How Did Social Medicine Evolve, and Where Is It Heading?
2006

The Evolution and Future of Social Medicine

publication

Author Information

Author(s): Dorothy Porter

Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco

Hypothesis

A better understanding of how social medicine evolved could help focus its role in responding to health needs in a globalizing world.

Conclusion

The evolution of social medicine is linked to political reform and has implications for addressing health disparities today.

Supporting Evidence

  • Social medicine has struggled to find a precise definition for over a century.
  • The evolution of social medicine is linked to political reform and health disparities.
  • Latin American social medicine focuses on political and social transformation.

Takeaway

Social medicine is about how society affects health, and understanding its history can help us improve health care for everyone.

Methodology

The essay examines the historical development of social medicine and its political implications.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pmed.0030399

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