, we will be able to welcome you at the first permanent exhibition of our museum. The ceremonial opening of the new space will take place before Easter – the report from this event will be available through all communication channels of our museum.