Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing Moves ...

Bates Nursing History Center Seminar Series
Each year the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing holds a
bi-monthly seminar series at which cross-disciplinary scholars present topics of interest
to the history of nursing and health care community. Researchers from the across the
University as well as from other institutions present their work followed by stimulating
and engaging discussions. Attendees represent a cross section of the University community.
This fall, attendees enjoyed outstanding presentations from scholars from across
the country and around the world. Leading off the 2008-2009 year was Jennifer Gunn
of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Gunn, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s
History and Sociology of Science Department, spoke on public health nurses in
her talk entitled “Building the Public Health Infrastructure from the Nurses Up, 1918-
1950.” The Center next welcomed Deborah Sampson, PhD, one of our graduates and
now an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan who presented “Exploring
Mixed Methods in Historical Inquiry: Analysis of National Health Policy Implementation
at the State Level, 1970-2000 As Exemplar.”
On October 27 th , the Center was pleased to co-sponsor with the School of Nursing’s
Global Health Affairs Office and the University’s Middle East Center a presentation
“British Missionary Nurses Meet Egyptian Mothers: Daily Work and Encounters
in the Slums of Cairo, 1900-1950,” delivered by Renate Lunde, PhD Candidate from
the University of Bergen in Norway. In November, Karol Weaver, an Associate Professor
at Susquehanna University presented “Good Neighbors: Women and Health Care
in Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region.” Later in the month we enjoyed a fantastic
presentation from Dean Afaf Meleis, who spoke on “Women at Risk: A Historical Perspective.”
The fall seminar series ended with a presentation from Bates Center doctoral
student Jonathan Gilbride, who reviewed his on-going doctoral research in a talk entitled,
“Gender, Politics and Policy.”
Sonya Grypma presenting a seminar.
Photo: Ira Joel Sartorius
The schedule for the Spring 2009
seminars is impressive with scholars
from around the country and abroad
presenting. Featured speakers from
outside the University community
include Drs. Mary Lagerwey, Western
Michigan University, Constance Putnam,
an independent scholar, Sonya
Grypma, Trinity Western University,
BC, Canada, and Scott Knowles,
Drexel University. A number of doctoral
students are presenting their
research studies including Rachél
Fester, a University of Pennsylvania
Department of Education doctoral
student, Julia Irwin a doctoral student
from Yale University, and Alice Nicholls
a doctoral student at the University
of Manchester. School of Nursing
alum Amanda Mahoney is also one
of the spring seminar series speakers.
A number of Bates Center graduates
and faculty including Drs. Meryn Stuart,
Julie Fairman, Margo Carthon and
Jean Whelan complete the series.
Over the years, the seminar series
has become widely known across the University enabling the Bates Center to both publicize
the critical historical scholarship carried out at the Center as well offer a venue in
which scholars carrying out related research can present. As the seminar series is open
to all, the Bates Center welcomes scholars and other interested individuals either from
or visiting the Philadelphia area to attend. For those who would like further information
on the seminar series please contact
Betsy Weiss at the Bates Center
at ehweiss@nursing.upenn.edu or call
215-898-4502.
Audrey Cantor, Bates Center
Work-Study Student
The Bates Nursing History Center
was pleased to welcome student Audrey
Cantor who began a work-studystudent
experience at the Center this
spring.
Audrey Cantor. Photo: Ira Joel Sartorius
Audrey proudly hails from Portland,
Oregon. Having always dreamt
of attending an east coast university
and having been met with a beautiful
campus, vibrant surrounding city, and
caring friends, Audrey is savoring her
time in Philadelphia. She is in her junior
year in the School of Nursing and
has submatriculated into the school’s
Neonatology graduate program. After
an exciting and educational OB/GYN
clinical rotation at Pennsylvania Hospital,
Audrey discovered a passion for
providing care for high risk newborns.
When not in lectures and clinical,
Audrey works at the Barbara Bates
Center, where she has met kind and
accomplished co-workers and faculty.
After graduation Audrey intends
to work in an intensive care nursing
unit in the Boston area.
Welcome Audrey, to the Bates
Center.