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Lilian Furst, Ph.D., will deliver the first Wilson lecture today at noon in the Eppley Science Hall Amphitheater. Dr. Furst will show how 19th century literature painted vivid pictures of medical advances of the time. |
From the development of the stethoscope and the introduction of germ theory to the rise of women physicians — the 19th century gave birth to some of the most startling advances in medical history.
During her lecture, Dr. Furst will use several 19th century works, including Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1893 short story, “The Doctors of Hoyland,” to illustrate the reality of such advances.
The Wilson lecture is sponsored by the Charles Wilson, Humanities in Medicine (HIM) Program. Charles Wilson, M.D., initiated the HIM Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 11 years ago to encourage students interested in studying medicine to major in the humanities during their undergraduate years. He expanded the program to UNMC three years ago to sponsor humanities lectures and other related activities in the medical center.
Dr. Wilson is a former UNMC clinical professor who recently announced he would step down from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents after serving for 18 years as the District 1 representative.
He has been a longtime proponent of having aspiring health care professionals learn humanities — his own story serving as an example. Dr. Wilson dropped his pre-med major to study art, literature, music and other humanities — much to the chagrin of his undergraduate counselor who said, “Mark my words, young man. You will never get into medical school.”
Dr. Wilson received his M.D. from Northwestern University in 1964.