Results of research conducted over the past 50 years in the Arctic region showed that the health of the population is influenced by many factors, including the physical environment, climate, genetics, health-related behaviours, and living conditions. Health care in the Far North also faces serious challenges, which could be improved if we have more knowledge of the risk factors, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of human disease that may be unique to the region and its people. It is my intent to bring to the attention of our international colleagues the need to recognize a distinct branch of science called Arctic Medicine. In Russia, the establishment of Arctic Medicine was proposed as early as 1981 at a national conference in Krasnoyarsk.(Published: 9 May 2013)Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2013, 72: 21248 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21248