By Shelby Gill / Photos by Chieko Hara
“Which disease is referred to as ‘the great imitator?’” Scott Jackson, M.D., a dermatologist in private practice, queries the students in his Honors College forum, Skin Disease and the History of Dermatology.
The students are poised in concentration as they learn about the variable and unspecific symptoms of neurosyphilis, the clinical manifestation of the sexually transmitted disease. Jackson tells the students that the disease is particularly hard to diagnose as it ebbs between active and latent stages.
“It’s a great one to remember in medical school,” Jackson adds, citing the infection’s ability to masquerade as other ailments. It’s serious – if left untreated, the infection can cause paralysis, dementia and even death.
The majority of students in Jackson’s medical humanity course are pre-med or pre-health professional students, and he nods to this with a quote from Sir William Osler on screen that reads, “To know syphilis is to know medicine.”
In his course, Jackson encourages students planning a career in medicine to seek knowledge on the history of medicine as undergraduates.
“Sadly, the modern physician has little to no knowledge of where we have come from,” Jackson noted. “It is a personal mission for me to change that in the small way that I can. The history of medicine can inspire us to leave our own legacy, promote gratitude and appreciation for what we have and our place in that history, give us perspective, teach us important lessons and strengthen our bond to our professional craft. If those aren’t reasons enough to pursue this knowledge, do it because it’s all just so incredibly fascinating.”
While lecturing, Jackson illustrates history through art, historical texts and his vast knowledge of medicine as a practicing physician. To truly understand the severity of syphilis, he takes the students back to 1494 when King Charles VIII of France amassed an army of 25,000 soldiers and invaded Italy. The war lasted for 30 years, and most of the armies were built from mercenaries, creating a favorable environment for syphilis to spread rapidly, he said. Without a cure, proven treatment or immunity, the disease created a devastating and fatal impact.
Jackson believes it’s important for students to learn not only about the pathology of illness but also to understand the human historical experience of the disease.
“Skin disease has conceivably provoked more suffering than any other type of disease in history — not only from the pain, itching and disfigurement but also from the reactions of others who did not understand it,” Jackson said. “For all but the last one or two hundred years, skin disease was poorly understood by societies and equally confusing to the physicians and surgeons who were tasked with dealing with it.”
In this unique opportunity for students to learn from a local clinician and medical historian, the forum equips students with an understanding of the field, but it also compels them to critically examine the grave errors in past practices. By learning about mistakes in dermatology, like the Tuskegee Study and Holmesburg Prison Scandal, Jackson encourages students to heavily weigh patient experience against the pure drive for innovation and advancement, fostering a sense of responsibility and awareness as the undergraduates embark on their careers.
“The course not only allowed me to solidify my love and passion for dermatology, but it also provided a unique platform to dive into the historical importance of where my passion originated and grew into what it is today,” said Isabella Farrington, a sophomore honors biology major from Crystal Lake, Illinois. “Dr. Jackson’s ability to infuse each session with an amazing energy has made the learning experience truly exceptional. It’s refreshing to have an instructor who not only encourages knowledge but also instills a sense of curiosity and confidence in his students.”
Jackson recently published Skin Disease and the History of Dermatology: Out of Chaos (CRC Press, 2023), which won the John T. Crissey Prize in 2023 and has been celebrated as a scholarly milestone in the historiography of dermatology. Many of his classes cull from chapters of the book and his immense personal archive of dermatology texts dating back to the Renaissance. Students have the rare opportunity to interact with “some of the most important texts ever written in the history of dermatology,” like the 1601 edition of the first-ever treatise dedicated to skin disease and the first pictorial atlases of skin disease from 1849.
“In many of my other courses, the emphasis is often on looking forward, being innovative and pursuing new discoveries and advances,” said Farrington. “However, [Jackson’s] forum highlighted the undeniable truth that our success as physicians is intricately tied to our ability to reevaluate and truly understand our past to articulate our future.”
Scott Jackson, M.D. maintains a tremendous collection of historical texts, many of which he used in the writing of his book. Students in his honors forum read excerpts from the atlases and had the opportunity to interact with the source material.