Oral Histories

The Foundation funds oral history collections at institutions looking to better preserve and promote the experiences of women in medicine. Oral histories enable women to share their stories in their own words and better shape the legacy they leave behind.

The Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Women in Medicine Oral History Project

This oral history project highlights the recipients of the Foundation’s Alma Dea Morani, MD Renaissance Woman Award. This is a unique opportunity for these medical pioneers to share their story in their own words, and for future generations to listen to them tell it. In addition to the oral history, a formal portrait or other photographs may be included as part of this comprehensive project to illustrate the visual side of the story.

The oral history of Dr. Louise Schnaufer, founding Trustee of the Foundation and beloved pediatric surgeon at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will also be included as part of this collection. This oral history is currently archived at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and was made possible with funding provided by Drs. John R. Templeton and Josephine Templeton.

Our Collection

The completed oral histories of our Alma Dea Morani Award winners are archived at the Harvard Countway Library of Medicine, giving researchers, educators, and the public the ability to access this content now and into the future. We invite you to explore the remarkable stories of these ground-breaking women.

• Vivian W. Pinn, MD

• Barbara Barlow, MD, FACS

• Carola B. Eisenberg, MD 

• Mary Guinan, PhD, MD

• Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH

• Ellen R. Gritz, PhD

• Carol C. Nadelson, MD

• Rita Charon, MD, PhD

• N. Lynn Eckhert, MD, MPH, DrPH

• Florence P. Haseltine, PhD, MD

• Deborah German, MD

The Exhibit

In 2014, the Countway Library of Medicine created a special online exhibit featuring many of our Foundation’s oral histories along with additional materials including photographs, biographies, ephemera, and portraits. This exhibit offers a multimedia portrayal of the stories of incredible women honored for their contributions to medicine and to the lives of those around them.