Histories of academic medical education.

The author discusses the ways in which the history of medicine has changed in recent times, from an emphasis on celebrating past events to a focus on elucidating the nature of changes in medical care. Characteristic historical methodologies are described, including a tendency to use multiple types of sources. The importance of education in medical history and the potential utility of the study of history for contemporary medical practice are emphasized. The author gives examples of the many ways in which the history of medical education might be conceptualized.