Centre for Medical History, University of Exeter, UK

About The Centre for Medical History

Here at the Centre for Medical History, we make significant advances in the fields of the history of insanity, mental disability, fertility, infanticide, medical statistics and the development of institutional care.

The Centre brings together colleagues in the disciplines of History, English, Sociology, Psychology, Classics, Complementary Health, Centre for Genomics in Society (EGENIS), Peninsula Medical School, the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, and the Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Sexuality and Gender in Europe (CISSGE), all of which are dedicated to advancing methods and areas of research within the history of medicine.

We have built close links with medical and health care professionals in the region, including the NHS Trusts and General Practices. In addition there are several medical and specialist care institutions around Exeter with rich collections of records stretching back for the past two centuries, providing many opportunities for research in the locality.

The Centre for Medical History was successful in securing Wellcome Trust funding for a five year project: Environments, expertise and experience: The transmission and boundaries of medical knowledge and practice. The project started in October 2008 and encompasses research under three main headings:

Environments, bodies and boundaries
Sexual knowledge, sexual experiences and health
The transmission and boundaries of medical knowledge and practice

In addition, we share our work with a variety of audiences in a number of ways, including:

Interdisciplinary conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars
Collaborative projects with external organisations, eg Met Office, Devon Record Office
Widening Participation activities with schools
Public lectures

Centre history

The Centre for Medical History was established in 1997 to enhance the University's reputation for research within the field of medical history and for the social study of contemporary medical and health-related activities.

In 2003, research in the Centre was framed by a five year Wellcome Trust Strategic Award entitled "Health, Heredity and the Environment, 1850 - 2000". Research linked to the designated themes of the Award focused on:

Occupational & environmental health
Mental illness and mental disability
Gender, sexuality and the family

In addition to core staff, the Centre benefits from the experience and expertise of Affiliates, honorary fellows and professors, including Dr Ian Gregg, Dr Andrew Hardy and Dr Henry Guly.

If you are interested in becoming a Centre Affiliate, please contact Claire Keyte, the Centre Co-ordinator on +44 (0)1392 723289, c.e.keyte@exeter.ac.uk.