The Past, Present, and Future of the History of Medicine: Oxford History of Medicine turns 50
On 24 and 25 June 2022, come join us as we discuss the past, present, and future of the discipline of the history of medicine. What are the particular insights of history of medicine, and what is its significance today? What does it mean to be trained as a historian of medicine, and what type of career can this lead to? This two-day event celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the history of medicine programme at the University of Oxford, while also discussing developments in the history of medicine as a whole within and beyond academia.
Oxford’s history of medicine programme captures the trajectory of the discipline more broadly, encompassing the social history of medicine as well as the development of the history of colonial medicine and global health. Although Oxford’s History of Medicine began on a small scale in 1972, it now stands as one of the world’s leading programmes in history of medicine for both teaching and research. Started under the direction of luminaries such as Charles Webster and Margaret Pelling, and with the substantial support of the Wellcome, history of medicine at Oxford now features an array of undergraduate courses, a master’s degree (with the history of science), an outstanding doctoral programme, a range of research fellows and visiting scholars, and a variety of research projects under its three permanent faculty: Mark Harrison, Sloan Mahone, and Erica Charters. Many former students and fellows may also remember beloved staff members such as Belinda Clark. With particular strengths in the history of disease, global health, military medicine, and psychiatry, Oxford’s History of Medicine programme continues to train students and host scholars from all over the world.
We would love to hear from all former students, researchers, and staff. Even if you cannot make it in person to Oxford, please share your experience of history of medicine at Oxford and what you are doing now.
