Technology and American Medicine

Technology and American Medicine

HIST S3174 (CRN: 30209) | Syllabus

Instructors: Deborah Streahle
Dates: Session B, June 29 - July 31, 2026
Course Mode: In-Person
Meeting Times: TTh 9.00-12.15
Distributional Requirements: Humanities, Writing
Eligibility: Open to pre-college and college students

Course closed to further enrollment. In-person Course. This course explores the material culture of American medicine. From instruments like thermometers and scalpels to imaging tools like X-rays and MRIs to everyday aids like glasses, prosthetics and fitness tracking apps—technology suffuses medicine today. In this course, we will analyze particular technologies as both physical and cultural objects in historical context. In addition to investigating the definition of medical technology, we will also consider a range of themes and questions, among them: why do some technologies succeed and others fail? What is the relationship between medical technology and power? How do race, class, gender, and sexuality impact the creation and use of medical technology? We will pay particular attention to the themes of expertise, authority, and identity. In addition to reading primary and secondary sources, we will work closely with materials from the Medical Historical Library. Students can expect to emerge from the course prepared to analyze medical technologies and place them in historical context in American medicine. The course will culminate in a student-run exhibition of medical technologies. 1 Credit. Session B: June 29 – July 31. Tuition: $5480.

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