Editorial

I would like to begin by thanking Dr Andrew Larner for all he has done to ensure that the Journal of Medical Biography continues to be one of the finest specialist publications of its type. Since its first issue in 1993, the journal has continued to promote a global appreciation of biography in ways which ensures its unique contributions to medical history in general. It was therefore appropriate for Dr Larner to use his valedictory editorial to reiterate both the value and complexity of different biographical models and I particularly look forward to adding to this discussion during my own term of office as the new Editor-in Chief.

As a medical historian based in a UK university I am delighted that the subject continues to be one of the great success stories in many areas of academia. Most history faculties now offer modules studying its many different perspectives at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Moreover the same interest is increasingly found in medical schools where the opportunity to understand the history of medicine from different epistemological perspectives is welcomed by students who appreciate the advantages it brings to their own training. In view of such developments, I am keen to promote submissions to the JMB by students from a variety of backgrounds, particularly as many are recognising the diversity offered by a biographical approach when looking for a suitable focus for their own research.

The increasing status being afforded to medical history is indeed testament to its professional and academic relevance. Over the years it has moved away from the somewhat safe but restrictive traditional interpretations, to become one of the most dynamic and popular fields of study within the arts. It can also lay claim to a vast historiography which reflects the level of specialisation now being offered to those who are first introduced to the subject. This escalation of subject matter has also required a subtle but significant move away from discussing the “history of medicine” towards the much more encompassing term “medical history”. It is particularly reassuring that medical biography has by the very nature of its subject matter always been far more flexible and should be commended for its diversity of discussion, especially when forced to respond to concerns that it only promotes a hagiographic approach. This current addition, along with all past copies, bear testament to the fact that the JMB is indeed at the forefront of charting medical history from all perspectives and it is this diversity of content which will ensure its future.

It is particularly poignant that my first editorial has been written during the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many, I have taken the opportunity to reflect on similar past experiences with varying degrees of hope and concern. However as a medical historian I am aware that the pandemic will write its own narrative and make a significant contribution to medical history. I am hoping to devote a special edition of the JMB in order to record, with gratitude, the immense challenges which have been faced by all those involved in combatting the worst effects of this virus. However until such time these reflections can be written, I look forward to the opportunities my new role brings in promoting medical biography in general. I would also like to thank the Editorial Board, all those who peer-review submissions with unquestioning commitment, plus Lydia and Monica at SAGE for welcoming me so warmly.