Beginning in January 2008, the National Museum of Health and Medicine, located on the campus of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, will launch a series of occasional exhibits highlighting major monthly health awareness observances.

A small exhibit case near the Museum’s main gallery entrance will feature information on that month’s health theme, and objects from the Museum’s 24-million-item collection will be placed on display to allow visitors a chance to view the impact of healthy behaviors on the human body.

During January’s National Birth Defects Awareness Month, visitors will be offered the opportunity to learn about several major categories of birth defects; learn what research organizations recommend about preventing birth defects; and view specimens related to major defects such as spina bifida, anencephaly and cleft palate/lip. Among several objects on display will be a skull demonstrating a properly developed “brain case” alongside a specimen that lacks development of the cranium and brain. Anencephaly occurs when the neural tube does not close during the first month of pregnancy (often before the mother knows she is pregnant) so much of the brain does not develop.

The cleft palate and cleft lip displays are plaster casts drawn from the Museum’s Human Developmental Anatomy Center, while the other specimens are drawn from the Museum’s Anatomical Collections.

Related to January’s temporary health observance exhibit on birth defects is the Museum’s long-running exhibition titled “From a Single Cell: Human Reproduction, Growth and Development.” Curated from the Human Developmental Anatomy Center, “Single Cell” includes real human specimens documenting the stages of human development from the embryonic stage through age 5. The exhibition includes anatomical specimens such as fetal, infant and child skeletons to demonstrate how bones change as a person gets older; specimens that document fetal abnormalities; and plastinated male and female reproductive systems.

“The Museum is in a unique position such that we can use our incredible collection to highlight the importance of better health behaviors,” said Andrea Schierkolk, the museum’s public programs manager. “Our focus in January on birth defects allows us to showcase the depth of our collections, drawing on two distinct areas of interest for the museum and our collections managers, while furthering our mission of promoting a greater understanding of medicine and health.”