UW-Madison Medical History & Bioethics

Headshot of Dr. Gretchen Schwarze, a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bangs, wearing tortoiseshell glasses, small teal earrings, a delicate necklace, and a black blazer, smiling warmly against a neutral gray background.

🏆 Congratulations to Gretchen Schwarze, MD, MPP, FACS — recipient of the 2026 MacLean Center Prize in Clinical Ethics and Health Outcomes!

Dr. Schwarze's "Best Case/Worst Case" communication tool has transformed preoperative conversations for patients across the US and beyond. #Bioethics

Overburden_Trailer_FINAL VERSION_16x9 This is "Overburden_Trailer_FINAL VERSION_16x9" by Gregg Mitman on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

This is what happens when brilliant faculty follow their curiosity for decades. 🎥 Watch this stunning trailer from @greggmitman.bsky.social - we cannot wait for the full film this September. vimeo.com/1159253143 #HealthEquity #Overburden

a black and white photo of a person using a film camera . ALT: a black and white photo of a person using a film camera .

Did you know we have a treasure trove of videos from our faculty? Topics range from improving patient care conversations to neural chip technology. Explore the full collection: go.wisc.edu/2963f6 #MedicalHistory #Bioethics #KnowledgeIsPower

Professor Ronald L. Numbers sitting at his desk in his office, surrounded by stacks of papers and books. He is wearing glasses and a dark striped shirt, with his hand thoughtfully placed near his chin. The office has white walls and appears to be a working academic space filled with research materials. Republished from 2008: An Interview with Ronald Numbers Alita Byrd | July 26, 202 Interviews People

On Monday, our Chair Richard Keller read the Memorial Resolution honoring Professor Emeritus Ronald L. Numbers, crafted by Judy Leavitt. Read the full resolution: go.wisc.edu/q6t59g
A fitting tribute to an extraordinary scholar and colleague. 🕊️

a person is writing in a notebook with a pen on top of it ALT: a person is writing in a notebook with a pen on top of it

📝 SMPH writers! Join CHASM Feb 23, 5-7pm at Gordon Commons for writing workshops + dinner. Get feedback on your work from English grad students, meet fellow writers, and swap tips. Free dinner included! Sign up: bit.ly/CHASMWriting.... #MedHum

Book cover featuring a sculptural figure against a black background. The figure has a brown face with a golden crown or headdress, wearing a decorated garment with gray and gold patterns. Multiple disembodied hands in brown and gray tones reach toward the figure from the edges of the image, with small pink flowers scattered throughout. The title "BLOODY NUMBERS" appears in large red letters across the middle. Below in gold text: "The Early Atlantic Slave Trade and the Invention of Modern Corporeality." Author name "PABLO F. GÓMEZ" in white at bottom.

Proud of our MHB faculty Dr. Pablo F. Gómez! His new book Bloody Numbers reveals how the Atlantic slave trade invented modern ways of quantifying human bodies. Stunning cover, essential read, coming June 2026. go.wisc.edu/utf88a. #MedicalHistory @uchicagopress.bsky.social

Hibernating 13-lined ground squirrel curled in ball, surrounded by dried leaves. PNAS cover photo by Robert Streiffer.

🎉Our professor Rob Streiffer's stunning photo of a hibernating 13-lined ground squirrel graces the cover of @pnas.org! His image beautifully captures the subject of groundbreaking research on how these animals survive 6-month fasts w/help from gut microbes. 🐿️📸 #SciencePhotography #UWMadison

Dr. Margaret “Gretchen” Schwarze (Surgery; Medical History & Bioethics) has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for pioneering work that transforms how surgeons and patients navigate major decisions and informed consent. Congrats, Dr. Schwarze! #NAM @nam.edu #Bioethics #MedHum

This CHASM program reflects the importance of Medical History & Bioethics: exploring the intersections of medicine and society, learning from the past, and fostering dialogue that supports compassionate, equitable patient care.

#MedHum #Bioethics

We are co-sponsoring this event - make sure to attend!
Saving Hearts and Killing Rats: Karl Paul Link and the Discovery of Warfarin
Friends of the Libraries 2025 Annual Schewe Lecture
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Steenbock Library
uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

We extended our deadline to noon Friday - there is still time to sign up for this event! bit.ly/45GtfR4

🎉 Last chance to register! 🎉
Join us Oct 9–10 for the 75/50th Anniversary Celebration.

✨ Alumni, Faculty & Student panels
✨ Keynote from Dr. Leslie Reagan
✨ Catered lunch by Ahan

Come for one day or both—pick the sessions that fit your schedule. We can’t wait to see you there! bit.ly/45GtfR4

👩‍⚕️📚 Curious about the Path of Distinction in Bioethics? Join faculty mentors Dr. Karola Kreitmair & Dr. Paul Kelleher to learn more + ask questions!
📅 9/23 | ⏰ 12:10–12:50 | 📍 HSLC 1220/1222
🍴 Sign up by 9/22 for food! bit.ly/3HNwMDy

✨Welcome to campus M1's! ✨
Join us to learn more about each of the Paths of Distinction to determine which is the best fit for you.
📅 Thursday, August 28, 2025
⌚ 5:00-6:00pm
📍 HSLC 1335
🍕RSVP for pizza forms.office.com/r/eXPk8MwYVu
#MedEd #MedHum #Research #Bioethics #PublicHealth #IPE

We’re excited to welcome back:
Ayo Adegbite • Shannon Withycombe • Travis Weisse • Katie Robinson • Emer Lucey

Hear them kick off the Alumni Spotlight Series on Oct 10, 9AM at HSLC-sharing their teaching, research & careers since UW–Madison.

