Creating the Future of Health – The History of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, 1967–2012

Creating the Future of Health is the fascinating story of the first fifty years of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

Founded on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Health Services in 1964 the Cumming School has, from the very beginning, focused on innovation and excellence in health education. With a pioneering focus on novel, responsive and systems-based approaches, it was one of the first faculties to pilot multi-year training programs in family medicine and remains one of only two three-year medical schools in North America.

Drawing on interviews with key players and extensive research into documents and primary material, Creating the Future of Health traces the history of the school through the leadership of its Deans. This is a story of perseverance through fiscal turbulence, sweeping changes to health care and health care education, and changing ideas of what health services are and what they should do. It is a story of triumph, of innovation, and of the tenacious spirit that thrives to this day at the Cumming School of Medicine.

Robert Lampard is an adjunct professor of medical history at the University of Alberta and emeritus member Alberta and Canadian Medical Associations. He is the recipient of the Spaulding Award for Contributions to Western Canadian Medical History, and the author of many books and articles on Alberta’s medical history.

David B. Hogan is the academic lead of the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging, a specialist in internal medicine, and a sub-specialist in geriatric medicine. He has held the Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Calgary for twenty-five years.

Frank W. Stahnisch holds the AMF/Hannah Professorship in the History of Medicine and Health Care at the University of Calgary and chairs the Calgary History of Medicine and Health Care Program, and is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of the History of the Neurosciences.

James R. Wright Jr. is professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Calgary. He has published extensively on medical history and is a former recipient of the American Association for the History of Medicine’s William Osler medal.