News
Public Lecture: Medicalia - Melbourne’s Health and Medical Collections Unveiled
Melbourne’s health and medical collections constitute a remarkable resource, often only familiar to professionals and students from related fields. This lecture series aims to inform the public about the histories and stories of medicine, dentistry, surgery, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology and other related specialties through the rich collections held at the University of Melbourne, the Colleges and Health and Medical Museums throughout Melbourne
It will draw on the expertise of medical and museum professionals to bring their collections’ histories and stories to life. It aims to improve understanding, encourage public interest and where appropriate, inspire individuals to visit and engage first-hand with these unique collections.
Professor Emeritus Henry Atkinson will give the lecture "Dentistry through the Museum's eyes" on Thursday 22nd April 2010. For more details on the lecture series click here.
ABC Television Program "Can We Help" films story at the Melbourne Dental School
“Can we help?” the ABC Information program hosted by Peter Rowsthorn came to visit the Melbourne Dental School in late 2008, in response to a viewer question “Do trainee dentists practice on real people?” The program briefly covered the significant academic studies that student dentists have to undertake – and showed that the practical side is just part of a much bigger picture. The focus of the program was not on the academic side of things. The emphasis was getting to grips with how student dentists learn the practical, hands on skills they need as qualified dentists. The program used the viewer question as a springboard to look at other interesting issues surrounding the subject. The program knew that trainee dentists don’t go straight from the books to patients to practice on – they wanted to find out what’s in between.
Some of the questions asked were “Do students practice on dummies, volunteers or friends? How do they learn to give injections? How do the students feel about their first real patient?”
 |
 |
| Host of "Can We Help", Peter Rowsthorn, gets "hands-on" experience with a manikin in the Simulation Laboratory. | Dr David Manton watches as Peter learns some of the skills required to handle a dental handpiece. |
 |
 |
| Staff Member Sue Dobell assists Peter with his "patient". | Filming students at work in the Preclinical Laboratory. |
The film crew also took time out to visit the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum. Professor Atkinson spoke about the history of dentistry and dental training, identified some of the early instruments and demonstrated how the pedal engine was used.
 |
 |
| Peter interviews Professor Henry Atkinson in the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum at the Melbourne Dental School. | Peter with Prof Atkinson and Museum Cuator Louise Murray. |
The story (episode 8) featuring the School aired on the ABC on Friday April 3 and can be viewed at the Can We Help website and is available from the video download page.
Filling in time at Henry's hideaway
Article from the Herald Sun newspaper September 13 2008.
Secret City: The Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum
Annie Lawson, The Age, 19 February 2008, p. 15.