RSVP: bit.ly/45GtfR4

#UWMadison #BadgerPride #Alumni

A woman with wavy gray and brown hair stands confidently outdoors in front of a brick building. She is wearing blue glasses, a black leather jacket, and layered necklaces. Her arms are crossed, and she is smiling warmly. Decorative street lamps and trimmed hedges are visible in the background.

We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Leslie Reagan's keynote theme for our 75th/50th Anniversary Celebration: “Doing Histories of Medicine and Public Health: A Radical Project,” promises to be a powerful highlight of the evening!
📍 10/9/2025, 5:30–7:30 PM, Pyle Center
Register: bit.ly/45GtfR4 #OnWisconsin

Gregg Mitman receives the Humane Order of African Redemption from Liberian Vice President Jeremiah Koung during an official ceremony. Both men wear formal attire and ceremonial medals. Mitman holds a certificate, and the Liberian flag is visible in the background.

Honored news! Prof. Gregg Mitman has received the Humane Order of African Redemption from the Republic of Liberia in recognition of his decades of justice-driven scholarship and deep collaboration with Liberian communities. 7/24/2025 @uwmadison.bsky.social #MedicalHistory #MedHum #OnWisconsin

Better Conversations for Better Informed Consent - Whiteboard Video

🧠💬 Better Conversations for Better Informed Consent
In this new whiteboard video, Dr. Gretchen Schwarze shares a 5-step framework to help patients feel more prepared & aligned with their surgical decisions.
Watch & rethink the way we talk about surgery. #MedEd #Bioethics bit.ly/3TSsptl

image of a medal awarded to Humane Order of African Redemption

We’re proud to share Emeritus Prof. Gregg Mitman will receive the Humane Order of African Redemption from Pres. Boakai on Liberia’s 178th Independence Day, July 24—honoring decades of justice-driven scholarship, global health work & partnership with Liberian communities. #UWMadison #WisconsinIdea

New book: The Social Cost of Carbon by Dr. J. Paul Kelleher.

The SCC isn’t one number—it’s four. Kelleher explains how each works, why they fall short ethically, and how they can guide real #climate policy.

Sharp read for those thinking climate + justice.

#CarbonCost #Ethics bit.ly/44zUCeG

Nicole Nelson : « Les travaux des métascientifiques auront probablement des effets inattendus » — TheMetaNews Ce contenu est réservé à nos abonné·es. TheMetaNews, propose des offres d’abonnement aux bibliothèques 59 bibliothèques ont déjà souscrit : MNHN I Musée du Quai Branly | Avignon Université | Dauphine ...

🧪 “The work of metascientists will likely have unexpected effects.” In her new interview with @themeta.news, Dr. Nicole Nelson unpacks the reproducibility crisis, open data’s hidden costs, & why reforming science might deepen global inequalities. bit.ly/45VV9bR
#Metascience #Reproducibility #STSHub

Big congratulations to Dr. Paul Kelleher and Dr. Pablo F. Gómez on their promotion to full professor! We're proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions in teaching, research, and service—both in our department and across the field. #UWMadison #OnWisconsin #MedHum #MedicalHistory #Bioethics

logo for medical history and bioethics 75 and 50 event, black lettering with red heart beat in the middle of the image

🎉 Celebrating 75 Years of Medical History & 50 Years of Bioethics!
📍 UW–Madison | 📅 Oct 9–10
Panels, keynotes, food from Ahan, & more.
RSVP by Sept 9 to join us! bit.ly/45GtfR4
#UWMadison #MedHum #Bioethics #WisconsinIdea #SMPH #MedEd

New from Dr. Karola Kreitmair in Hastings Center Report: Why “empathic AI” is a dangerous illusion. She breaks down 3 essential conditions for real recognition—voluntariness, consciousness, and mutuality—and why AI can’t meet them. bit.ly/4nh9Tbz #AI #HealthCare #MedHum #Bioethics #SMPH

New SMPH class drop! 💥 Health Disparities Research: Histories, Practices & Methods kicks off Sept 15. Tackle the roots of health inequities + draft your NIH Aims Page. Co-taught by Drs. Landress & Powell. #UWMadison #SMPH #HealthEquity #CHDR #MedHist

images of a cow, capital, state, flamingo, ice-cream, above the words wisco welcome

Who’s ready to celebrate? 🎉 We’re heading to the Wisco Welcome for Dean Nita Ahuja TODAY!

🍦 Ice cream
🧀 Cheese from the mini farmer’s market
🎯 Yard games

What better way to say “hi” to the new #SMPH Dean? Catch us at HSLC from 1–3 p.m.—see you there! 🙌🌼 #GrowWithAhuja #WiscoWelcome #OnWisconsin

Heat waves everywhere in the global north this week, so time for a thread on heat humanities research. Humanities scholars are exceptionally good at analyzing intersections of race, class, gender, and labor to highlight social vulnerabilities to meteorological disasters.

— Palliatively Speaking

Better Conversations, Better Care
Dr. Gretchen Schwarze + Dr. Amy Zelenski
How do we move beyond the “fix it” mindset in surgery? This convo dives into reframing consent, prognostic talk, & using improv to build empathy.
🔗 Listen now: bit.ly/3T3kQj0
#MedEd #Surgery #Ethics #ImprovInMedicine #MedHUm

Dr. Nicole Nelson joined @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social to discuss Model Behavior, exploring how scientists use mice to study complex human behaviors. A deep dive into uncertainty, genetics, and lab life. Listen now: bit.ly/4kwuUx3 #ScienceStudies #BehaviorGenetics #UWMadison

This fall, we welcome Dr. Sadie Bergen as a postdoc in Medical History & Bioethics! Her work on NICUs, reproductive health, and public health ethics brings fresh insight—and furthers the Wisconsin Idea. #UWPostdoc #WisconsinIdea #MedHist #MedicalHumanities #Ethics