On "A New Chapter in Medical History"

In the winter 2009 issue of the Journal of Interdisciplinary History, a review essay appears by Anne Hardy, one of the preeminent historians of medicine in the world, entitled "A New Chapter in Medical History."  Here is the Abstract:

Once the domain of physicians intent on recording and memorializing professional achievements, the history of medicine has become fully interdisciplinary, encompassing myriad topics. Oddly, however, the problems that actually generate medicine, the diseases themselves, have—with such notable exceptions as plague, cholera, smallpox, tuberculosis, and hiv/aids—attracted relatively little attention until recently. Disease history now appears ready to enter a new phase.

While the essay is, of course, highly recommended, I also want to note how exciting it is to see a "meta" article on the history of medicine appear in a journal of interdisciplinary history.  Suggests why the history of medicine is a key part of an interdisciplinary MH approach.

Incidentally, the latest issue of the Bulletin of the History of Medicine is also out, with some fascinating articles, and more appearing in dissection and anatomy, subjects of great interest to me.