Archived Previous Programs
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Learning About Forensics: A Museum Murder Mystery Participants in the "Museum Murder Mystery" forensics workshop attempt "bloodtyping." The museum hosted “Learning About Forensics: A Museum Murder Mystery,” designed to provide participants the opportunity to experience how real forensic scientists gather, analyze, and interpret forensic materials to identify a killer. A person was “killed” in the museum and the killer was not known. On Saturday, Oct. 28, participants took on the mission of solving the murder mystery by viewing the crime scene, identifying pertinent evidence, and examining the evidence for answers. Teams visited seven activity stations to examine the evidence discovered at the crime scene. After completing the testing for blood type, DNA, fiber, hair, fingerprint, substance, lip print, handwriting and ink (chromatography: ink analysis) testing, the audience met again as a group where they drew a conclusion (based on the evidence collected at the crime scene, and test analysis results) to finally identify the murderer and, therefore, solve the crime. The "outline" of a person found "murdered" in the museum, presenting participants with a case to be solved.     MANHUNT: The 12-day Chase for Lincoln's Killer March 4, 2006 WASHINGTON - April 14th, 1865, 10:13 p.m.: John Wilkes Booth, armed with a Deringer pistol, burst into Abraham Lincoln’s box at Fords Theatre, and shot the President with a single bullet. Booth then leapt from the box onto the stage proclaiming “Sic semper tyrannis” and “The South is avenged” before racing through the streets of Washington and into infamy. WASHINGTON – March 4, 2006: The 12-day chase for Booth that ensued has been documented in a new book, “MANHUNT: The 12- Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,” by author and historian James L. Swanson. The book provides an exciting, detailed account of the Union Army’s search for Booth after he assassinated President Lincoln. Swanson, a noted Lincoln scholar, will give a lecture and book signing for “Manhunt” at the National Museum of Health and Medicine at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday March 4. The museum holds in its collection several artifacts relating to the assassination of President Lincoln. These include the bullet that was fired from the Deringer pistol, ending Lincoln’s life, the probe used by his surgeon to locate the bullet within Lincoln’s brain, a surgeon’s cuff, stained with Lincoln’s blood, and pieces of his hair and skull. All of these artifacts are on display in the museum’s exhibit, “To Bind Up the Nation’s Wounds: Medicine During the Civil War.”     Warm Your Heart : American Heart Month February 4, 2006 American Heart Month was acknowledged at the National Museum of Health and Medicine with a special health awareness program on Saturday, February 4, with the goal of educating about the heart and its importance. The museum’s new exhibit, “A Healthy Heart,” by artist Alexander Tsiaras, was the focus of this program, presenting an exciting and extraordinary full-color journey through the cardiovascular system using groundbreaking visual technology that allows one to see into the inner workings of this vital system. Brenda Kiessling, M.D., a museum docent, highlighted special aspects of the exhibit, as well as gave helpful information for leading a healthier life style that will support a healthy heart. She will also show a plastinated heart to give the audience an opportunity to view and examine a real heart. In addition to learning more about the human heart, the museum provided screenings for high blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which can affect the function of the heart.     Forensics Program: Solving a mystery with DNA and forensic evidence November 19, 2005 The National Museum of Health and Medicine will presented a two-part forensics program in cooperation with the Koshland Science Museum. Entitled, “Clue: Solve the Mystery with DNA and Forensic Evidence,” the program was held Thursday, November 17, 2005 at the Koshland Science Museum and Saturday, November 19, 2005 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM). In this special two-part event, participants were part of an investigation team charged with solving a forensic mystery. They collected clues at the Koshland Science Museum on November 17th, learning about DNA fingerprinting and forensics with an FBI investigator and a legal expert. On November 19th, the mystery continued at NMHM, where participates worked in special lab stations led by forensic anthropologists utilizing specimens from the museum’s collection. Using newfound expertise, they were able to interpret and analyze evidence to solve the mystery.     Whitman in Washington November 5, 2005 The National Museum of Health and Medicine holds several photos and unique anatomical specimens that open a window onto Walt Whitman's life and his experiences in Washington's Civil War hospitals. Jeff Reznick, Ph.D., the museum's senior curator, presented a tour of these images and artifacts that connect us not only to Whitman, who lived and worked in Washington from 1863 to 1873, but also to the soldiers he nursed and to the makeshift institutions of his day, where, as Whitman wrote "every cot had its history." Aligning Whitman's prose and poetry with images, individuals, and objects described by Whitman himself enables us to see his life and work in a new and engaging light. This program was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW Washington, DC. More information about the library is available at (202) 518-0152 or http://www.inseries.org     Learning About Forensics III – A Museum Murder Mystery October 29, 2005 The National Museum of Health and Medicine presented a two-part program that provided opportunities to see what real forensic scientists do to gather, analyze and/or interpret forensic materials that help them to identify the remains of a person and/or the explain the unnatural death of a person. The program was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. Part 