Gettysburg, Pa. —The Gettysburg Foundation and the Blue & Gray Hospital Association will co-sponsor and present the Civil War Medicine Symposium Saturday, May 2, 2026. This special programming will focus on the effort to save lives behind the lines of battle and will take place in the Ford Motor Company Fund Education Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.
With check-in starting at 7:45 a.m. and presentations commencing at 8:15 a.m., the symposium will feature a full day of expert-led presentations exploring the realities of care, recovery and medical innovation during and after the American Civil War. A continental breakfast will be provided during registration, and attendees will be on their own for lunch from 11:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. On-site dining options are available.
Barbara Franco opens the program with “Gettysburg Surgeons,” highlighting groundbreaking research identifying more than 1,200 Union and Confederate surgeons who treated the wounded in 1863. Franco’s work challenges long-held stereotypes, revealing a highly trained and adaptive medical community whose shared experiences advanced the practice of medicine during and after the war.
Robert Hicks follows with “Wounded for Life: The Post War Journey of Two Union Soldiers,” examining the postwar experiences of two veterans whose injuries permanently shaped their lives. Through their stories, the presentation explores how soldiers rebuilt identity, family life and purpose after enduring lasting physical and emotional trauma.
Kevin Pawlak’s “Shepherdstown: One Vast Hospital” shifts focus to the civilian experience, recounting how Shepherdstown was transformed during the 1862 Maryland Campaign into a massive, makeshift hospital. Pawlak’s talk reveals the scale of suffering and the critical role of both surgeons and civilians in caring for the wounded.
In the afternoon, William Campbell will present “Hospital Stewards of the Civil War,” shedding light on the often-overlooked individuals who managed hospital operations. Campbell’s session examines their qualifications, selection, responsibilities and essential role within the military medical system.
The symposium concludes with Chris Gwinn’s “Life and Death at Camp Letterman,” an in-depth look at the largest field hospital established following the Battle of Gettysburg. Attendees will gain insight into the daily realities faced by patients and medical staff who lived and worked at this vast and now-vanished site.
A wrap-up session offering attendees the opportunity to engage with presenters in a dialogue on Civil War medicine and its legacy will conclude the symposium from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Registration & Member Discount
Reservations are required by April 22, 2026, for both in-person and virtual attendance. Blue & Gray Hospital Association members and Friends of Gettysburg receive special discounted rates. To register, call 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436 or visit GettysburgFoundation.org.