American Cardiology: The History of a Specialty and Its College - Hardcover

Fye

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801852927 ISBN 13: 9780801852923

Publisher: John Hopkins University Press, 1996

Synopsis

Sponsor: American College of CardiologyToday, more U.S. physicians specialize in cardiology than in any other clinical non-primary care, nonsurgical discipline. In this book cardiologist and medical historian Bruce Fye offers a comprehensive history of this medical specialty, from its invention in the early twentieth century to its more recent transformation into one of medicine's most significant fields. He also examines the origin, evolution, and significance of the American College of Cardiology, the specialty's professional society.

Fye describes both the discoveries and innovations in cardiology and the socioeconomic forces that led to the professionalization of the field in the United States. He shows how, in the period following World War II, such factors as the prevalence of heart disease, liberal government research funding, technological innovations, and the growing availability of health insurance worked together to shape cardiology into a major academic and clinical discipline. Bringing the story up to the present, he discusses the implications of the federal government's recent determinations to reduce the share of the budget spent on health care while encouraging the growth of managed care--decisions that could affect the future of medical specialization in general.

American Cardiology looks closely at a variety of enduring issues, as well, including the forces behind medical specialization and the territorial disputes that it engenders; the evolution of medical education for cardiologists; the growing understanding of the heart and mechanisms of disease; technological developments in the field; issues of fees and fee providers; and the role of the federal government in endowing graduate medical education and biomedical research.

About this title

Review:

"A probing examination of the various factors that contributed to the transformation of the practice of cardiology during the twentieth century. A treasure trove for cardiologists, medical educators, historians, and sociologists."--Saul Benison, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati "In this eminently readable chronicle of American cardiology, Fye takes us on a fascinating journey of the field with emphasis on the societal forces and organizations which have structured the specialty. 'American Cardiology' will be of interest to every American cardiologist as well as every student of the history of medicine in the twentieth century."--Eugene Braunwald, M.D., Harvard Medical School "This masterful history of the American College of Cardiology and the specialty of American cardiology fills an important niche for medical historians and will undoubtedly be of interest to practicing physicians. "--Joel D. Howell, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan "Fye has combined his unique talent and interest with hard work to tell the story of American cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology. He discusses many forces that have made cardiology what it is and, if not handled wisely, could tear it apart. Extremely well done, this book leads the reader to think about the future."--J. Willis Hurst, M.D., Emory University School of Medicine "A landmark volume which will be an important resource for medical historians and for those who want to understand the evolution of American cardiology."--Sylvan L. Weinberg, M.D., past president, American College of Cardiology "Rich in detail and interpretation, this exhaustively researched and meticulously documented book should be required reading for everyone in the cardiovascular community and for anyone interested in the development and present condition of American medicine."--William L. Winters, Jr., M.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Synopsis:

This history of cardiology in America moves from its invention in the early 20th century, to its more recent transformation into one of medicine's most significant fields. It considers both the discoveries and innovations in cardiology, and the socio-economic forces that led to the professionalization of the field. It shows how, after 1945, factors such as the prevalence of heart disease, liberal government research funding, technological innovations, and the growing availability of health insurance shaped cardiology into a major academic and clinical discipline. The author also discusses the implications of the US government's desire to reduce public spending on health care, while still encouraging the growth of managed care.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0801852927
• ISBN 13: 9780801852923
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 360