IMIA presidential retrospectives on medical informatics.
OBJECTIVE
The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2007. Three IMIA Presidents from three continents were invited to give their personal retrospectives on the world's largest organization in medical informatics.


METHODS
Reports, based on personal reminiscenses.


CONCLUSIONS
IMIA was established in the 1970s by individuals already active in medical informatics in their home countries. It has evolved into a strong international organization based on the mutual trust and friendship of members throughout the world. IMIA serves as a 'bridge' organization both within an interorganizational context and within the broader context of IMIA's professional aims. Being a driving motor for successive waves of change in the field, IMIA helps to significantly improve health care by building bridges across regions, disciplines, and professions, to bridge the distances around the globe.
Ball
M J
MJ
IBM Research Center for Healthcare Management, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, USA. marionball@us.ibm.com
van Bemmel
J H
JH
Kaihara
S
S
D000288:Administrative Personnel; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007391:International Cooperation; D007857:Leadership; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D012952:Societies / Q000458:organization & administration*