Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Medical Museum is to stimulate, inform, and educate patients, visitors and the citizens of Iowa and surrounding regions about institutional health care and health-related issues. The presentation of exhibits will provide the public with an understanding of the University Hospitals and Clinics' past, present and future role in contributing to medical and patient-care advances in Iowa. Exhibits will consist of artifacts, photographs, medical equipment and instruments, records and other memorabilia. Audiovisual programs will be offered to promote a greater understanding of museum displays and, whenever possible, interactive exhibits will be installed.

The goals of the museum are:

• To stimulate the desire of the public to investigate the changing role hospitals play in society, and to illustrate how UI Hospitals and Clinics in particular has contributed to these changes since its beginnings in the 19th century.
• To collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret medical and health-related artifacts, with particular focus on artifacts significant to the history of health care at UI Hospitals and Clinics and in the State of Iowa.
• To increase public understanding of UI Hospitals and Clinic's three-part mission of the medical care, education, and research, and the close relationship between these three in enhancing patient welfare.
• To present and interpret health-science and health-care innovations and issues (past, present and future) to the general public, particularly those in which UI Hospitals and Clinics has or will have an important role.
• To offer lectures, films, demonstrations, publications, etc., that will enhance the understanding of museum exhibits.

Adrienne Drapkin
Medical Museum Director