The Medical Museum: Concept and Establishment

The idea of establishing the College of Medicine, Baghdad, museum crystallized in 2012 when the University of Baghdad directed all its formations to nominate candidates selected by the university as members of the association with the University of Baghdad Museum, according to Administrative Order No. (4408) on 17-9-2012 during the tenure of Professor Dr. Muhi Al-Janabi, the dean of the college at that time. Following this, the scientific departments responded by nominating their candidates, and a letter with number (372) was issued on 21-1-2013 to unify the old and existing medical devices and equipment in the scientific departments' stores. Accordingly, Dr. Maan Hamid Al-Khalsi, Dr. Wifaq Mahmoud Al-Witar, and Mr. Abdul Nasser Hassan were nominated as per the aforementioned administrative order. The medical devices and equipment were prepared and inventoried to be transferred to the college's museum first and then to the university after a suitable place was arranged for them.

After these measures, numerous official books were received by the deanship, listing the suitable devices for display in the museum and recorded in the official records for this purpose. Subsequently, the idea of opening the medical museum for the college emerged as part of new directions and visions to develop the reality and document the college's ancient history. I prepared a project for the maintenance and development of the deanship and introduced new frames for the portraits of former deans and rehabilitated artistic paintings drawn by modern art giants, which were later gifted to the college, in addition to designing the college and university logos in bronze.

Then, a committee was formed, consisting of Dr. Mohammed Al-Fahham, Dr. Wifaq Al-Witar, and Mr. Iyad Qahraman from the Public Relations and Media Unit of the college, to work on a new mechanism and effective communication with all scientific departments to collect the acquisitions in record time. With the efforts of other college members, one of the halls in the Great Conference Hall building was prepared and rehabilitated to display the devices and memorabilia in an artistic manner that reflects the authenticity of the exhibits. An electronic registry was also prepared to display the contents on a special screen with a record for present visitors and staff to receive museum visitors.

As a result, the museum was inaugurated on 29-3-2016 in a grand opening attended by Professor Dr. Alaa Abdul Hussein, the university's president, who praised the museum and its acquisitions. The museum achieved remarkable success, and the college's deanship subsequently expressed gratitude and appreciation to those involved in its preparation. Today, with the idea of the museum becoming a wonderful reality and a historical mirror reflecting the development of medical sciences in our country, the college's deanship and its members take pride in this great achievement for both the college and the university alike.