What is History of Medicine About and Why Do We Need It? On the Institutionalisation and Professionalisation of the History of Medicine in Germany

Abstract This essay examines the institutionalisation and professionalisation of the academic discipline of the history of medicine within German medical faculties over the last 120 years, with a view to facilitating comparisons with East Asian developments. It traces the evolution of the field through periods of specialisation, de-institutionalisation and interdisciplinary integration, exploring the productive tensions between its medical and historical dimensions. The unique German context is analysed, including the integration of medical history into university curricula and its pivotal role in the education of medical ethics, especially since the introduction of the subject “History, Theory and Ethics of Medicine” in 2002. Key phases of the development include responses to scientific medicine, post-war humanisation efforts and reckoning with medical crimes commited during the Nazi era (1933–1945). These have all contributed to the transformation of the discipline into a vital site for reflection and cultural memory. It is demonstrated how German medical historians have legitimised their academic niche, contributed to interdisciplinary discourse, and fostered coherence amidst growing thematic diversity. Ultimately, the German experience exemplifies the field’s role as a bridge between science and the humanities, offering essential orientation and critique for contemporary medical practice and education.