This year, the Journal marks its fiftieth year of publication. It was launched in 1975 by the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM) with a focus on the practice and teaching of preventive medicine. The publisher of the Journal at that time was Human Sciences Press. However, in responding to major advances in knowledge and methods for promoting health and preventing disease, in 1985, the Journal changed its focus to promoting wellness. Thus, it gave emphasis to articles that communicated programs for the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. In keeping with this commitment, the Journal added to its title a subtitle, The Publication for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. At the same time, the Journal moved from a quarterly publication to a bi-monthly one. This overview provides a history of the Journal's multi-faceted development over the past five decades.