Syllabus
Course Objectives: To acquaint students with the development of medical thought and practices in various fields. To understand the influence of historical events, discoveries, and personalities on contemporary medicine. To evaluate the ethical, cultural, and societal aspects of medicine in the past and their relevance to the present. To foster critical thinking and the ability to analyze historical sources and interpretations. Course Outline:
1. Introduction to the Course. The Journey of a Healer - Medical philosophy, healing practices, and approaches in writings of ancient civilizations
2. Witch Hunts - Changes in the understanding of psychiatry and views on mental health
3. The Art of Midwifery - The blossoming of a scientific approach to women's health and the challenges of obstetrics
4. Through the Surgeon's Window - The development of surgical tools and techniques, ethical considerations
5. Fragile Warriors - Perspectives on child health in different historical periods, pediatrics as a distinct field
6. Milestones of Modern Medicine - Scientific discoveries and revolutionary inventions in modern medicine, the development of antibiotics and their impact on infectious disease treatment, technological innovations, and telemedicine
Annotation
Within this elective course, students become acquainted with the history of medicine, from ancient times to modern medicine of the 21st century, all in context of important events of world and Czech history. The students also become acquainted with the most important personalities of various medical disciplines of Czech and world medicine.
This course aims at deepening of students' knowledge of the history of medicine and at extending students' understanding of the coherency of the history of medicine and of the important milestones in the development of society.