Fifty years of hope and concern for the future of occupational medicine

Recently, there has been considerable concern expressed from a number of sources about the future of occupational medicine. A review of the literature and other sources reveals that over the past 50 years there has been continuous hope and concern for the specialty. Occupational medicine became a certified specialty in 1955, growing slowly until 1970, when with the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, growth accelerated. The marked decrease in classic occupational diseases, injuries, and deaths is a major triumph but may also be a factor in declining interest in specialization by physicians. Potential conflicts of interest have been at issue for over 50 years. Occupational medicine is now mostly clinical, in contrast to previous years. However, occupational medicine is a distinct and solid specialty that still offers many challenges.