Students’ Projects

Introduction to Medical Humanities Students’ Research Projects

“Depression: A Family Memoir” website

Student: Alaina Anderson (NHS’24)

Affiliation: Global Health major and Medical Humanities minor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Class of 2023

This is a website examining mother-daughter relationships through the lens of depression. My overall goal was to give a brief overview of common experiences among parents and children with depression and then illuminate the experiences of both mothers and children having depression through my family’s story. I ended up taking sections from each of our individual writing and weaving it into a conversation in order to give each person their own voice.

Visit Alaina Anderson’s website

“A History of Medical Kits during the World Wars”

Student: Hank Butehorn (COL’24)

Affiliation: History major planning to pursue the Medical Humanities minor and the Pre-Medical Track, Georgetown College, Class of 2024

The project is a recreation of US military medic kits. It shows the evolution of the United States’s military medical kits, focusing on the World Wars period. The main material of the project was a model of the M2 Jungle Med kit, which was issued to every soldier in the later years of WWII. Every item in this med kit was recreated by hand and assigned a description, as each item represented a need the armed forces needed in a previous conflict. For instance, insect repellent was added after the Mexican American war and athlete’s foot cream was added after WWI. This was due to the death and discomfort from malaria and trench foot respectively. A mix of (then) cutting edge technology and medical equipment that had been in use since the Civil War all made it into the small and unassuming M2 pouch.

  • Recreation of a iodine applicator. It is labelled as "poison". The label includes directions of use, the name of the manufacturer and the place where it was produced
  • Recreation of a bottle with 100 water purification tablets. The label states that the purpose is "for purifying drinking water in canteens". The label includes the brand name, the scientific formula of the tablets, the name of the manufacturer and the place where it was produced
  • Recreation of a bottle with atabrine tablets. The label includes directions of use, the name of the manufacturer and the place where it was produced
  • Recreation of a dyer sterilize dressing bar. The label states that to use "put other side next to wound". The label includes the name of the manufacturer and the place where it was produced
  • Recreation of an insect repellent. The label includes directions of use, a cautionary note, and the name of the manufacturer
  • Recreation of a bottle with "Frazer's solution". The label includes directions of use, the name of the manufacturer and the place where it was produced

“Medical Technology: An Evolution”

Student: Siona Ely (COL’24)

Affiliation: Chemistry major, Georgetown College, Class of 2024

The project is a coloring book of diagrams of medical technologies.

Siona chose to depict medical technologies at various key moments in their development and evolution to show how their physical forms evolved alongside their use and role in the practice of medicine. For her, annotated diagrams are a powerful way to learn about something new and convey information, and thus selected to format her research on the relationship between technology and medicine in this manner.

  • Medical diagram of Laennec’s stethoscope (1826). The annotations indicate that it was a wooden tube (inspired by a rolled up piece of paper), the center was hollowed out, it was used to listen to the heart, it was made of two pieces, one of them could be used alone to listen to the lungs, and the length and rigidity of the instrument places distance between doctor and patient and allows for proper practice of mediate auscultation
    Laennec’s Stethoscope (1826)
  • Medical diagram of Flexible Monaural Stethoscope (1870s – 1880s). The annotations indicate that monaural means that the sound was heard from one location. The stethoscope was made up of an ear piece, a flexible rubber tubing, and a chest piece, covered with thin rubber
    Flexible Monaural Stethoscope (1870s – 1880s)
  • Medical diagram of Binaural Stethoscope (present day). The annotations indicate that it has two ear pieces of silicone or rubber, that create a tight seal within the ears to block out any unnecessary noises. It also has a chest piece, double sided, that can rotate to switch between both sides; a diaphragm, used to listen for higher frequency sounds; a bell, smaller, compared to the diaphragm, that focuses on listening for lower frequency sounds; and a tubing, that passes sound from chest piece to ear piece
    Binaural Stethoscope (present day)
View Siona Ely’s diagrams of medical technologies

“Medical Neglect and Experimentation on Enslaved People”

Student: Audrey Landstreet (NHS’24)

Affiliation: Healthcare Management and Policy major, hoping to pursue the Medical Humanities minor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Class of 2024

This is a curriculum for students on antebellum plantation medicine as well as the indigenous practices of enslaved people of West African descent.

