Membership

History and Archives

Special Interest Section
Section Members: Log In to Access Community Site
History and Archives section leadership
Chair Verba Moore
Secretary Melissa Broadman
Treasurer William Greaves
Vice Chair Judith McKenzie
Who Should Join?

ACOEM members interested in exploring and promoting the history of occupational and environmental medicine.

Overview

Function: To explore and promote understanding the history of occupational and environmental medicine and to advise on the management of ACOEM's historical resources.

Responsibility: To explore the history of occupational and environmental medicine with an emphasis on the United States and the historical forces that shaped it, to document the history of ACOEM, its component societies, and the context in which the national and its component regional organizations developed, and to educate College members, colleagues, and the public on the history and traditions of our field.

Organization: The Section will have a chair and a secretary elected by its members. It will charge nominal dues, seek contributions, and work with ACOEM to identify funding sources for special projects.

Mission: The Section on History and Archives will be the memory and the conscience of the College, preserving and communicating knowledge of the past accurately and in context.

Vision: The Section is the intellectual custodian of the College's past, helping the staff who are physical custodians of the College's historical assets. Together with staff and the elected leadership of the College, the Section's activities and programs will preserve, document, and make accessible the history of our field; contribute to understanding the forces that shaped it, and the events that led us to where we are today; identify lessons to be learned from our past; conserve the historical resources of the College; and apply historical knowledge to the College's present, as in special events and exhibits.  The Section plans to record interviews with the leaders, senior scholars, and major historical figures of occupational and environmental medicine to preserve the history of the field and of ACOEM.

Values: The Section on History and Archives is committed to the principle that for occupational and environmental medicine to know where it is going, it must know where it has been. We believe that history shapes the present and provides positive role models for members, and that insight into past problems and issues helps us to avoid future mistakes. 

Highlighted Activities  
  • The Interview Project: Section members will record interviews with the leaders, senior scholars, and major historical figures of occupational and environmental medicine in order to preserve the history of the field and of ACOEM, both as its national representative and as a major shaping force in the organized field of practice.
  • Hold annual in-person meeting at AOHC.                                                                             

Submit Your Essay for the AOHC 2025 Student Essay Contest!

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) is committed to improving the care and well-being of workers through science and the sharing of knowledge.  In conjunction with ACOEM's American Occupational Health Conference 2025, the History and Archives Section and Ambassador Program are sponsoring this essay competition.  The contest is open to all medical and APP student members of ACOEM.  You must be a member of ACOEM to enter - join now for free!

Here is the topic for the 2025 Essay Contest: "Austin is known today as a green city and center of clean energy technology, but in the past, the city’s rapid economic expansion in the electronics industry led to clashes with environmentalists.  What can other cities learn from Austin’s history about how to manage the sometimes competing interests of economic expansion and environmental preservation, and what role do you think medical professionals should play in shaping healthier workplaces and communities?"

Deadlines and Awards:

  • Deadline is Noon, EST on Friday, February 28, 2025.
  • Essays must be the original and unpublished work of the student.
  • Essays should be four (4) to six (6) pages in length, formatted for standard 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins, double-spaced, in 12-point type, with numbered pages, in English.
  • Essays must include a bibliography of cited sources (not included in the 4 to 6 page length).
  • AWARDS:  This contest offers cash prizes ($500 for first place, $250 for second place), free registration to AOHC 25 for both winners (or Encore recordings if unable to attend), and publication of the two winning essays in ACOEM Quarterly.

Questions?  Contact our contest coordinator, Pam Krahl,MD. Good luck!