History, policy and the social history of medicine

Abstract

The History and Policy network at www.historyandpolicy.org is an initiative designed to make relevant aspects of historians' research accessible to those involved in deliberating over public policy. Originally founded as a website in 2002, it is now a growing network of professional historians who are assisted by a full-time external relations office. There are now over 80 policy papers on the website, from ancient to modern history, many of them derived from research in the social history of medicine. From the personal perspective of one of the network's founders, the article briefly outlines the nature and purpose of History and Policy and encourages historians of medicine to consider the opportunity of presenting more of their work before a wider public audience.