View Audrey Landstreet’s curriculum on Prezi

“Voices of the Unheard”

Student: Sabreen Mohammed (NHS’24)

Affiliation: Global Health major and Medical Humanities minor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Class of 2024

This is a photographic essay portraying the written experiences of those who lived during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. The project also offers a commentary on government intervention and health officials’ reception of the general public’s most pressing concerns.

Read Sabreen Mohammed’s photographic essay

“Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s”

Student: Evan Navori (SFS’23)

Affiliation: Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) major, School of Foreign Service, Class of 2023

This project is a recreated 1820s apothecary chest for a colonial physician in British India that Evan built. He did extensive research on historically accurate remedies and substances in order to create this final project, and wrote fictional diary entries for a fictional colonial physician that accompanies the apothecary chest.

  • Recreation of an apothecary crate (open), showing a dozen small bottles inside. Their labels include: "bamboo manna", "mercury 'calomel'", "mocharas", "adhatoda vasica" and "opium"
    Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s 1
  • Recreation of an apothecary crate (open), showing a dozen small bottles inside. The top lid is covered by a blue fabric. The crate is on top of a table. There are a sofa and a chair on the background
    Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s 2
  • Recreation of an apothecary crate on top of a table (closed). There is a plant next to it, and a sofa, door and some paintings on the background
    Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s 3
  • Recreation of an apothecary crate (closed)
    Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s 4
  • Evan Navori sitting next to the 1820s apothecary crate he recreated, which is open. Evan is holding a small bottle, inside the crate there are 11 more bottles. The crate is on top of a drawer.
    Dr. Whitehead’s Medical Apothecary Crate from the 1820’s 5

“Cervical Cancer in Southern India: Stigma, Screening and Seeking Understanding”

Student: Anisha Patibandla (COL’24)

Affiliation: Human Science major, Georgetown College, Class of 2024

This project is a visual representation of prevalent beliefs and attitudes surrounding cervical cancer and screening in Southern India. The goal of the project was to highlight these beliefs and investigate how they have contributed to lower screening rates and consequentially higher rates of cervical cancer mortality.

  • Visual representation of an Indian woman. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of a network of people. There are three women, linked to each other, and each of them is also linked to a dark silhouette. The women's clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped in a circle, while the silhouettes of a large group of people are standing next to her (maybe staring at her and judging her). Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of a balance scale weighting an Indian woman, on the right, and a group of silhouettes of a group of people, on the left. She seems to weight more than them, but they seem to try to pull the balance plate towards them. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped behind bars. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped in a circle, chained to the silhouettes of a group of people. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of the silhouettes of a group of people. In front of them, there are open arms, as if they were asking something from them. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • Visual representation of an Indian woman sitting on the flood, with her head on her knees and folding her arms (her pose suggests pain and desperation, maybe she is praying). Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu
  • There are eight images displayed, four on the top, and four on the bottom: first: Visual representation of an Indian woman. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Second: Visual representation of a network of people. There are three women, linked to each other, and each of them is also linked to a dark silhouette. The women's clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Third: Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped in a circle, while the silhouettes of a large group of people are standing next to her (maybe staring at her and judging her). Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Fourth: Visual representation of a balance scale weighting an Indian woman, on the right, and a group of silhouettes of a group of people, on the left. She seems to weight more than them, but they seem to try to pull the balance plate towards them. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Fifth: Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped behind bars. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Sixth: Visual representation of an Indian woman trapped in a circle, chained to the silhouettes of a group of people. Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Seventh: Visual representation of the silhouettes of a group of people. In front of them, there are open arms, as if they were asking something from them. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu. Eight: Visual representation of an Indian woman sitting on the flood, with her head on her knees and folding her arms (her pose suggests pain and desperation, maybe she is praying). Her clothing is made of actual fabric. On top of the image, there is a caption in Telugu

“An Ode to the LVAD Patient”

Student: Amy Petschek (COL’23)

Affiliation: Pre-Med, Biology of Global Health major and Science, Technology and International Affairs minor, Georgetown College, Class of 2023

The project is a series of art and narratives in which Amy translated her experiences as a medical tech working on the Georgetown University Cardiac ICU ward with LVAD (left ventricular assist device) patients. Accompanying her art, she wrote parallel medical charts and patient pathographies, showing the distinctions between what makes it into the medical record vs the patient phenomenological experience.

