Updated Site Stays True to its Roots
 

The Internet Medical Journal was founded in 1993, when Thomas F. Heston, MD was a medical resident at Oregon Health Sciences University. His residency director at the time, Dr. Jerry Glowniak, was a true Internet geek (one of the very first), and visionary in many respects. Domain registration at the time was free through ICNIC.

Dr. Heston designed the first website for the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University, and started publishing online Tom’s Guide to Good Livin’ in 1993, which eventually became The Internet Medical Journal in 1995.

The first true, 100% online medical journal in the world was created in Great Britain by Dr. Ben Green (Priory Lodge Education Ltd.). This site is a collection of online journals, and Dr. Heston was the first editor of their publication Family Medicine On-Line. Then in 1995, The Internet Medical Journal became the first 100% online medical journal based out of the United States.

Heston also was an online instructor for the University of Health Sciences Antigua, which was the first medical school in the world to formally incorporate Internet education into their curriculum. He gave the commencement address to the first graduating class in Antigua, 2001. It was a windy, blustery, memorable day.

Heston graduated with a distinction in research from the St. Louis University School of Medicine (St. Louis, USA). He did his internship at Duke University, nuclear medicine residency at Oregon Health Sciences University, and family medicine residency at the University of Washington. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a Fellow of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.

Heston is committed to providing healthcare to the underserved, and started the first nuclear medicine clinic in Kellogg, Idaho in 2000; the first nuclear medicine clinic in Sandpoint, Idaho (2003); the first nuclear medicine clinic in Post Falls, Idaho (2005); and the first nuclear medicine clinic in St. Maries, Idaho (2006). In addition, he performed the first PET scan in Idaho north of Boise (2003); the first PET/CT fused imaging in north Idaho (2003); the first Fluoride-18 PET bone scan in the the Inland Empire (including Spokane, the Tri-Cities, north Idaho and Montana; 2003); the first PET brain scan in north Idaho (2003); and the first PET heart scan in north Idaho (2003).

Heston was the first residency trained, Board Certified nuclear medicine physician to practice full-time in north Idaho, and as of 2006, still the only Board Certified nuclear medicine physician actively practicing in north Idaho. He was the first physician in all of Idaho to become Board Certified in Nuclear Cardiology (1996). In 2006, when the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology began awarding the Fellowship designation, he was among the initial group of physicians to be so recognized.

From the earliest days of the Internet Medical Journal, it was clear that the Internet was a valuable tool to provide online medical news and education to the underserved, especially those communities and those physicians practicing in the poorest, third world countries. Emails have been received from all over the world, thanking Heston for the Internet Medical Journal.

With his unique background in both primary care medicine and also online technology, Heston continues to stay true to his calling of helping the underserved by providing medical news and education over the Internet.



“Dedicated to Your Good Health” - Tom Heston