Bloomer awarded Yale Fellowship for Study of Medical Photography

Bloomer awarded Yale Fellowship for Study of Medical Photography

Peggy Bloomer, assistant professor in the Department of Art and Design at Central Connecticut State University, has been awarded the Yale University Stanley B. Burns, M.D. Fellowship for the Study of Medical Photographic History by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library.

A faculty member in Central’s Graphic/Information Design program, Bloomer will conduct research for her project “From Silver Nitrate to Neural Networks: The Shifting Epistemology of Medical Images,” which explores the evolution of medical imagery from 19th-century silver nitrate photography to contemporary AI-generated visualizations. Her work examines how these imaging technologies influence clinical knowledge and broader cultural narratives surrounding the body.

“Visual culture doesn’t just reflect knowledge—it produces it,” Bloomer explains. “Design has always had a role in shaping what we perceive as truth.” Her project highlights the powerful intersection of visual storytelling and academic research—demonstrating the intellectual depth and interdisciplinary reach of design as a scholarly field.

The Burns Fellowship supports original research using Yale’s Stanley B. Burns, MD, Historic Medical Photography Collection — one of the largest and most historically significant archives of medical photography in the world. Open to scholars across disciplines, the fellowship encourages both traditional archival work and creative methodologies to explore the history of medical imagery.

Bloomer’s award reflects Central’s commitment to scholarship that bridges design, technology, and the humanities, and underscores the essential role of faculty research in shaping contemporary conversations at the intersections of art, science, and society.