Artist statement: My piece “An Ode to the LVAD Patient ” is meant to capture the patient experience of LVADs or left ventricular assist devices from the past, present, and future. In a triptych, the paintings are meant to demonstrate the progression of LVAD technology and its impact on human lives from the 1970s to today to the future of these life saving devices. The furthest left painting is supposed to be the woman lying in a hospital bed while the active swimmer patient is a representation of the future. I was inspired to pursue this project due to my work as a patient care technician on the surgical cardiovascular ICU at MedStar Washington Hospital Center where I have seen countless patients come in for LVAD implantation or return to the hospital due to complications with their LVADs. My patient interactions are what drove me to better understand what kind of technology the LVAD is and how its evolution from a “bridge to transplantation technology” to increasingly a “destination therapy” has impacted patient lives and mental health. The paintings along with each individual pathography are meant to represent a hypothetical patient and how they see themselves, put in direct contrast with a typical provider view of patients in the form of a hypothetical medical chart. The contrast in the language, especially the extensive use of acronyms and jargon in the charts are purposefully done in order to demonstrate how the world of the patient and the world of the healthcare team can be so different and sometimes at odds. I hope this project can shed some light on these questions and the divide between what can seem like civilian perspectives and medical professionals.

  • Painting of a man standing in what appears to be a bathroom. Behind him, there is a mirror, showing half his face, and a sink. The man is shirtless, and his heart is visible on top of his skin, as it is connected to a life saving device, connected, likewise, to the wall.
  • Painting of a woman lying in a hospital bed, with her body connected to a life sustaining machine. On top of the machine, there is a box that says "huma organ". That organ seems to be the woman's heart, which is visible on top of her blue hospital gown. Her heart, in particular, is plugged to a machine
  • Painting of a man wearing a swimsuit and swim cap, standing next to a pool. Behind him, there are trees and a blue sky. His heart is visible on top of his skin, it is connected to a very small wire that surrounds it, maybe a pacemaker.
  • There are three paintings: displayed: first: a man standing in what appears to be a bathroom. Behind him, there is a mirror, showing half his face, and a sink. The man is shirtless, and his heart is visible on top of his skin, as it is connected to a life saving device, connected, likewise, to the wall. Second: a woman lying in a hospital bed, with her body connected to a life sustaining machine. On top of the machine, there is a box that says "huma organ". That organ seems to be the woman's heart, which is visible on top of her blue hospital gown. Her heart, in particular, is plugged to a machine. Third: a man wearing a swimsuit and swim cap, standing next to a pool. Behind him, there are trees and a blue sky. His heart is visible on top of his skin, it is connected to a very small wire that surrounds it, maybe a pacemaker.
  • Text: An Ode to the LVAD Patient: As the LVAD has progressed with the rapid development of technology, these stand as a testament to its evolving purpose and changing definition as a life saving device. We as healthcare providers see our patients in a certain light but now see how LVAD patients fron the past, present, and future see themselves and their experiences.

“The Mystery of Bà Nội and the Ginkgo Seeds”

Student: Angelette Pham (COL’24)

Affiliation: Biochemistry major and Medical Humanities minor, Georgetown College, Class of 2024

This is an original detective story featuring Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. The overall purpose of writing a detective story is to help create a space to talk about traditional Vietnamese medicine in the context of the Vietnamese American identity. I purposely tried to deconstruct the typical detective story in order to make this space.

Read Angelette Pham’s detective story and entire project
Read about Angelette Pham’s experience as a medical humanities student

“The Usage of Plant-Based Materials in the Mummification Process in the New Kingdom of Egypt”

Student: Layan Shahrour (NHS’23)

Affiliation: Human Science major and Medical Humanities minor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Class of 2023

This project explores the usage and role of plants or plant-based materials in the embalming and mummification processes. The project aims to answer: to what extent are plants used in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt? And what purpose do these plant-based materials serve in the mummification process?

After an extensive botanical and historical research, a funerary scene was created showcasing the main plant-based materials used in the New Kingdom on a model with each of the materials displayed in small jars. Furthermore, a hand-made clay sarcophagus displays the final wrapped version of the mummy, while depicting spiritual and cultural symbols on the exterior of the sarcophagus. Canopic Jars are also displayed housing their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power.

In conclusion, the materials used in the mummification process were in fact plant-based, and they were used for antibacterial and microbial purposes, specifically for cleansing, perfuming, anointing, and as packing material.

