Open to all interested in the history of medicine and healthcare
The 31st BSHM Congress will be held at the University of Leeds
Wed 10 – Sat 13 September 2025
The President and Officers of the British Society for the History of Medicine look forward to welcoming all who are interested in the history of medicine and healthcare to the BSHM Congress at the University of Leeds.
The venue for the meeting is a state-of-the-art conference facility at Cloth Hall Court, a Grade II listed merchant trading hall, situated close to the main railway station in the heart of the city.
The academic programme, which will run for three full days on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, will include a mixture of keynote lectures, and oral and poster presentations, relating to the three main themes of the Congress: Herbs, Potions and Magic Bullets; Disability and Rehabilitation; and Medical and Healthcare Learning.
There will also be sessions of presentations on miscellaneous topics in the history of medicine and healthcare based on abstract submissions from delegates.
Congress Themes
Herbs, Potions and Magic Bullets
The history of medicines and their uses and abuses across time, culture and modality from herbal remedies through chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs and biologics to hi-tech treatments in Western medicine; traditional, non-Western and Indigenous practices; alternative, controversial and failed approaches; and innovators, practitioners and patients.
Disability and Rehabilitation
The history of physical and mental disabilities, including: the recognition, definition and description of disablement over time; diagnosis, support and self-help; medical, surgical and psychiatric treatment; the challenges, successes and failures of rehabilitation; and the roles of practitioners, experiences of patients, and limitations of healthcare.
Medical and Healthcare Learning
The history of learning in medicine and healthcare in the context of formal and informal organisations and sites involved with research and education in the UK and internationally: medical schools and teaching hospitals, universities and research institutes, medical societies and colleges; key contributions, major protagonists and notable developments.
Miscellaneous Topics
Presentations on diverse subjects in the history of medicine and healthcare, which reflect the broad interests of our community, form an important element of the Congress. The organisers will seek to group presentations on related topics, such as local medical history, in mini-themed sessions where possible.
Keynote Lectures
A Quiet Revolution: How Monoclonal Antibodies Transformed Medicine – Dr Lara Marks
Since their creation 50 years ago, monoclonal antibodies have radically reshaped medicine and spawned a whole new industry. They have improved the accuracy and speed of diagnostics, which proved crucial in the COVID-19 pandemic, helped transform the treatment of certain cancers, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and many other significant disorders, and have major potential in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Lara Marks DPhil (Oxon) FRSB, Visiting Researcher in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, is a historian of medicine who has published numerous articles and books on a range of subjects, including The Lock and Key of Medicine: Monoclonal Antibodies and the Transformation of Healthcare. She is currently managing editor of the charitable online educational resource WhatisBiotechnology.org.
The History of Disability: Myths, the Everyday and Tales of the Unexpected – Dr Simon Jarrett
The history of disability is suffused with myths. Many of these frame the disabled person as an eternal outcast – shunned, or at best pitied, by society. The historical excavation and examination of people’s everyday lives creates a new prism through which unexpected insights emerge. Within all this lurks the tense and uneasy relationship between Disability and Medicine.
Simon Jarrett PhD is a Visiting Fellow in the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at the Open University. He is the author of Those They Called Idiots: The Idea of the Disabled Mind from 1700 to the Present Day and A History of Disability in England from the Medieval Period to the Present Day.
THE JOHN BLAIR TRUST LECTURE John Blair and his Legacy to the History of Medicine – Mr Iain Macintyre
In addition to a lifetime’s work as a busy general surgeon, John Blair made important contributions to the history of medicine. This commemorative lecture will pay tribute to his acclaimed work on the Royal Army Medical Corps, the medical schools at St Andrews and Dundee, and other areas. It will examine John Blair’s legacy and explore the relevance of the history of medicine in an increasingly technological era.
