THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE presents Changing Medicine theface of An original theatrical production that celebrates the lives and achievements of America's women physicians. FEATURINGPERFORMANCESBY THE AMERICAN HISTORICALTHEATRE LISTER HILL CENTER AUDITORIUM NATIONALLIBRARYOFMEDICINE Changing Medicine theface of An original theatrical production that celebrates the lives and achievements of America's women physicians. Produced by the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE in conjunction with the exhibition ChangingthefaceofMedicine: CelebratingAmerica's WomenPhysicians ^ National LibraryofMedicine III and ChangingtheFaceofMedicine: CelebratingAmerica'sWomenPhysicians.AsChiefoftheHistoryofMedicine Division and as ahistorian ofmedicine, I have longbeen interested in the historical struggles ofwomen to gain entrance to scientific and medical careers, to obtainwell-deservedrecognitionfortheirwork, and mostespecially, to make adifference in the lives oftheirpatients, the qualityoflife oftheirneighborhoods, and the health ofthe population atlarge. Itisagreatpleasure forme to see this splendidexhibition and the playithas inspired, alsowith the title, ChangingtheFaceofMedicine. I'dliketothankourverytalentedexhibitionstaff,mostespeciallyPatricia Tuohy, Head ofthe Exhibition Program, Manon Parry, theAssociate Curatorforthe exhibition, andKevin Schlesier, the Exhibition Program Coordinator. Each did an outstandingjob, aidedbythe manyNational LibraryofMedicine staffmemberswhohave contributed tomakingthe exhibition such asuccess. Ourgratitude also to Dr. Ellen More, our VisitingCurator, the authorofRestoringtheBalance: WomenPhysiciansand thePracticeofMedicine, 1850-1995 (1999), who guided the conceptual developmentofthe exhibitionandwasgenerousinsharingherscholarly expertise; to ourverydistinguishedAdvisoryGroup memberswho nominatedthewomenwhose liveswe here celebrate; andtoDr. Marion Hunt,who initially suggested thatwe create an exhibition aboutthe historyofwomen physicians and didmuch ofthe initial research to lay thefoundationsforthisproject.Asalways, ourDirector,Dr. DonaldA.B. Lindberg,tookaverylivelyinterestintheentireprojectandwasinsistentiy eager to see itdonewell. Thisplay, and the exhibition, honors the lives and contributions of America'swomen physicians. We celebrate the lives ofthesewomen, and the men and otherwomenwho helped them along theway. WehopeyouwillenjoyChan^ngtheFaceofMedicine,ourtheatricalproduction. Elizabeth Fee, Ph.D. Chief, HistoryofMedicine Division NationalLibraryofMedicine Cast THE Sign language interpreterluill beprovided Synopsis changing the Face ofMedicine, an original theatrical production, draws on some of the women remarkable stories of physicians included in an exhibition of the same name at the National Library of Medicine. With onlyfhe bare minimum ofpropsorcostume, the ploycon be performed anywhere,yettheexperiences portrayed arevividly recreated foraudiences ofall ages. Based on real events, and often told in their own words, the struggles and achievements ofwomen in medicineoverthe lastone hundred and fiftyyears come to life on the stage. Will their determination inspire you to break down a barrier, fight foryour rights and for the rights of others, or travel the world to help those in need? Setting Their Sights The playopens overone hundredandfiftyyearsago,whenyoungwomen had to fighteven to be allowed to attend medical school. Traditional ideas about theirroles aswives and motherswere used to excludewomen from education andprofessionalcareers. ElizabethBlackwell,whowemeetattheverybeginning ofthis story, was the firstwoman inAmerica to earn amedical degree. She spentherlife campaigningforwomen in medicine, andfounded ahospital and college to give them more opportunities. AfricanAmerican physician RebeccaColeworkedwith Dr. BlackwellinNewYork, aftergraduatingmedical schoolin 1867. By the startofthe twentieth century,women physicians had made significantinroadsin the professions,yettheywere stilldiscouragedfrom pursuing careers in fieldslike surgeryand scientific research. How could they breakthrough thisglass ceiling? Making TheirMark Women physiciansbroughtnewperspectives to medicine and often focused on problems thatwere notbeingaddressed. Alice Hamilton focused on the illnesses ofworkers and helped develop the field of occupational health inAmerica. In thisplayyou canhear aboutthe difficultiesshefacedasthefirstwomanon thefacultyatHarvardMedical School, and howpediatrician HelenTaussighandled discrimination as amedical student. Theirresearch hasled to breakthrough discoveries thatbenefitpatients and communities around theworld, yet thework ofwomenphysicianshasnotalwaysbeen fairlyacknowledged. During the SecondWorldWar, when soldiersand doctorswere desperately needed, womenwere given opportunities theyhadneverbeen offered before. Howcould theyensure thatthe progress thathadbeen made forwomen in theprofession would continue.'