Projects
What Makes A Good Medical Heritage Project?
A wide variety have been entered over the years, generally fitting into one of the following broad catagories:
I. Biographies/autobiographies
Examples:
The life of one of the following, telling something about medicine and medical practice in their day:
- a past SMA, AMA, or SMAA or AMAA president from your county or state;
- a hospital or medical school founder;
- a pioneer in some medical field;
- an early midwife or public health nurse;
- a medical war hero or a country doctor.
II. Medical Collections
Example:
Put together, catalogue, or describe and publicize a collection of early instruments or textbooks. Show extent of Alliance contribution.
III. Histories Of Medical Events, Places, Organizations
Examples:
- The story of an epidemic;
- The discovery or development of new drugs or medications or medical equipment or techniques;
- The founding and growth of a hospital, medical school or health department;
- Medical “firsts”(such as the first use of anesthesia);
- Medicine on the battlefields (any US war);
- The development of local medical societies or auxiliaries, their activities and impact;
- An account of current significant medical events (to document them for future generations).
IV. Historical Restorations, preservations, Museums
Examples:
- Give an account of the restoration process for a historical building, or artifact collection.
- Publicize museums or archives, etc. located in state or country.
V. Identifying or Creating Medical Landmarks/Erecting Historical Markers
Example:
Describe the process undertaken to identify or create a marker for historical purposes.
How To Get Started
Choosing a Project:
Read over the project suggestions to see if any might be suitable for your county or state.
For more specific suggestions or to check if a project has been previously submitted: The SMAA keeps a file of projects submitted during past years. Each state’s Councilor for Medical Heritage can inform you on how to reach the current chairman of this “Access File”, and will also be able to advise you directly. Councilors looking for state projects can check with the Vice President of Medical Heritage as well as with the Access Chair. For names and phone numbers of current Auxiliary board members, you may also call the SMA Auxiliary Administrative Assistant at 1-800-423-4992.
Finding Materials:
Libraries, Archives, and Historical Societies all have records, and usually a helpful and informed person to steer inquirers to the right materials. Hospitals may also have historical records or published materials they will provide for legitimate projects.
County and State Medical Associations have records and scrapbooks, retired physicians have memories, and they or the families of deceased physicians may have old papers or old artifacts.
A medical restoration or recent historical publication may be unknown outside your immediate area and deserve wider publicity. Whatever sources are used, it is important to keep careful records of them, to document the study.
If your project needs funding:
SMA generously provides an annual financial allotment for each state. Contact your state Medical Heritage Councilor to see if your project will qualify for a portion of it.
Preparing The Project For Presentation
One or more of the following methods for presenting a project may be used. However, winners will not be chosen for the number of methods used, but for the best project.
Methods of Presentation include:
- Books, manuscripts, poems, or brochures. If not written by an Auxiliary member, indicate any Auxiliary role in promoting or publicizing;
- Video or audio tapes, or slide presentations;
- Scrapbooks and/or Poster displays of pictures/articles;
- Redbooks (red scrapbooks that document medical history through pictures, articles, etc., kept up-to-date by a state or county auxiliary/alliance, and submitted periodically for judging.)
Only material added since the last submission can be judged, and must be clearly marked for the judges.
Whatever method is chosen, all exhibits must fit into a 36 inch x 36 inch x 36 inch space.
Folding Exhibit Boards which satisfy size requirements are available from the SMAA office for a nominal charge or you may develop your own display.
Project Know-How
Submitting Your Project For Judging
- Inform your state Councilor for Medical Heritage regarding your interest. Your Councilor can supply you with the official entry forms, and advise you on deadlines, transporting your exhibit to the Annual Meeting, any state competitions, etc. Entry forms are also available directly from Alliance headquarters.
- For a project to be judged, the official entry form with written summary must be submitted to SMA Alliance Headquarters by July 1. Each entrant will be sent a few simple follow-up steps for displaying the project at the SMAA Convention. Only projects which have complied with the above deadlines and regulations will be eli gible for awards.
How Will The Projects Be Judged?
An Auxiliary judging committee will review all project entries prior to Convention, and then examine each project at Convention. Judges will base their decisions on the following:
- Over-all merit and/or historical value of project;
- Quality of documentation and research;
- Thoroughness of description of project;
- Over-all planning and execution;
- Visual appeal and clarity of presentation;
- acess to project/public impact.
No entry will be judged on the basis of cost or the number of volunteers involved.
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