Iain Macintyre MB ChB MD FRCSEd was Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh during its 500th anniversary celebration and served as surgeon to the Queen in Scotland until he retired in 2004. He now researches, writes and lectures on the history of medicine and has contributed to several books, including Surgeons’ Lives, Scottish Medicine – An Illustrated History, and Scotland’s Contribution to Naval and Military Medicine and Surgery.
Provisional Programme
Wednesday 10 September 2025
13.00 Editorial Board Meeting (invitation only)
14.00 John Blair Trust meeting (invitation only)
15.00 BSHM Officers and Representatives Committee (invitation only)
17.00 Registration opens
17.30 Welcome Reception at Cloth Hall Court
19.30 Evening close
Thursday 11 September 2025
THEMES: HERBS, POTIONS AND MAGIC BULLETS/MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
08.30 Registration and refreshments
09.00 Keynote lecture: Dr Lara Marks
16.30 Afternoon close
16.45 Transport to the Thackray Museum of Medicine
19.45 Visit ends
Friday 12 September 2025
THEMES: DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION/MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
08.30 Registration and refreshments
09.00 Keynote lecture: Dr Simon Jarrett
17.30 Afternoon close
19.00 Congress Dinner at The Queens Hotel
Saturday 13 September 2025
THEMES: MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE LEARNING/MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
08.30 Registration and refreshments
09.00 The John Blair Trust Lecture: Mr Iain Macintyre
16.00 BSHM Annual General Meeting
17.00 Congress close
THE CONGRESS PROGRAMME INCLUDES MORNING AND AFTERNOON TEA & COFFEE BREAKS AND BUFFET LUNCH ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
ANYONE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACADEMIC SESSIONS MUST BE REGISTERED AS A PAID DELEGATE TO THE CONGRESS
PLEASE NOTE THAT CONGRESS THEMES MAY EXTEND ACROSS TWO DAYS DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF ABSTRACTS ACCEPTED
THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Social Programme
Welcome Reception
At 17.30 on Wednesday 10 September, Cloth Hall Court.
Please join us at the Congress venue for advance registration and to meet with friends and colleagues at a reception with drinks and nibbles, sponsored by Jon Baines Tours.
Price per person, £15.
Museum Visit
From 16.45 on Thursday 11 September, Thackray Museum of Medicine.
Visit the UK’s largest independent medical museum, which recently underwent a £4m redevelopment. Includes transport from the Congress to and from the Museum, drink and nibbles on arrival, curatorial introduction, and private viewing of the exhibition galleries. Please book early to guarantee a place.
Price per person, £25.
Congress Dinner
At 19.30 on Friday 12 September, The Queens Hotel.
The Queens Hotel is an elegant Art Deco Grade II listed building located on City Square, close to the Congress venue. Enjoy a welcome drink and 3-course dinner with wine. A pay bar will be available.
Price per person, £60.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOCIAL EVENTS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE
We invite abstract submissions for oral presentations and posters on the three symposium themes and miscellaneous topics in the history of medicine and healthcare for consideration by the Congress review panel.
THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS IS TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025.
The abstract text should be between 150 and 250 words in length. Titles should be no longer than 15 words.
Oral presentations will be 15 minutes long with 5 minutes for questions and presenters will be required to keep strictly to time. Presentations must be in PowerPoint (maximum file size, 20Mb) and must be submitted to the organisers by TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2025. The format required for posters will be confirmed upon acceptance.
IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR DELEGATES TO USE THEIR PERSONAL LAPTOPS OR MEMORY STICKS AT THE CONGRESS.
THE ORGANISERS CANNOT GUARANTEE TO ACCEPT MORE THAN ONE SUBMISSION FOR ORAL PRESENTATION AND ONE FOR POSTER PRESENTATION FROM EACH DELEGATE.
AUTHORS OF SUCCESSFUL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE DAY AND SESSION OF THEIR PRESENTATIONS BY TUESDAY 17 JUNE 2025.