This project not only allowed for the exploration of the role of plants in the mummification process, but also as a way to remember the history and culture of New Kingdom Egyptians and the religious influence/beliefs that played a role in the process and the materials used. Furthermore, in line with the discussions of toxins in the Introduction to Medical Humanities course, a greater understanding of the progression of toxins and technology in relation to medicine over time was achieved.

  • Hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is open)
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 1
  • Hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is open)
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 2
  • Picture of Layan Shahrour's research project. On the left, there is a doll representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus. On the center, there are bottles representing the plant-based materials used in the mummification process, as well as canopic jars that were used to house their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power. On the right, there is a hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is open). On top, there is a painting showing the human or godly figures associated with death in the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. There is also some illegible text on each side, describing the research project
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 3
  • Picture of Layan Shahrour's research project. On the left, there is a doll representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus. On the center, there are bottles representing the plant-based materials used in the mummification process, as well as canopic jars that were used to house their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power. On the right, there is a hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is open)
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 4
  • Painting showing the human or godly figures associated with death in the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. Underneath, there are canopic jars that were used to house their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 5
  • Hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is closed). On top of that, there is some illegible text with a description of the research project
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 6
  • Doll representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus. On top of that, there is some illegible text with a description of the research project
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 7
  • Doll representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 8
  • Bottles representing the plant-based materials used in the mummification process
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 9
  • Canopic jars that were used to house their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 10
  • Hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is closed). Next, there are bottles representing the plant-based materials used in the mummification process. There are also canopic jars that were used to house their respective organs in line with the figures’ spiritual significance and protective power, and a doll representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 11
  • Hand-made clay sarcophagus displaying the final wrapped version of the mummy (the lid is closed). Next, there are bottles representing the plant-based materials used in the mummification process
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 12
  • Layan Shahrour displays her project about the usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt, before the Intro to Medical Humanities class. She is holding a hand-made clay sarcophagus where a mummy would be placed
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 13
  • Layan Shahrour displays her project about the usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt, before the Intro to Medical Humanities class. She is holding a doll, representing the body that would be wrapped as a mummy in a sarcophagus
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 14
  • Layan Shahrour displays her project about the usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt, before the Intro to Medical Humanities class. She is presenting a painting made by her showing the human or godly figures associated with death in the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
    The usage of plant-based materials in the mummification process in the New Kingdom of Egypt 15
View Layan Shahrour’s project video
View Layan Shahrour’s project presentation

“College Illness Narratives in the Age of COVID-19” podcast

Student: Veronica Williams (COL’23)

Affiliation: American Studies major and Psychology minor, Georgetown College, Class of 2023

Podcast on college student experiences of COVID. The project explores how COVID-19 has shifted the “normal” college illness narratives through the way it introduces the new COVID illness narrative, and how it has shown to exacerbate the experiences of some illnesses that college students already have. This project is meant to frame college students in a different light as we are mainly framed as vectors of the virus instead of victims of this virus. It is my hope to show that not all college students are just partying hard and not caring about the effects of the virus.

“Distancing and Disfigurement: Reactions to the Marked Body” website

Student: Kayla Zamanian (SFS’23)

Affiliation: Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) major with a global health concentration and French minor, School of Foreign Service, Class of 2023

"Distancing and Disfigurement: Reactions to the Marked Body" virtual exhibition poster. There are five images: first: a human figure drawing a large circle on the ground, second: the human figure entering the circle and pointing to the center, third: the human figure outside the circle, pointing to the center, fourth: the human figure outside the circle, facing backwards, and fifth: a human figure wearing a jacket, being held and surrounded by three pairs of arms. Text on the footer: 14 December 2021-24 August 2022. Isolated. Sensationalized. Erased. The Museum of Medical Humanities

Distancing and Disfigurement is a virtual museum exhibit examining the historical and cultural experiences of disfigurement in individuals and communities. The collection of works strives to show that while the context of disfigurement can change — whether caused by leprosy or breast cancer or transformed into a public spectacle — one thing remains the constant: the distance held between the ‘normal’ public and the ‘abnormal,’ marked body. By bringing a variety of artistic mediums and narratives into conversation with one another, this exhibit strives to challenge the idea of what is “fit to be seen” and to bring you closer to the lived experiences of individuals with disfigurement. Distancing and Disfigurement hopes to add nuance and sensitivity to the way we understand disfigurement and to spark critical dialogue about broader questions of power, justice, and liberation.  

Visit Kayla Zamanian’s website
Read about Kayla Zamanian’s experience as a medical humanities student