History of Medicine Society

History of Medicine Society
Formation1912
FounderSir William Osler
Founded atLondon
TypeCharity
Purpose'To foster an interest in all aspects of the history of medicine'[1]
Location
  • 1 Wimpole Street, London
President
Hilary Morris[2]
Parent organization
The Royal Society of Medicine
AffiliationsBritish Society for the History of Medicine
WebsiteHistory of Medicine Society

The History of Medicine Society (HoMS) (formerly "section"), at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), London, was founded by Sir William Osler in 1912, and later became one of the four founder medical societies of the British Society for the History of Medicine.

The HoMS covers all medical specialities since the initial support from several physicians and surgeons including Sir Francis Champneys and Sir Ronald Ross. The first meeting, held on 20 November 1912 had 160 attendees. Subsequently, the society's events became regular, and it continues to hold events at the RSM.

Undergraduate prizes are awarded annually in memory of pathologist Norah Schuster. The society collaborates with the Medical Journalists' Association to award the annual Sarah Hughes Trust Prize to journalists and health care practitioners who expose misleading science. Every year, a practising social historian is invited to deliver the Bynum lecture, named for professor of medical history W. F. Bynum. In conjunction with the odontology section, the C. E. Wallis memorial lecture, named for Charles Edward Wallis, is delivered every five years.

  1. ^ the Society's Constitution
  2. ^ "History of Medicine Society | The Royal Society of Medicine". www.rsm.ac.uk. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.