PLEASE NOTE THAT FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS SUBJECT TO THE PRESENTER COMPLETING REGISTRATION AS A PAID DELEGATE TO THE CONGRESS.
ABSTRACTS OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACCEPTED FOR PRESENTATION AT THE CONGRESS WILL APPEAR IN THE PROGRAMME AND WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE BSHM WEBSITE.
The editors of the BSHM’s online journal Topics in the History of Medicine will be inviting manuscript submissions based on oral and poster presentations by delegates at the Congress on the three major themes of the conference and miscellaneous topics.
For abstract submission (and registration – see below), authors must first set up a user account with the conference management system and can then proceed to submit an abstract and register as a participant: https://www.conftool.pro/bshm2025/
Congress Registration
The BSHM welcomes all who are interested in the history of medicine to attend the Congress, participate in the academic sessions, and join us for the social events.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students registered on a full-time course at a recognised university are invited to participate at a specially subsidised rate.
The John Blair Trust offers a limited number of travel grants (up to £120 each) to support UK undergraduate students in medicine and allied sciences presenting at the Congress. For more information see: https://bshm.org.uk/about-us/john-blair-trust/
The John Blair Trust also offers prizes (£100 each) for the best oral presentation and best poster presentation by an undergraduate student. All student presentations accepted for the Congress are eligible provided the work has been completed as an undergraduate and the abstract has been submitted no longer than one year after graduation.
EARLY-BIRD RATES ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL TUESDAY 8 JULY 2025.
STANDARD REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON TUESDAY 19 AUGUST 2025.
PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE AT THE CONGRESS.
For congress registration, participants must first set up a user account with the conference management system and can then proceed to register as a delegate and pay the registration fee: https://www.conftool.pro/bshm2025/
Important Notice
The BSHM Congress is intended to facilitate networking and collaboration among both members and non-members interested in all aspects of the history of medicine and healthcare.
The organisers are dedicated to providing an environment in which participants have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Accordingly, we request that all attendees treat other delegates, guests and staff with due respect and courtesy at all times. Harassment or disrespect will not be tolerated and any offender may be asked to leave the Congress.
Presenters give their time freely. Many have travelled a considerable distance. Some are very distinguished; some are students or early career researchers, perhaps giving a lecture at this level for the first time. All deserve a fair and polite hearing and respectful treatment.
All communications should be sensitive with regard to the audience, which includes people of many backgrounds and with different experience, especially when covering material expressing historical material and views that have the potential to offend.
Congress Venue
Congress sessions will be held at Cloth Hall Court (University of Leeds), Quebec Street, Leeds LS1 2HA, which is a two-minute walk from Leeds Railway Station, located on City Square.
Travel to Leeds
Leeds is situated in the heart of the country equidistant between London and Edinburgh. The city is one of the most readily accessible in the UK with direct inter-city rail links across the country, close proximity to Leeds-Bradford airport serving more than 70 overseas destinations, and road connections to the M1, M62 and A1(M) for travel by car or coach. For more information, see https://www.conferenceleeds.co.uk/why-leeds/travelling-to-leeds/
Leeds has a variety of city-centre hotels to suit all budgets. Delegates are requested to arrange their own accommodation. For more information see: https://www.visitleeds.co.uk/where-to-stay/
The organisers have reserved a limited number of rooms with en-suite bathroom at Charles Morris Hall/Storm Jameson Court on the University of Leeds campus, located about one mile (a quick bus-ride or 20-minute walk) from Cloth Hall Court. The rooms are priced at £55 per night and are available on a first-come, first served basis. Delegates must book these rooms directly with the university: https://eu.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=200286170&
Leeds Tourism
Leeds is a lively modern city which has many interesting attractions that reflect its prosperity during the Industrial Revolution, including a variety of museums, Victorian shopping arcades and other historic buildings, and is home to the Royal Armouries Museum. For more information, maps and guides see: https://www.visitleeds.co.uk/
