The Philly Killer - Investigating an Outbreak: A Conversation with The Pulse at WHYY

You’re invited to a special kick-off event to celebrate the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s new exhibition, .

Presented in the Cadwalader Gallery, this new exhibition explores the outbreak of an unidentified, deadly pneumonia in Philadelphia during the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations.

This mysterious outbreak generated feverish media coverage, a flurry of conspiracy theories, a frenzy of fast-paced epidemiological investigations by local, state, and federal workers, and even Congressional hearings. Referred to as the “epidemic of the century” in 1976, this outbreak is now largely forgotten. invites audiences to consider how public health—including disease outbreaks like this one—reflects physical, bureaucratic, and social infrastructures.

During this event, we will host a panel discussion in partnership with WHYY News that connects the exhibition’s story with Philadelphia public health, past and present. In addition to the panel discussion, audiences will have early access to the new exhibition as well as entry into the Mütter Museum.

The panel will be moderated by Maiken Scott, host and executive producer of WHYY’s weekly health and science show The Pulse. Panelists include:

• Erin McLeary, PhD, Senior Director of Collections and Research, Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

• René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, FCPP, Director of Public Health and Editor of History of Vaccines at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia 

• David Barnes, PhD, Associate Professor, History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania
   

Tickets include the panel discussion, after-hours Museum access, and early access to , and light refreshments.
 

Event Timeline: 

5:30 PM: Museum Access 

6:30–7:30 PM: The Philly Killer Panel Discussion 

7:30–8:30 PM: Museum Access  

 

The Philly Killer is generously funded by the Benjamin and Mary Siddons Measey Foundation. 

 

Please Note: By entering the event premises, you consent to photography, audio recording, video recording and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, promotional purposes, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by The College of Physicians/the Mütter Museum and its affiliates and representatives. 

Questions? Email