History with Heart—and Impact: The National Library of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in the History of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in the History of Medicine is a unique program in a unique institution: the world’s largest biomedical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The fellowship is rooted in strong connections between its namesake and the NLM and is an expression of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey’s longstanding appreciation of the library and the role of the humanities in medical education and practice. This article explains Dr. DeBakey’s connections to the NLM and describes the origins, development, and structure of the NLM Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in the History of Medicine. It also highlights research achievements of selected NLM Michael E. DeBakey Fellows, demonstrating that the fellowship is successfully carrying forward Dr. DeBakey’s principles and practices of weaving science, technology, and the humanities to form holistic understanding of the human condition, inspiring well-rounded careers built on both scientific and humanistic knowledge.