Membership

Join a global community of scholars, clinicians, archivists, and students dedicated to the study and preservation of the history of medicine.

Become a Member

Why Become a Member

Membership in the International Association for the History of Medicine (IAHM) is open to anyone with a serious interest in how medicine and health have developed across time—whether you come from history, clinical practice, public health, the humanities, archives, or you are simply a committed reader.
Become a Member

Who can join

Membership is open to individuals and institutions with an interest in the history of medicine and related fields. Our community includes:
    • Researchers and academics in history of medicine and related fields
    • Clinicians and health professionals interested in the historical dimensions of their practice
    • Archivists, librarians, curators, and heritage professionals
    • Students and early-career scholars
    • Independent researchers and interested members of the public
    • You do not need a formal degree in history to become a member; intellectual curiosity and respect for rigorous work are what matter most.

Membership Benefits

Join a scholarly network
Connect with historians, clinicians, archivists, anthropologists, students, and independent researchers who share an interest in medical history.
Receive advance notice of conferences, workshops, webinars, and special lectures organised or supported by the Society. Members will benefit from reduced registration fees or member-only access where possible.
Be eligible to present at Society meetings, contribute to publications and digital projects, and participate in thematic working groups and collaborative research initiatives.
Receive regular updates on calls for papers, new publications, grants, fellowships, and archival discoveries relevant to the history of medicine.
Contribute to documenting and safeguarding manuscripts, oral histories, artefacts, and other sources of medical heritage, especially those at risk of loss or neglect.
Full members have voting rights at General Meetings and may stand for election to committees and the Executive Board, helping to set priorities and programmes.
Membership benefits will continue to grow as the Society develops its programme of events, publications, and partnerships.

Membership Categories

Full Membership

For academics, clinicians, and professionals actively engaged with the history of medicine.

Student / Early-Career Membership

For undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as scholars within a defined early-career period.

Associate Membership

For individuals with a strong interest in the field who are not professionally active in it.

Institutional Membership

For universities, libraries, archives, museums, and professional bodies that wish to support and collaborate with IAHM.

Renewing Membership

The Society operates on an annual membership cycle.

Membership Period

Standard membership runs for 12 months from the date of joining or from a fixed annual renewal date (to be confirmed by the Executive Board).

Renewal Reminders

Members will receive email reminders before their membership expires, with clear instructions on how to renew and update their details.

How to Renew

Once our online payment system is active, renewals can be completed by:
  • Logging into your member account
  • Confirming your membership category
  • Paying the annual fee via the approved payment options

A short grace period will be provided after the due date, during which you can still renew without interruption of membership rights.

Update Your Details

At renewal, you can update your contact information, institutional affiliation, and research interests to help us keep the membership directory current and relevant.

Detailed renewal timelines and fees will be published once the Society’s banking and payment arrangements are finalised.

Student Membership

The Society is committed to supporting the next generation of scholars in the history of medicine.

Who qualifies?

Student membership is open to:
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate students (full-time or part-time)
  • Early-career researchers within a defined period after completion of their highest degree (the exact timeframe will be specified in the membership policy)

Benefits for student members

In addition to standard membership benefits, student members can expect:
Reduced membership fees
Lower annual subscription rates to make membership accessible.
Dedicated calls for papers, panels, and roundtables aimed at students and early-career researchers.
Opportunities to connect with senior scholars and clinicians for informal mentoring, advice on projects, and career guidance.
Eligibility for student/early-career prizes for conference presentations, essays, or other forms of research output (subject to availability of funds).
Student members are strongly encouraged to take an active role in the Society’s activities, including serving on committees where appropriate.

Membership for Medical Practitioners

The Society warmly welcomes medical practitioners and health professionals who are interested in the historical dimensions of medicine and healthcare.

You may be:

  • A physician, surgeon, dentist, nurse, midwife, pharmacist, or allied health professional
  • A clinician with a strong interest in medical humanities or history
  • Involved in teaching medical students and trainees and wishing to enrich your curriculum with historical perspectives

Why join as a medical practitioner?

Context for contemporary practice

Understand how current diagnostic categories, therapies, and ethical frameworks have been shaped by historical events, institutions, and debates.

Educational enrichment

Access resources, case studies, and historical materials to incorporate into teaching, grand rounds, or professional development sessions.

Interdisciplinary dialogue

Collaborate with historians and social scientists on projects that link historical analysis to present-day challenges in health policy, public health, ethics, and clinical practice.

Professional development

Medical practitioners may join as Full Members, and are encouraged to present clinically informed historical work, contribute to panels, and serve in leadership roles within the Society.

Medical practitioners may join as Full Members, and are encouraged to present clinically informed historical work, contribute to panels, and serve in leadership roles within the Society.

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