The Health Transition Centre was established in 1988 by The Australian National University to foster work on the cultural, social and behavioural aspects of health.

The Health Transition Review was published from the Australian National University, 1991–1997 (Vols. 1–7) with John C. Caldwell, editor and various co-editors.

In 1998 it publication was transferred to the Harvard School of Public Health with Alan G. Hill as editor. Publication has been temporarily suspended. Copies of various publications are available to purchase.

Health transition refers to the broad study of mortality transition involving interaction of cultural, social and behavioural factors with economic and medical factors to produce declines in morbidity and mortality.

The identification of the optimal conditions in health change is increasingly regarded as a matter of major importance.