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    The History of Medicine

    Explore the rich history of medicine, from the diseases that once plagued us, how the medicine we take for granted today came to be, and the curious characters and stories surrounding these topics. Updates every week, with breaks between seasons for additional research and planning. Our current topic: Pain. Episodes to resume in early October 2021! Past Season's topics: Season 1 - Antibiotics. Season 2 - Surgery/Anesthesia. Season 3 - Public Health. Season 4 - Mental Illness. Season 5 - Pain.
    en-us131 Episodes

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    Episodes (131)

    6.1 - Papyrus and Paralysis

    6.1 - Papyrus and Paralysis

    This week, we talk about the highlights of neurological understanding, spanning from Ancient Egypt to the Romans to Medieval Islamic surgeons. 

    Check out our website at https://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/!
    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
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    Transcripts and Sources here at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19hHEgjSdLvSjsd6K3frEFSD1p_fnFKpM?usp=sharing!

    Returning to the Show

    Returning to the Show

    Good evening everyone. As you can tell, I've been gone for a bit longer that expected, for which I apologize. But I bear good news, I am all done getting married, and life has mostly settled down to normalcy again, so I've had time to do some research. I did previously settle on the history of physical rehabilitation as my next topic, but it's been tough to turn up reliable sources, so I'm likely to switch topics. If you've got an idea for a season topic, let me know in the next week or two! My current plan is to ease my way back into making episodes, probably with one a month for a few months, and then meander my way back to biweekly or weekly episodes. I'm excited to bring new episodes back, and I hope you are too. Thank you for listening, and I hope the wait will be worth it.

    Check out our website at https://thehistoryofmedicine.buzzsprout.com/!
    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
    Say hi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfMedicine!
    Transcripts and Sources here at:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19hHEgjSdLvSjsd6K3frEFSD1p_fnFKpM?usp=sharing

    The History of Medicine
    en-usAugust 15, 2023

    Extending Hiatus More

    Extending Hiatus More

    Good evening everyone. As you can tell, I've been gone for even longer than expected, and I am sorry for that. I love doing this podcast, but it is a hobby for me. Between my research being very busy, wedding planning absolutely kicking my butt, and also throwing out my back for a week, it just hasn't been possible to get this season going yet. I'm still receiving mail from some of y'all, which as always makes me very happy. I hope to be back soon, as my back is all better now, and wedding planning should calm down in the next month or so as we get all of our vendors lined up. Thank you for your patience, and I hope the wait will be worth it. 

    The History of Medicine
    en-usAugust 24, 2022

    Extending Hiatus

    Extending Hiatus

    Good evening everyone. As you can tell, I've been gone for a bit longer that expected, for which I apologize. I unfortunately also will need to extend my hiatus even longer. I did settle on the history of physical rehabilitation as my next topic, and have begun some research, but that was all de-railed by my fiance getting sick for a bit although she's fine now, and speaking of, I also got engaged. Turns out wedding planning is a lot of work, especially as supply chains are all messed up from Covid, but we're getting some help with that soon and so I hope to be back to our regular weekly schedule in several weeks. Thank you for listening, and I hope that the wait will be worth it. 

    The History of Medicine
    en-usJune 27, 2022

    Delayed for Passover

    Delayed for Passover

    Good evening everyone. As happens here and there, some extra responsibilities and some holidays have snuck up on me. This past week, I’ve been swamped with work, and this upcoming week I’ve got numerous Passover activities, and so this week’s episode will be unfortunately delayed. If you’re wondering why I’m celebrating Passover despite my last name being Asian, the answer is that my girlfriend’s family is Jewish, and so I’m participating with them. Thank you for your patience, and next week, we’ll be back with a new episode.

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    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
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    Transcripts and Sources here!

    The History of Medicine
    en-usApril 14, 2022

    5.18 - The Current Opioid Crisis

    5.18 - The Current Opioid Crisis

    Thanks for waiting. This week, we talk about the origins of the current opioid crisis. It began with a drug called OxyContin, a reformulation of the existing opioid oxycodone, and many, many mistakes from physicians, researchers, regulators, and companies. The consequences were to be disastrous, and we are still dealing with them today.

    Purdue Pharma OxyContin Commercial


    Check out our website!
    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
    Say hi on Facebook!
    Transcripts and Sources here!

    The History of Medicine
    en-usApril 07, 2022

    Big Episode Next Week

    Big Episode Next Week

    Good evening everyone, Kirby here. I apologize, but I’m going to put off this week’s episode in order to release a bigger, better episode for next week to make up for it. This episode will cover the origins of the modern opioid epidemic, which gets quite complex, and I haven’t found a place I think would be a good place to stop writing the episode. So, I decided I won’t. Thank you for your patience!

    Check out our website!
    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
    Say hi on Facebook!
    Transcripts and Sources here!


    The History of Medicine
    en-usMarch 30, 2022

    Episode Delayed, Sorry!

    Episode Delayed, Sorry!

    Hello everyone, Kirby here. Sorry but I cannot get an episode up this week. Between a some personal matters and my internet being down for an entire day, my week has been very chaotic, and this week’s episode is unfinished. I’m hoping to resume like usual next week. Bear with me, and thank you for your patience. Be back soon!

    Check out our website!
    E-mail me at thehistoryofmedicinepodcast@gmail.com!
    Say hi on Facebook!
    Transcripts and Sources here!

    The History of Medicine
    en-usMarch 03, 2022