Explore the History of Anatomy

MD Pathway and HST students are invited to attend Anatomy Day.

The Center for the History of Medicine at the Countway, including its Warren Anatomical Museum, holds one of the largest collections in the world of historical books and artifacts testifying to the complex history of anatomy. You will have the opportunity to explore great atlases such as those by Vesalius (1543) and William Hunter (1774), learn about historical aids for anatomical education from many parts of the world, observe artifacts from Harvard’s 19th-century teaching collections, and discuss ethical transgressions in anatomy, e.g. in Nazi Germany. Members of HMS faculty, along with librarians and museum specialists, will be at hand to discuss such exceptional books and artifacts with students. This is a rare opportunity to see fascinating and instructive highlights from one of the world’s great medical history collections.