Audrey and William H. Helfand Fellowship

The Audrey and William H. Helfand Fellowship in the History of Medicine and Public Health
The Audrey and William H. Helfand Fellowship in the History of Medicine and Public Health is accepting applications through March 1, 2013. (Deadline: March 1, 2013)

The Audrey and William H. Helfand Fellowship in the History of Medicine and Public Health supports research using NYAM library resources for scholarly study of the history of medicine and public health with an emphasis on visual culture. It is intended specifically for a scholar in residence at the NYAM Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health. Preference will be given to applications which focus on the use of visual materials held in the NYAM collections and elsewhere.

NYAM's Library holds a particularly rich collection of images related to the history of medicine and public health dating from the early modern era into the twentieth century. A diverse collection, including illustrated books, prints, broadsides, pamphlets, and printed medical ephemera, documents changes in clinical medicine and research, the evolution of medical practice, the history of public health and public responses to these developments. The collections form an extraordinary primary resource for scholars in history, popular culture, the sciences and social sciences, the history of printing and the graphic arts.

The Helfand Fellow is expected to spend at least four weeks in New York City, working at The New York Academy of Medicine. Fellows are required to present a seminar at NYAM, and to submit a final report on work done at the NYAM Library by the end of the award period.

Downloand the flyer for this fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements

We invite applications from anyone, regardless of citizenship, academic discipline, or academic status. Preference will be given to (1) those whose research will take advantage of resources that are uniquely available at NYAM, (2) individuals in the early stages of their careers, and (3) applications which include an emphasis on the use of visual materials held within the NYAM collections and elsewhere.
Application Process

Please read the instructions to assist you in completing the application form. Questions regarding the instructions or the application for fellowships in the NYAM Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health should be directed to 212-822-7313 or history@nyam.org. Because visual materials are sometimes difficult to access through the Library's online catalog, applicants are encouraged to call or email for more information about the collections.

A complete application includes:
One copy of materials requested in the application.
Two letters of recommendation.
These links will download fully-editable Rich Text Format (.rtf) files. For instructions see below.

Electronic submissions are preferred:
Email your materials as attachments to history@nyam.org.
Attachments must be in Word, Adobe PDF, or Rich Text Format.
Please include the appropriate extension in filenames, (i.e. “SmithHelfandApp.pdf”)

Deadline
Applications for awards to commence on June 1, 2013 must be received no later than Friday, March 1, 2013. (We must receive recommendation letters by Friday, March 8, 2013). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that we receive all materials, including letters of recommendation, by the deadlines.

Notification
Candidates will be informed of the results by May 3, 2013.
Award Information

Each Helfand fellow receives a stipend of $5,000 to support travel, lodging and incidental expenses for a flexible period between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. The Helfand Fellow is expected to spend at least four weeks in New York City, working at The New York Academy of Medicine. Besides completing a research project, each fellow will be expected to make a public presentation at NYAM and submit a final report.

The selection committee, comprising prominent historians and medical humanities scholars, will choose the fellow from the pool of applications. These fellowships are awarded directly to the individual applicant and not to the institution where he or she may normally be employed. None of the fellowship money is to be used for institutional overhead.

Publications
Any publications resulting from work supported by the Fellowships must acknowledge the assistance received from The New York Academy of Medicine. Copies of such publications must be submitted to the NYAM Library.

The mission of The New York Academy of Medicine is to advance the health of people in cities. Within this urban health framework, NYAM’s current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.