Treatment by "Rational Methods": Dr. Rachel Swain and Her Home Health SanatoriumAbout this Event
2026 Glenn B. Mather, MD Memorial Lecture & Annual Meeting
Treatment by "Rational Methods": Dr. Rachel Swain and Her Home Health Sanatorium
presented by historian and archivist Joan Hostetler
Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 2pm (Eastern)
FREE for IMHM Members*
$5 for Nonmembers
Registration is required for virtual and in-person attendance.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Dr. Rachel (Way) Swain (1835-1919), a birthright Quaker born in Randolph County, Indiana, defied societal expectations to become a physician, author, and sanatorium owner. Widowed in 1869 with two young children, she followed the example of her physician sister, earned medical degrees, and built a thriving practice in Indianapolis.
In 1898, she constructed the Swain Sanatorium in Woodruff Place. In Swain Cookery with Health Hints (1895), Dr. Swain advocated pure air, pure water, and pure food long before lifestyle medicine entered the mainstream. Her natural treatments emphasized diet, exercise, electricity, hydrotherapy, and osteopathy while minimizing the use of drugs and surgery.
Drawing from a family collection recently acquired at auction and soon to be searchable in The Indiana Album, this illustrated lecture explores Dr. Swain's life, her practice, and her role in Indiana's medical and women's history.
*Member tickets are only available for current active IMHM members. Member status will be confirmed. University of Indianapolis staff and students must use their school email address to register for free tickets.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
***Important information for attendees: Advanced registration is required. In Person Seating is Limited. This is a hybrid event with ticket options for both in person and virtual attendance. Please make sure you are registering for the correct ticket type. Virtual attendees will receive a link to join the event via Zoom 24 hours prior to the event. If you don't receive it by then, check your email junk folder or email us at [email protected]. Doors open for in person attendees at 1:40pm.
Please call 317-635-7329 or email [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
IMHM Event Disclaimers: 1) The views and opinions expressed by the speaker(s) in this presentation are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Indiana Medical History Museum or its affiliates. 2) The content of the presentation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment. 3) The Indiana Medical History Museum is housed in a historic building, and as such, may present certain risks and/or physical restrictions. Please let us know if you require special accommodations, and we will do our best to meet your needs.
IMHM Photography Policy: Attendees should respect both presenters and their proprietary material during formal presentations; therefore no still photographs nor video or audio recordings are allowed, unless explicitly permitted by IMHM Staff. To read our full IMHM Photography Policy, visit our website at www.imhm.org/visit.
Event venue
Indiana Medical History Museum, 3270 Kirkbride Way, Indianapolis, United States
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