1 of the program, held in the morning, was a one-hour forensics workshop designed to allow children (10 years and older) and adults the opportunity to gain some insight into the science of forensic investigations through hands-on activities. Following a brief introduction of forensic anthropology, participants examined objects on display in the exhibit, “Human Body, Human Being,” as well as replicated skeletal remains to determine the identity of a missing person. Part 2 of the program, held in the afternoon, was a murder mystery that presented participants with forensic clues that helped them solve a murder. Using the knowledge gained from the morning's “Learning about Forensics” program and a lecture by Lenore Barbian, Ph.D, the museum’s assistant curator of Anatomical Collections, participants applied the information they gained into practical methods of research or data gathering from the replicated remains of a murdered body. At the end of the program, participants were able to identify the murdered person, as well as explain the manner in which the murder occurred.     A Healthy Heart October 27, 2005 The National Museum of Health and Medicine celebrated the opening of its newest exhibit, “A Healthy Heart,” with a reception on October 27, 2005. The exhibit is based on the book, “The InVision Guide to a Healthy Heart,” by Alexander Tsiaras. The exhibit, which examines human anatomy for both the scientific and lay communities, is the third at the museum that is based on a book by Tsiaras. The reception was attended by the artist and his family, representatives from Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Philips Electronics Corporation, which provided support for Tsiaras’ project, museum staff, invited media and friends of the artist. Tsiaras believes that “there is a great educational need in this county for public health education. Many Americans have no idea why their bodies are failing them or what they can do to make a positive change in their health.” The book is an educational tool to assist people in understanding what is inside their bodies, how the cardiovascular system works and what they can do to keep it healthy. By using full body scans, ultra powerful microscopes, and molecular modeling tools, Tsiaras accentuates the body’s intricately constructed cardiovascular network and isolates the heart in a way that has never been seen before. The images offer unparalleled views of the heart as it develops in a fetus and grows into a complex network of arteries and veins, the heart as it becomes infected with disease and the heart as an essential organ to the rest of the body. Full story   Museum hosts reception to open its new exhibit September 22, 2005 A reception for the opening of a new exhibit, body image/body essence, was held on September 22, 2005 for approximately 100 invited guests, including representatives from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center and the Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee for Women’s Health. The reception featured five speakers who offered comments on the topic of ovarian cancer. U.S. Army Col. Renata Greenspan, director of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the museum’s parent organization, spoke about how the museum and its mission, and how appropriate a venue it is for the sculpture to be on display. Julene Fabrizio, president of the NOCC, spoke about the importance of creating awareness of the disease. Sarah Mackey, representing MGH Cancer Center, added that, “The museum has provided a wonderful outlet for this exhibit. We hope to not only enlighten visitors, but to create a commitment to spreading awareness about this disease.” “When I got started in sculpture five years ago,” said the artist, John Magnan, “I never intended it to end up at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C. This has been a journey, and really, a wonderful surprise. He added that he “would also like to thank Mary, for allowing me to pour plaster all over her torso,” (to make the “Warrior” sculpture), explaining that the journey taken with his wife has been the influence for all of his work. Finally, Mary stood to speak about the disease that has affected her for more than 6 years. She stressed the importance of knowledge and awareness and the ability that the collection of sculpture has to enlighten people to the damaging effects of ovarian cancer. She advised the audience, “There are many things you can do to prevent this disease. First, know the symptoms and know your body. Be aware of any changes… Also, be aggressive with your doctor; make sure that he or she is really hearing you… Additionally, you can support advocacy groups and research for the ovarian cancer cause.” The speeches were concluded with a piano piece played by Victor Goldberg, a graduate of the Julliard School and Tel Aviv Rubin Academy. As a solo artist, he has played around the world, using his repertoire of classical masterpieces as well as rarely performed works to entertain audiences. At this reception, he chose to play Shumann’s Aufschwung and Tchaikovsky’s Autumn Song. Full story     Museum recognizes 10 years of leadership September 15, 2005 Dr. Adrianne Noe, director of the museum , with Col. Renata Greenspan, director of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The museum’s staff celebrated the 10 year anniversary of its director, Adrianne Noe, Ph.D., who assumed the position as director of the museum and associate director of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in September of 1995. Museum staff, along with the Executive Committee of the AFIP, held a surprise ceremony and presented a commemorative plaque on the occasion of September 15. Dr. Noe remarked on the importance of the museum for the preservation of history and also the important role it will play in medical technology of the future. Noe received a doctorate in history from the University of Delaware, Newark, where she also completed a graduate program in the management cultural and not-for-profit institutions. Her special interests are in museology, the history of science, medicine and technology, and the roles these fields play in the emerging sciences of bioinformatics and medical imaging. She is past president of the Medical Museums Association and the Washington Society for the History of Medicine. