Center for History of Family Medicine Launches New Online Resource

The Center for the History of Family Medicine, or CHFM, is compiling some of the most significant articles, studies and reports written about the history, development and practice of family medicine into one online resource.

Classics in Family Medicine launched July 1 with a bibliography of 44 works deemed important by the center's board of curators. The documents range in dates from 1927 to 2005.

"We're hoping researchers will consider it a great one-stop resource where they can find the seminal articles on the history of family medicine," said Don Ivey, the center's manager.

Thus far, there are links to PDF versions of 13 of the 44 articles, with 14 more expected to become available online shortly, Ivey said. He said more articles and studies likely will be added to the bibliography resource in time.

"This is an ever-expanding and evolving project," Ivey said, adding that if researchers have suggestions for other articles to be included in this bibliography, they should contact the center.

The CFHM, which was established in 1992 to "actively collect, organize, preserve and provide access to the records of the leading family medicine organizations," is located at AAFP headquarters in Leawood, Kan. The center is part of the nonprofit AAFP Foundation.

For more information on the CHFM or how to donate, contact the center’s staff at (800) 274-2237, Ext. 4420 or 4422. Or, e-mail the center.