Between Science and History: The IAP-PM Museum of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra in Transformation

Abstract

This article aims to present the history of the creation and
evolution of the Museum of Pathological Anatomy at the IAP-PM (Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Molecular Pathology), located within the Faculty
of Medicine at the University of Coimbra. Created as an aid to the study of medicine, this museum has accompanied the various phases of this institute, including the creation of the discipline of Pathological Anatomy, its emergence as a distinct field, and its evolution into an institute, also marking the passage of numerous famous figures through it. This article aims to summarise not only these aspects but also to explore the museum’s immense and diverse collection, which has grown over the decades from the Pathological Anatomy preparations, which benefited from the contribution of distinguished doctors from Coimbra, such as Bissaya Barreto and Daniel de Matos, to the Collection of Anatomical Models, which dates back to 19th-century French artisans.
Next, this article refers to a few projects that are underway through European investments (PRR) since the creation of digital applications such as a Virtual Museum, a Macroscopy Simulator, and Pathobox. We also explore the adoption of a new exhibition discourse to integrate this new digital vision, which has long been necessary in this Museum.