Director(s): Stefano Sandrone PhD
Description: A method commonly used to study the history of medicine is the biographical approach; this is sometimes referred to as the "great man approach", tracing history from one dominant leader to another. But this neglects the many "great women" who also made fundamental contributions. Many of these "great men" live on by the diseases and signs they described which bear their name, or by the hidden contributions behind breakthrough discoveries. Many of these women have received less attention and many neurologists are still unable to name a single contribution by a woman and/or are unaware of the impact they had in the history of neurology. This course will put the spotlight on women founders of neurology and neuroscience and highlight their pivotal contribution. Faculty will provide a scientific and historical overview of their lives, their contributions to neurology and neuroscience, as well as of the socio-cultural context where these discoveries were made. The featured women include: Brenda Milner (1918-), Isabelle Rapin (1927-2017), Anita Harding (1952-1995), and Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012). This program complements Women Founders of Neurology and Neuroscience I, but covers independent topics.
Completion Message: Participants should become familiar with the names, lives, and the careers of women founders of neurology and of neuroscience; recognize and have a better understanding of their pioneering contributions; be familiar with the socio-cultural context within which these women worked, as well become aware of the important role played by these women who are, unfortunately, not always properly remembered; and recognize the importance of studying history of neurology and putting into the spotlight "forgotten" pioneers whose investigations are still fundamental for modern neurology and neuroscience.