The international scientific conference Health and Social Issues in History: Interdisciplinary Perspectives is officially calling for submissions for its upcoming event on October 15–16, 2026. Organised by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, in collaboration with several prestigious Czech and Slovak institutions, this conference explores the intersection of individual experience and institutional frameworks.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Healthcare History

This 2026 edition builds upon the success of previous conferences held in 2022 and 2024, which focused on the history of healthcare in the First Czechoslovak Republic and the establishment of the Centre for Research in the History of Nursing and Healthcare.

Health and social issues are regarded as some of the most significant fields in both modern and earlier history. The conference aims to connect diverse disciplines and methodological approaches, opening a critical discussion on the opportunities and limits of interdisciplinary research.

Key Themes and Topics

The organisers welcome contributions that address a wide array of historical perspectives. Nursing history and the professionalisation of care represent a central pillar of the event. Other example topics include:

• Histories of healthcare, medicine, and health policy.
• Public health, hygiene, epidemics, and crisis governance.
• Social policy, poverty, welfare, and health inequalities.
• Disability, patient experience, and the “everydayness” of care.
• Financing of healthcare, insurance, and the non-profit sector.
• Minorities, migration, and communication in healthcare.
• Transnational transfers of knowledge and the role of international organisations.
• Methodological approaches and archival sources for interdisciplinary research.

Participation Deadlines

Scholars interested in contributing to the dialogue on Health and Social Issues in History should note the following deadlines:

• Active Participation (Abstract Submission): By May 30, 2026.
• Passive Participation (Registration): By September 10, 2026.

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Event Details and Location

• Conference Dates: October 15–16, 2026.
• Venue: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.
• Address: J. Boreckého 1167/27, 370 11 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, Hall E.

Organizing Institutions

This international event is a collaborative effort between:

Institute of History and Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CZ).

University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ).

Prague University of Economics and Business (CZ).

University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (CZ).

Trnava University (SK).

The National Archives (CZ).