We also encourage people to register early with us at ssh.mdphd.2009@gmail.com, even if you are not submitting an abstract, so we have an accurate headcount. The program and updated information can be found at http://scholarsinmedicine.blogspot.com/ .

Best wishes,
Elise A. Carpenter
MD/PhD Candidate, History and Sociology of Science, U of PA

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Understanding the Past, Transforming the Future:

National Conference for Physician-Scholars in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 28-29, 2009
http://scholarsinmedicine.blogspot.com/

This coming spring, MD/PhD candidates and graduates in the humanities and social sciences are pleased to be hosting a nation-wide gathering for social science and humanities MD/PhD students and graduates. Registration for the conference is now open. The conference builds on foundations laid at the 2007 University of Chicago meeting and the 2005 meeting at UCSF.

The coordinating committee for the 2009 conference would like to invite you to submit an abstract of original research for presentation at our March meeting in Philadelphia.

Given the nature of the conference, the scope of research presentations will inevitably be quite broad. Preference will be given to research which seeks to integrate clinical and extra-medical perspectives in a meaningful way, and which makes a contribution to our understanding of the complex interactions among health, culture, and society. We are particularly interested in highlighting the work of graduate students and new scholars in the field, though we encourage individuals at all stages in their education and career to submit.

Presentations may take the form of a 20-25 minute talk or a research poster. Please submit only one abstract, indicating the format in which you would like to present. We ask that you limit your submission to 350 words, and that you specify your primary research question, your methodological orientation, and your general conclusions. We encourage abstract submissions from attendees who are in the early stages of their work or who are pursuing non-traditional enterprises in the social sciences and humanities. Those not selected for research talks will remain eligible for the poster session.

The meeting will take place March 28-29 2009 at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to research presentations and the poster session, our conference will feature keynote addresses by Dr. Vin-Kim Nguyen (Montreal) and Dr. Rita Charon (Columbia), Dr. Walt Schalick (Wisconsin) and Dr. Camara Jones (CDC). We will also host a career panel with an array of perspectives on dual-degree scholarship and practice, and there will be ample opportunity for interaction with colleagues in allied clinical and research fields.

For further information and instructions for submitting an abstract, please visit the conference web site at http://scholarsinmedicine.blogspot.com/ Abstracts are now being accepted, and will continue to be accepted until December 31, 2008. [EXTENDED DEADLINE January 31st, 2009.] You can contact the conference organizers at ssh.mdphd.2009@gmail.com .

General registration for the conference is now open. Conference Coordinating Committee

Elise Carpenter (University of Pennsylvania)
Erica Dwyer (University of Pennsylvania)
Deborah Doroshow (Yale University)