Administrative History: Medical Audio-Visual Service (M.A.V.S.)

Originally in the Faculty of Medicine, there was a small photographic and graphic facility.  The unit was subsequently named Medical Audiovisual Service when it formally established 1973 with the appointment of Dr. Brian Payton as its director. M.A.V.S.’s role was not only to provide photographic and graphic services to the Medical School but also to the General Hospital and when possible to individuals at associated teaching hospitals. In addition to the production facilities, M.A.V.S. was responsible for the equipping, maintenance, and usage of the lecture theatres and seminar rooms.

The production facilities were not only in support of teaching but also for scientific research going for publication, and clinical patient photography. Its facilities were also available for low cost productions of videotapes and or slide tape programmes by faculty for particular topics. Any such material prepared by M.A.V.S. was housed in the Medical Library where equipment for viewing was also available and maintained by M.A.V.S..

The photographic capabilities in particular covered a wide range of formats from macro-photography, slide copying, 16mm and super 8 mm film capabilities, black and white and colour video editing equipment, and large format still photography. The unit had its own black and white as well as colour film processing equipment.

In 1995, M.A.V.S. was incorporated under the umbrella of Health Sciences Information and media Service (HSIMS).

Medical Audio-Visual Service – 1976
(this link will open in a new window)

Dr. Brian Payton takes the viewer on a brief tour of the video facilities within M.A.V.S. capable of participating in biomedical communications programmes and the back up services supporting this unit. Scenes of a small video studio and production facilities in that studio are demonstrated. Short sequences of the photographic, graphic, maintenance and production areas and their associated M.A.V.S. staff are also shown.

Copyright
Permission to reproduce the video, Medical Audio-Visual Service, 1976 for this exhibit was granted by the following sources:
Material reprinted with the express permission of: Health Sciences Information and Media Service (HSIMS), Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Material reprinted with the express permission of: Dr. Brian Payton.

Catalogue of Medical Audio-Visual Services Videotape Descriptions
(this link will open in a new window)

Over a period of almost three decades, Medical Audio-Visual Service (M.A.V.S.) created many videocassettes for the Medical School and made them available as teaching aids, public awareness tools and medical learning resources for students, staff and faculty. The videocassettes cover the many projects and subjects, including community activities, health education, outreach to youth, and many other topics dealing with medicine and the provision of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador. They were written, produced, directed and designed by the M.A.V.S. staff, and also involved students, staff and faculty from Memorial and affiliated teaching hospitals in the St. John’s area. A few of the videotapes were created prior to the formal establishment of M.A.V.S. A small portion of the collection was not produced by Memorial University.

Copyright
Permission to reproduce the Catalogue of Medical Audio-Visual Services Videotape Descriptions for this exhibit was granted by the following source:
Material reprinted with the express permission of: Health Sciences Information and Media Service (HSIMS), Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Brian Payton