Abstract Introduction Founded in 1925 as the official journal of the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, the Postgraduate Medical Journal has had one hundred glorious years advancing medical knowledge, bridging the gap between research and bedside practice, and promoting the best clinical practice through publishing well-designed research and state-of-the-art reviews. Its core mission is to deliver clinically relevant, peer-reviewed knowledge to junior doctors, educators, and all clinicians engaged in continuing professional development. This has remained unchanged even as the Journal has evolved from a modest paper bulletin into a globally recognized, digitally accessible platform. Here, we outline the Journal’s history, illustrating how the Postgraduate Medical Journal has shaped medical education, practice, and community building from its inception to its Centenary in 2025. Founding vision and early years (1925–1949) In 1925, the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine launched the Postgraduate Medical Journal to provide a regular, monthly outlet for clinicians eager to translate emerging scientific discoveries into everyday care 1. The first issue proclaimed the Fellowship’s ambition “to achieve its objectives through publications, organising educational meetings and supporting other relevant activities,” setting a tone of practical relevance over academic abstraction. During the inter-war era, a period marked by breakthroughs such as insulin and penicillin, the Postgraduate Medical Journal distinguished itself by publishing concise, clinically oriented articles that updated physicians on new therapies and techniques. Its monthly issues offered a steadier flow of information than many contemporaneous journals, quickly making it a reliable resource for practitioners seeking the latest standards of care. Post-World War 2 expansion and the rise of specialization (1950–1979) The post-World War 2 explosion in biomedical research saw the Postgraduate Medical Journal broaden its scope and extend its coverage to emerging specialties such as cardiology, endocrinology, surgery, intensive care, organ transplantation, and early chemotherapy. The Journal became a vehicle for postgraduate education, providing a platform for articles related to teaching and training. Experiments in medical education were reported, and novel methods of instruction and learning were critically and scientifically evaluated. Modernisation and editorial leadership (1980–1999) The 1980s ushered in a new editorial era under leaders such as Dr DG James and Dr Barry Hoffbrand. They tightened the peer-review process while preserving the Postgraduate Medical Journal’s educational ethos, leading to higher citation metrics. Colour printing, an expanding international author base, and themed issues broadened the Journal’s appeal and relevance. By attaching images to case reports, the Images in Medicine served not only a didactic role, but also to enable earlier diagnosis and timely treatment of similar cases in the future. Digital transition and new publishing partnerships (2000–2025) In the new millennium, the Postgraduate Medical Journal digitized its entire back catalogue, giving researchers instant access to articles dating back to 1925 2. The scope of the Journal was also broadened and embraced topical issues such as equality, burnout, climate change, and, latterly, the challenges brought by artificial intelligence. During the COVID-19 era, all articles related to COVID were made open access, making vital information about this global health problem quickly and freely available to all. Another important change was the introduction, in 2024, of the Acute Medicine section. This is an area in Medicine of growing importance, because with an ageing population, most patients have co-morbidities affecting multiple organ systems. It was hoped that this would make the Postgraduate Medical Journal especially relevant and valuable to readers working in acute medical specialities. In 2025, the Journal celebrated its Centenary. This made the Postgraduate Medical Journal one of the oldest medical journals, with new issues coming out regularly. A commemorative paper traced the Journal’s evolution from a paper-only Bulletin to a globally recognised, digitally accessible platform supporting continuous professional development 3. The Journal’s impact on Medicine (1925–2025) In terms of knowledge dissemination, the Postgraduate Medical Journal has been a reliable, monthly, peer-reviewed vehicle that consistently publishes good original research, systematic reviews, and educational articles. The Journal’s link with the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine created a global network of clinicians and researchers through conferences, meetings, and collaborative publications. The Centenary conference in 2025 underscored the Postgraduate Medical Journal’s role as a hub for postgraduate medical education and research. Conclusions The Postgraduate Medical Journal, with its long and distinguished history, differs from many of today’s medical journals in that it is multidisciplinary, encompassing a wide range of specialities, and global in its scope, editors, authors and readers. Unlike many of today’s journals, it still offers free publication to authors, with an option for open access. From its modest beginnings in 1925 to its centenary celebration in 2025, the Postgraduate Medical Journal has remained true to its founding purpose, providing a trustworthy, peer-reviewed platform that delivers clinically relevant knowledge to doctors at every stage of their career. References 1. Hale-White W. Foreword. Postgrad Med J 1925; 1:1. 2. https://academic.oup.com/pmj. 3. Elte JWF, Vale JA, Cheung BMY. Postgraduate Medical Journal, the early years. Postgrad Med J 2025 xxx:xx.
Bernard Cheung (Wed,) studied this question.