On May 6th, MHB’s very own Karola Kreitmair will be giving a talk at ETH Zurich: “Chatbots in Clinical Encounters: Ethical and Existential Considerations.” This talk will explore the ethical and existential challenges raised by the use of “empathic” AI in clinical encounters, focusing on whether chatbots can meet patients’ justified expectations of recognition, trust, …
Professor Susan Lederer recently joined Helen Osborne for an episode of Talking about Blood, part of The Blood Project podcast series. Drawing on her expertise in the history of medicine, Lederer offers a rich exploration of blood transfusion in the 20th century — its historical development and the cultural and ethical questions it raises. You …
It is with deep sadness that the Department of Medical History and Bioethics shares news of the passing of Professor Guenter B. Risse. He died peacefully at home on February 15, 2026, following a long illness with Parkinson’s disease. Professor Risse was a foundational figure in the history of medicine, and his contributions to this …
On Monday, our department Chair, Richard Keller, read the Memorial Resolution honoring Professor Emeritus Ronald L. Numbers, who passed away on July 24, 2023, at age 81. Ron Numbers was a giant in the history of science, medicine, and religion. His extraordinary scholarly impact includes six authored books and some 40 volumes as editor and …
We’re proud to celebrate our colleague Dr. Pablo F. Gómez on the publication of his groundbreaking new book, Bloody Numbers: The Early Atlantic Slave Trade and the Invention of Modern Corporeality (University of Chicago Press). This scholarly work examines how sixteenth and early seventeenth-century Atlantic slave trade practices influenced the development of modern approaches to …
Professor Robert Streiffer’s photograph of a hibernating 13-lined ground squirrel has been selected as the cover image for The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The image illustrates research by Matthew Regan et al. exploring how these remarkable animals survive their six-month hibernation through an ingenious partnership with gut microbes. The study reveals …
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and the Department of Medical History and Bioethics are proud to share that Emeritus Professor Gregg Mitman was awarded the Humane Order of African Redemption, one of the highest honors conferred by the Republic of Liberia. The award was presented by His Excellency …
New Graduate Course: MED HIST 747 – Feminist Bioethics Offered Fall 2025 | Online, Synchronous | 2 Credits Instructor: Dr. Karola Kreitmair (PhD, MSc, HEC-C) Course Overview How can feminist philosophy reshape our understanding of medical ethics and public health? MED HIST 747: Feminist Bioethics explores the intersection of gender, justice, and care in contemporary …
“The work of metascientists will likely have unexpected effects.” We’re excited to share this compelling new interview with Dr. Nicole Nelson in The Meta News, conducted during the 2025 Metascience Conference in London. In this thoughtful piece, Dr. Nelson explores the origins of metascience in response to crises in psychology and biomedicine, the paradoxes of …
We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Paul Kelleher and Dr. Pablo F. Gómez have both been promoted to Full Professor in the Department of Medical History and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison! This milestone recognizes their outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service—not only to our department, but to the broader academic and public …