In conjunction with the National Library of Medicine travelling exhibition, Politics of Yellow Fever in Alexander Hamilton’s America, on view from February 3 to March 15 in the Holman Biotech Commons, this panel aims to explore and discuss two important epidemics in Philadelphia, one historical and one contemporary, by bringing together historians and physicians to examine the evidence around how epidemics unfold and who is held accountable as they do. Panelist include David Barnes (History & Sociology of Science), Dr. Carolyn Cannuscio (Perelman School of Medicine), Beth Linker (History & Sociology of Science), and Dr. Ala Stanford (Biology, Communications, and Penn Institute for RNA Innovation).  

Image credit: Woodcut of Onesimus’ vision of Philadelphia with caskets in the sky over the city, from The Doctrine of the New Birth (Philadelphia: Rackliff, 1839) (RBC AC8 H4998 839d)