ANZSHM History
ANZSHM was founded in 1986 to promote the study of the history of medicine and health. A brief history and timeline of the organisation is below.
Members who have contributed particular service to ANZSHM’s administration are recognised with Honorary Membership.
Prof. Harold Attwood, Dr Geoffrey Kenny
Early presidents of ASHM/ANZSHMPast Presidents
| Presidents | |
|---|---|
| 2023-2025 | Linda Bryder |
| 2021-2023 | James Dunk |
| 2019-2021 | Catherine Coleborne |
| 2017-2019 | Madonna Grehan |
| 2015-2017 | Charles George |
| 2013-2015 | Brian Reid |
| 2011-2013 | Louella McCarthy |
| 2009-2011 | Linda Bryder |
| 2007-2009 | Anthea Hyslop |
| 2005-2007 | Judith Godden |
| 2002-2005 | Di Tibbits |
| 2001-2001 | Ben Haneman |
| 1997-2001 | Peter Winterton |
| 1995-1997 | John Pearn |
| 1993-1995 | Geoff Kenny |
| 1991-1993 | Randall Albury |
| 1989-1991 | Harold Attwood |
| 1986-1989 | Bryan Gandevia |
ANZSHM Timeline
| ANZSHM - History and Timeline | |
|---|---|
| 1953 Oct | The British Medical Association’s Victorian Branch (VBMA) had a Section of Medical History, with membership restricted to VBMA members. The Medical History Section aimed to 1) further the study of medical history, 2) support the collection of historical material, and 3) establish a museum. |
| 1960s | An ‘Associate’ membership category, capped at 10 per cent of the total membership of the Medical History Section, enabled people without medical qualifications to join. |
| 1962 | The Australian Medical Association (AMA) replaced the BMA and the Medical History Section continued within the AMA’s Victorian Branch. It was renamed the Medical History Society, AMA (Victoria) in 1982. |
| 1980 Feb | 1st National Symposium on the History of Medicine and Health in Australia, Sydney Selected papers were published under the title Australia’s Quest for Colonial Health. Dr Frank Forster (MHS AMA Vic President 1980-1982) felt that a national organisation of medical history was warranted. |
| 1981 Aug | The Medical History Society initiated a regular bulletin, Medical History Australia (MHA). |
| 1984 Nov | 2nd National Conference on the History of Medicine and Health in Australia, Melbourne Conference proceedings were published as Occasional Papers on Medical History Australia. This conference resolved to form a national society of the history of medicine, appointing Professor Harold Attwood to chair a planning committee. |
| 1986 Nov | 3rd National Conference on the History of Medicine and Health in Australia, Adelaide This meeting established the Australian Society of the History of Medicine (ASHM),incorporated in Victoria. |
| 1989 | NSW Society of the History of Medicine established 1st Biennial Conference of the ASHM, Sydney |
| 1994 Jul | The AMA’s Victorian Branch restructured, with a prerequisite that any academic affiliated organisation required an AMA membership of 40. Unable to meet this requirement, the Section of Medical History explored options. |
| 1997 | Medical Society of Victoria (MHSV) was established as an incorporated body, with no restrictions on eligibility for membership. |
| 2005 | At the ASHM's AGM in Auckland, a unanimous vote supported the inclusion of New Zealand and approved the Society’s new name - the Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine (ANZSHM). |
| 2009 | ANZSHM federated, creating two branches from what were standalone organisations - MHSV and the ANZSHM NSW Branch. The branches transferred responsibility for membership, including member fees, to the parent body. By way of compensation, each branch qualifies for capitation payments annually. Otherwise, the branches retain internal autonomy. |
1st National Symposium: the History of Medicine and Health in Australia, Sydney, 1980
