Objectives
To collect people who have had decisive influence on the handling of significant events in medical and health history, and make them review and discuss their points of view at the time, as a supplementary source to historical research.
Ongoing
- The Public Good, Planning and Internationalism in African Health
Held 24-29th September, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa.
In collaboration with London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Birkbeck University of London, University of Exeter - Plectasin's Odyssey. From Hopeful Beginnings to Untimely End
Held 16th November 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In Collaboration with University of Copenhagen. Funded by DryAP
Outcomes
Published seminar transcripts:
- The introduction of family medicine as an academic discipline in 1968 (Michael 1/2009)
- When HIV came to Norway (Michael 1/2010)
- The closing of Reitgjerdet Hospital (Michael 4/2010)
- The Tsjernobyl disaster 1986 (Michael 1/2011)
- Antibiotikarestistens i Norge (Michael 1/2012)
Background
The method has been adapted following British examples of witness seminars on events 20-40 years back in time (Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine). The discussion are recorded and filed together with a verbatim transcript, and an edited version is published.
Financing
Each seminar is financed separately with public funds from different relevant sources.
Cooperation
The project started in 2008 as a joint venture between the Department of Community Medicine, The Norwegian Medical Society, The Foundation for the national medical museum and The national museum for science and medicine (NTM).
Start - Finish
2008 - ongoing