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2026 Annual Conference

American Association for the History of Medicine
in conjunction with the
American Association for the History of Nursing

99th Annual Meeting 

Buffalo, New York
June 3-7, 2026

You can view the rest of the program on the AAHM site.

Note: Although our acronyms differ by only one letter, please be sure to select the correct registration category (AAHM or AAHN) based on your current membership status. If you are an active member of both AAHN and AAHM, you may select either category when registering as the registration rates are the same.

AAHN Keynote Speaker


Molly Ladd-Taylor

“Nurses, Mothers & Others: Baby-Saving and its Legacy in American History.”

In the United States today, maternal and infant death rates are higher than in other high-income countries, and there are shameful regional and racial disparities.  In the early 20th century, distressingly high infant and maternal mortality led to a nationwide “baby-saving” movement and the first federal social welfare measure, the 1921 Sheppard-Towner Act, administered by the women-led Children’s Bureau. Although maternal and infant health reform generated a lot of scholarship thirty years ago, it has largely fallen off the radar of nursing and gender historians, and the campaign for “better babies” is now often seen as motivated mainly by eugenics.  This lecture will focus on four aspects of the Children’s Bureau baby-saving campaign -- prenatal and infant care, eugenics, state-building, and the active role of mothers and nurses – to revisit my own research and explore baby-saving’s legacy in politics, scholarship, and policy.  

 

AAHN Pre-Conference
Thursday, June 4th
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $55

Teaching Healthcare History Through Visual and Experiential Learning 

This symposium will discuss selected teaching strategies using visual and narrative environments to teach healthcare history. Exemplars will include film, museums, and public art with application activities. 

Panel

Emily Anne Barr, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, CNM, ACRN, FACNM, FAAN

Associate Professor, University at Buffalo School of Nursing

Donna Miles Curry, RN, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
Trustee, Florence Nightingale Museum

Ruth Manchester, RN, BSN, MA
Instructor, Art History
Montgomery College, Rockville, MD

 

Register Here

Niagara Falls Excursion (Optional Add-On)

While you’re in nearby Buffalo, take the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls! A chartered bus will depart from the conference hotel (Hyatt) at 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 7, for a self-guided, two-hour visit to the Falls. The bus will return to the Hyatt between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. Travel time is approximately 25 minutes each way. 

Cost: $50 per person

How to join: Select the Niagara Falls Excursion option when registering for the meeting.

Sponsor the AAHN Conference

The American Association for the History of Nursing (AAHN) is committed to advancing research and sharing knowledge about the history of nursing and healthcare. We invite you to support our mission by becoming a sponsor of the Joint AAHM / AAHN Conference.

Sponsorship is a meaningful way to support the field while gaining visibility among a dedicated community of scholars, educators, and healthcare professionals. Your support helps make this conference possible and ensures the continued growth of nursing history research.

As a sponsor, you will receive:

Logo placement with a link on the AAHN conference homepage
On-site signage recognizing your support
Recognition in the online program
A sponsor ribbon on your conference badge
Acknowledgment during the opening session
Recognition in conference-related emails

Sponsorship Levels

Silver: $250
Gold: $500
Platinum: $1,000
Diamond: $2,000

Sponsors may also designate an individual or organization to honor. Honorees will be listed alongside the sponsor’s name on the AAHN conference sponsor page.

We encourage sponsors to confirm their support by May 4, 2026 to be included in all conference materials.

Sponsor Here

The Brigid and Rusty Lusk Travel Award

The Brigid and Rusty Lusk Travel Award supports graduate students who need financial assistance to attend AAHN conferences. The award provides conference registration plus up to $1,600 in travel reimbursement to help students participate when institutional funding is not available.

Learn more and apply here.

Conference Hotel

The annual meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo located at 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202.

The AAHM + AAHN room rate at the Hyatt is $159 per night plus taxes.
The cut-off date for reservations at this rate is May 6, 2026.

 Hotel parking is currently priced at $25.00 per night for self-parking and $29.50 per night for valet parking.

 You can book your room at the group rate by clicking here or by calling (716) 856-1234. 

Travel to Buffalo

Buffalo is served by many major airlines. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport (4200 Genesee St) is approximately 15 minutes from the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.  

Amtrak runs regular service to Buffalo from New York City, Boston, and Chicago. If you travel by Amtrak, choose the Exchange Street Station, which is about 8 blocks from the Hyatt hotel.

Ground transportation options from the airport or the train station include Uber and Lyft. If you prefer to use public transit, the Metro line directly connects the train station and the Hyatt; information about travel from the airport can be found here.