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Medicine in Washington and the Board of the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Computational and Information Sciences Directorate of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory- a group that enables large-scale scientific discoveries through research and development in science-driven computing as one of the national laboratories in the Department of Energy system. She is a member of the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces and a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association. She has been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a U.S. Air Force History Fellowship. She is a principal investigator on National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation grants based on the museum's collections and their use of international group of clinicians, scholars and educators. She holds an adjunct professorship in computational biosciences at George Mason University in Fairfax County, Va.     National History Day 2005 June 15, 2005 The nation's top young history scholars presented their award-winning projects in a National History Day (NHD) program at the National Museum of Health and Medicine on Wednesday, June 15. The 11 students selected to present their projects at the museum are part of a larger group of more than 2,200 finalists participating in the NHD national contest at the University of Maryland June 12-16. These young historians brought with them the products of months of research, and creative presentations in the form of dramatic performances, documentaries, and exhibits. Students selected from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Ohio presented their work, reflecting this year's NHD theme, “Communication in History: the Key to Understanding.” Full story     Local News radio interviews author at book-signing May 22, 2005 The National Museum of Health and Medicine hosted a lecture and book-signing by author Michael Sledge, who discussed his new book, “Soldier Dead.” The book examines why recovering the remains of U.S. service people is important and also provides an analysis of the processes of recovery, identification, return, burial, and remembrance of the dead. Sledge spoke for an hour on his reasons for writing the book and how it is organized. He discussed each chapter, highlighting important facts and stories. He noted the great service that soldiers provide to the nation and the courage that is shown when soldiers are enlisting. Full story     Star of television series NCIS visits and tours museum May 19, 2005 The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) each year hosts the Ash Lecture, an event that features a keynote speaker addressing a topic relevant to its work and mission. This year, the lecture featured two speakers, Cmdr. Craig Mallak, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (ME) and David McCallum, the TV actor who plays a medical examiner on CBS’s primetime show, NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service). Full story              National History Day June 16, 2004 The works of six young historians, which include two exhibits, one performance, and two documentaries focusing on history as it relates to health and medicine, are now on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The projects were created for the 26th annual National History Day (NHD), a national competition of more than 700,000 students in grades 6-12. This year, students competed to convey the theme “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.” After researching and designing their projects, students competed at multiple levels. The entries were judged at the local and state levels for historical quality, clarity of presentation, and adherence to the theme. Finally, about 2,100 students were invited to compete at the national level at the University of Maryland, College Park. Only six of these students were chosen to present their work at the museum, two of which presented a joint project. Of the five projects selected for presentation at the museum, subject matter and presentation style varied widely.     "Images of the Less-Than-Perfect Body" June 12, 2004 The National Museum of Health and Medicine celebrated the opening of its newest exhibit, "Laura Ferguson: The Visible Skeleton Series," with "Images of a Less-Than Perfect Body," a public program co-sponsored by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). The program, which was part of the four-day 2004 International VSA arts Festival, focused on how the "less-than-perfect" body is portrayed in art and included a slide show of various artists representations, panel discussions, and an audience forum. Participants also had the opportunity to view "Laura Ferguson: The Visible Skeleton Series," which includes 50-multi-layered paintings based on medical images from Ferguson's own scoliotic skeleton, an array of source materials that explain the artist's visualization process, and several spinal specimens from the museum's anatomical collections. In addition to Ferguson, panelists included Alice Dreger, Ph.D., medical historian and author of the recently published "One of Us: Conjoined Twins and the Future of Normal," who talked about the use of imagery of unusual anatomies in the medical context, and Svetlana Mintcheva, Ph.D., director of the Arts Advocacy Project for the NCAC, who talked about shifting socio-cultural attitudes to the body in art. Stephanie Moore, director of Artist Services for VSA arts, also participated in the discussion forum. Adrianne Noe, Ph.D., museum director, served as moderator. An opening reception for the exhibit followed the program. "Dive Bomber" Film Showing April 21 and 22, 2004 The National Museum of Health and Medicine recognized the heroic contributions of naval aviators during times of war by showing