To celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026, HFMA presents an updated edition of Beyond the Numbers: Celebrating the 80-year history of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. This edition builds on the original 2021 publication, tracing the Association’s evolution alongside the pivotal moments that have shaped healthcare finance since its founding in 1946—while offering a refreshed perspective on its enduring impact and legacy.
In 2021, HFMA published Beyond the Numbers: History of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. This book traces the Association’s journey against the backdrop of major events that have transformed healthcare finance since the Association’s inception in 1946.
HFMA luminary Robert M. Shelton’s original history of HFMA, From Acorn to Oak, was published in 1991 to mark the Association’s 45th anniversary. This classic account captures the vision of HFMA’s founders, as well as its growth from “a small company of hospital accountants” to a leader in the field of healthcare finance.
An update was written for HFMA’s 60th anniversary. From Acorn to Oak and Beyond covers the period from 1991-2006.
