‘Dracula’ Author’s Relative to Discuss Links Between Medicine and Literature at UAMS Lecture
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will host a free, public lecture exploring the medical influences behind the gothic novel “Dracula” at 5 p.m. April 17.
The lecture will be held on the 12th floor of the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute on UAMS’ Little Rock campus. It is part of the annual History of Medicine and Science lecture series organized by the Department of Neurosurgery and the institute.
“We hope you will join us for this fascinating exploration of the medical and scientific ideas that helped give life to one of literature’s most iconic works, ‘Dracula,’” said T. Glenn Pait, M.D., professor of neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery at UAMS.
The lecture will be presented by Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, author of the classic 1897 novel that became one of the most enduring works of vampire fiction in English literature.
Bram Stoker is often referred to as “the father of modern vampire fiction.” His novel Dracula defined the modern image of the vampire — aristocratic, seductive, undead, and tied to themes of blood, disease, and sexuality. The character Count Dracula became the template for nearly all later vampire portrayals.
Dacre Stoker has continued the legacy of the original Gothic classic by co-writing bestselling works such as “Dracula the Un-dead (2009),” and co-editing “The Lost Journal of Bram Stoker,” “Stoker on Stoker,” and others.
His lecture will examine the intersection of medicine, science, and literature, revealing how late 19th century medical theories influenced the novel’s characters, illnesses, and dramatic tensions.
“Through historical insight and family archives, Mr. Stoker will illuminate how medical thought influenced the creation of the modern Gothic imagination,” Pait said.
Parking will be available in Parking 3 at 4030 W. Capitol Ave., where a covered walkway from Section 3A of the third floor provides direct access to the institute until 6 p.m. A reception will immediately follow the lecture.
The History of Medicine and Science lecture series, established in 2023, highlights milestones, controversies, and pioneers that have shaped our understanding of medicine, science, and human progress.
“Each year, a distinguished speaker presents a compelling story reminding us of how far we’ve come, what we have learned, and the challenges that remain,” Pait said. “From forgotten innovators and landmark discoveries to ethical reckonings, this lecture offers insight, inspiration and critical reflection for clinicians, scholars, students, and the broader community.”
Past lecturers have included author and journalist Jack El-Hai, New York Times bestselling author, who discussed the research behind his books “The Lobotomist” and “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist;” Patrick Radden Keefe, author of the New York Times bestseller “Empire of Pain,” who discussed his research into the origins of the opioid crisis in the United States; and forensic psychiatrist B. Andrew Farah, M.D., author of the book “Hemingway’s Brain,” who discussed his research and analysis into the conditions that led to author Ernest Hemingway’s suicide.
To register in advance (requested but not required), visit medicine.uams.edu/neurosurgery/events/history-of-medicine/. The site also includes information on how to watch a livestream of the lecture via Zoom.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,553 students and 1,015 medical residents and fellows. It is the state’s largest public employer with about 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###