* Changing Medicine, Changing Life Recognizingtheneedformorediversityinmedicine, manyhavefocused on increasing the numbers ofwomen andminorities ateverylevel of the profession. Although nowadays men andwomen attend medical schoolinequalnumbers,inequalitiesaftergraduationmeanthatwomen maynotearn as much as their male colleagues, advance asrapidlyin theircareers,orwinappointmentsatthehighestlevels.In 1991,Bernadine Healywas appointed director ofthe NationalInstitutes ofHealth. She was the firstwoman everto hold thatoffice, andaswe learn in the play, she and herfamilyknewthis marked an historic moment.As aleader in thefield, she had an opportunityto raise the profile ofwomen's health issues and to improve the lives ofmillions. Whatwould itbe like ifeverygroupin societywere properlyrepresented ateverylevel ofthe profession, andifthe concernsofallthoseinneedweremadeapriority? Health care professionals treatindividual patients, communities, and whole populations, solvingproblems and lookingfornewanswers that benefitus all. Canyou seeyourselfin such arole? Biographies TheAmericanHistoricalTheatre was fo andWilliamSommerfield.Themissionoft plays and performance pieces merginghistoryand drama. Since its inception, AHT haspresenteddramaticworks across the U.S. and abroad. In 1992AHTbecameanon-profitorganization andsince has devoted its efforts topresentinghistoryto both children and adultsin an informative andentertainingmanner.AHTprograms have been seen attheWliite House, numerous historic sites, museums, and atcountlessschools. JerryJames lastwrote for the NLM in 2001 when the library k producedhisplay, TheOnceandFutureWeb. Otherplaysinclude & Virgins Dynamos, Sea Change, Hasta Cuandof, Spirit ofth Dream, Pasde Trois (author) and Isadora:AmericanLegend, ; W Rage Margeand CommieLesbosfrom OuterSpace (co-author and director). Mr.Jamesisalso an award-winningshortstory writer.Asajournalist, hewrote TheLifeforVoices, analternative newspaper, foreightyears. This monthlycolumn is available online atwww^voicesweb.org/thelife Pamela Sommerfield is English-born and educated atLondon's Guild Hall School ofMusic and Dramawith continuingwork t m attheUniversityofWashington,Universityof(Jalifornia,Irvine, Villanova, and the UniversityofPennsylvania. In 1992 she ' essayed the role ofLucretiaMott, in the docudrama, Valiant Friend. The production garnered an Emmyfor best independentproduction Bill Sommerfield iswidelyrecognized for his portrayal of GeorgeWashington. He isAmerican HistoricalTheatre'sresident historian andwriter and haswritten manyofthe performance piecesforthe "LivingHistoryCharacters." BillSommerfield holds aB.A. andM.A.fromtheUniversityofWisconsin.Hewasnominated foranEmmyforhisperformance ofGeorgeWashington in NBC's TVpresentation,EyeWitness toHistory. Demetria has been busy recentlywith appearances in C'BS' Hack. Herfirstlove is live theaterand she appearsfrequently atFreedomTheatre forWalter Dallas. Because she has a : voice thatencompassesclassicalandjazz,shehasalsoUaveled as far asJapan and the Philippineson tourwith the USO. Mostadmired in her skills are Demetria's talents as a construction worker. Ethan'smanyvoicesandexpressivefacehavehiminconstant demandforroles thatdemonstrate hisversatility'. He has afinebaritonevoice andsingswith two quartetsandisa staple in Philadelphia'sGilbertand Sullivanproductions. He hasappearedatPeople'sLight,VillanovaandWalnut StreetTheatresincontemporaryandclassicalplays. Recendy hewasseeninHackand Sexand theCity. ElizabethMichaelsisoneofPhiladelphia'sbest-knownfaces in the actingcommunity. Sheisseen oftenin localand nationalTVcommercials andin main stage productions fromPlazaSuiteto MuchAdoAboutNothing. Elizabethhas performedin NewJersey, PennsylvaniaandVirginiaand teachesactingeverysummertoyoungpeople. Hannah isagraduate ofthe UniversityoftheArtsin Philadelphia. She is constantlyactivewith thevibrant Philadelphiatheaterscene,from the classics to children's theater,insuchcapacitiesaschoreographer,dancer,singer, andactor. Possessingalovelysopranovoice, she singsat herchurch andrecendyshe directedandproducedher own Greekwedding. Hanley Kim, theAssistantDirector, isalso an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, andcostume designer. Trainedas aballet dancer, KimgotherBFAfrom the State UniversityofNew York. She hasappearedasAbigailAdams, MollyPitcher, and ahostofotherhistoricalcharacters. She hasalso scriptedand starredin an educationalvideo, BetsyRossandtheFlag, producedbyAHT. Buckley Agraduate ofCalArts, TechnicalDirector, MichaelAlan Buckley, wasoneofthefoundingmembersofAHT.Aresident ofAnnapolis,heproducesaweeklyradioprogram, Voicesofthe Bay,whichpresentsan eclectic selection ofmusic together withlivelyinterviewsalldealingwiththeChesapeake. Michael hasalso editedandproducededucationalvideosandversfor AHTsuch asBetsyRossandtheFlagand The YoungJefferson. Information SCHEDULED PERFORAAANCES at Lister Hill CenterAuditorium (Building 38A) Tuesday, March 23, 2004 Wednesday, April 21, 2004 pm pm pm pm 12:30 to 1:30 6:30 to 7:30 Wednesday, March 24, 2004 Thursday, April 22, 2004 pm pm pm pm 12:30 to 1:30 1:00 to 1:45 Formoreinformationabouttheexhibition ortoscheduleaguided tour ofChangingtheFaceofMedicine, please contactJiwonKimat301.496.5963 or [email protected] CedarLane