the 1942 film, "Dive Bomber" as part of a two-day brown bag lunch presentation. The film, which stars Errol Flynn and Ralph Bellamy, focuses on the medical and logistical challenges faced by naval aviators during World War II. Flynn appears as Navy flight surgeon Lt. Douglas Lee, a man devoted to aviation medicine, specifically to finding a cure for altitude sickness, blackouts, and night blindness. The drama of his personal life intertwines with airborne tragedy and medical obsession. Adrianne Noe, Ph.D., museum director, provided an introduction to the film and commentary on aviation medicine during World War II on both days. "Brain Awareness Week 2004" March 18 and 19 More than 200 middle school students and senior citizens, separated by three generations, came together from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to learn about the brain and meet neuroscientists at the museum's fifth annual Brain Awareness Week program. They were able to discover the various functions of the brain by visiting a variety of stations set up throughout the museum. More story and pictures "Nurse Edith Cavell" Film Showing January 14 and 15, 2004 The National Museum of Health and Medicine recognized the heroic contributions of women by showing the 1939 film, "Nurse Edith Cavell" as part of a two-day brown-bag lunch presentation. The film, which received an Academy Award for Best Original Score, focuses on the life of Nurse Cavell and three Belgian women who risked their lives to help Allied soldiers escape from Brussels to neutral Holland during World War I. This program was part of the museum's ongoing effort to celebrate the sacrifices and contributions made by both soldiers and civilians during times of war. Open House for Educators November 6, 2003 More than a dozen middle and high school science, health, and history teachers in the D.C. metropolitan area gathered at the National Museum of Health and Medicine to learn more about the museum's collections, exhibits, tours, and programs. The teachers also had the opportunity to meet individually with curators and programming staff to discuss how museum resources can be used to complement classroom teaching and learning. Participants also previewed the museum's newest exhibition, "Battlefield Surgery 101: From the Civil War to Vietnam," which presents the highlights of the evolution of military surgery over the last 140 years through rare photographs and artifacts. "Learning About Forensics" Program October 18, 2003 More than 100 area residents and visitors attended the museum's "Learning About Forensics" program, which included two forensic workshops and a forensic science seminar. After listening to a short lecture about forensic victim identification, workshop participants visited various stations throughout the museum and studied bone and dental evidence to identify a mystery victim. The forensic science seminar featured lectures presented by Paul Sledzik, M.S., curator of the museum's anatomical collection, Maj. Michael E. Smith, M.D., deputy medical examiner for the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, and Kimberly B. Murga, M.S., supervisory analyst at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory. Each lecture lasted approximately 45 minutes and included questions from the audience. Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 2003 More than 30 area residents and visitors attended the museum's October health fair, which recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Members of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Chi Eta Phi Sorority presented "Stay Beautiful, Stay Alive," a 45-minute educational intervention program aimed at decreasing breast and cervical cancer. In addition, the program offered free screening areas to have blood pressure, blood sugar, body fat analysis, and cholesterol levels checked. Sense of Smell Day April 2003 Annee Nguyen, age 5, and her mother Bao-Thuy, work on an activity to test their sense of smell. More than 60 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and members of other organizations attended "Sense of Smell Day" at the museum on March 29. Participants learned about the sense of smell and the role it plays in every day life. Other activities included a lecture by Dr. Richard Doty, director of the Smell and Taste Center at the University of Pennsylvania, a scavenger hunt that used scents as clues, and a station that allowed participants to make their own scented soap.

Brain Awareness Week 2003 March 2003 Area middle and high school students visited the National Museum of Health and Medicine to learn about brain science during the fourth annual Brain Awareness Week. Students played trivia games, held a brain, and participated in in-depth discussions, all in the name of science. More about Brain Awareness Week 2003

Germ Fest November 2002 More than 100 middle school students learned about germs and contamination during Germ Fest, a program at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Students rotated throughout stations in the museum designed by scientists and medical professionals from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Participants also went on a Germ Scavenger Hunt and searched exhibits for diseases caused by germs.

The Truth Behind the Legends October 2002 Adults and children of all ages came to the museum to participate in "The Truth Behind the Legends." Participants attended Forensic Mystery Workshops and solved a missing person case based on clues left throughout the museum. After solving the crime, they traced vampire legends from Transylvania to the United States by participating in a lecture by Paul Sledzik, curator of the museum's anatomical collections.

Open House for Educators October 2002 Middle and high school science, health, and history teachers in the DC metropolitan area gathered at the National Museum of Health and Medicine to learn more about the museum's collections. The educators also had the opportunity to meet individually with curators and programming staff to discuss how museum resources can be used to complement classroom teaching.