Many Healers came with the first colonists and were one of the first to begin apprenticing children that showed aptitude for the craft. After the rudimentary basics of first aid, those with a natural gift were encouraged to specialise and study further.

Everyone had to learn what was dangerous on this new world. Some medicinal plants were brought on the colony ships and adapted to Pernese soil. Native plants underwent rigorous testing to determine medical or culinary use, with some discoveries, like Numbweed, being made by accident.

The craft was centered at Landing until the volcanic eruption in the ninth Turn of the colony when all medical facilities were moved to Fort Hold. Benden Hold also hosted a hospital, but eventually shrank to just posted Healers.

Healers do not have the technology to sustain defective humans and after twenty-five centuries on Pern, humans are mostly clear of genetic defects. It is thought that the Pernese may have mutated slightly to adapt to their environment as they live well into their eighth decade. However, the environment is harsh and this is what keeps the Healers in demand.

Many broken bones and births occur within the general population, with few wasting deaths to decimate the population. Cancer had been widely investigated and mostly wiped out before the colonists arrived. Degenerative conditions had been bred out of the race and for those who smoked, a nonnicotine smoking substitute was distributed to aid in their adjustment to the habit; tobacco was not considered to be important enough to grow.

The mycorrhizoid known as Thread formed the biggest challenge to Pern's Healers. The spore becomes super-heated during its journey through the Pernese atmosphere and given the chance will eat through skin. Its causes a severe burn, the edges of a Threadscored wound being blackened and burnt. However, it does die when derived of oxygen after about three seconds, this includes being buried in flesh, drowned in water or ice, or taken between.

Most chronic ailments are controlled by dosages of cordials and home remedies. Croup and other respiratory ailments can be kept at bay with a wine cup of distilled hyssop every day; arthritis can be aided by willow tea and a glass of wine helps to keep the blood thin. Other remedies include alfalfa tea for stomach problems and to act as a diuretic and yarrow which is effective against acne. The Healer Hall archives are full of herbal and homeopathic cures that can be made with the plants indigenous to Pern.

Additionally, there is no social stigma to suicide in the Pernese society. The decision for euthanasia is normally taken, in the case of terminally ill patients, by the Healer, his Master and the patient. It is no business of the Lord Holder or even Weyrleader if a person decides to take a mercy draught. Suicide is particularly prevalent in weyrs when a rider loses their dragon.

Healer disciplines include diagnostics, pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics, urology, pharmacy, dentistry, surgery, mindhealing and respiratory ailments. Midwifery is another speciality learnt by many apprentices, since the skill is needed in every area on Pern; most Healers learn at least the basics of child delivery. Some Healers specialise in these disciplines, others are general practitioners of the crafts and it normally these that are posted. Both Journeyman and Master Healers are posted to various Holds, Crafts and of course the Weyrs. Some, usually the specialists, do remain at the Hall to teach. If a specialist is required for a patient, the Masterhealer will generally send one in rather than letting the patient travel. Occasionally, a dragon may be called in to transport a patient is there is cause. This is a serious matter and not one called upon lightly because of the dragons other duties.

Healers pass on new discoveries to the Hall through the Journeymen Harpers that pass through, or by informing the Lord Holder or Weyrleader. Epidemics, such as the Great Plague, are studied by the Healer Hall, who then publishes or distributes the means for curing or controlling the problem. What was once common to the colonists has since been lost or fallen out of favour since Landing.

As new techniques are discovered, so the posted Healers return to the Hall for retraining or refresher courses. Similar to the other crafts, a Healer walks the tables to advance in grade and although Healers may train to Journeyman rank at the other Halls in Southern Hold or South Telgar, they must still return to the main Healer Hall to attain mastery. Apprentices commonly learnt the basics at the Hall and then were posted out to Holds and Weyrs as Journeymen under Masters who were specialists in certain fields. The Healercraft relies on a great deal of on the job training for its students. Unfortunately there is no guarantee of a Healer's competency just because they trained at the Healer Hall, but the noncompetitive atmosphere means an apprentice will stand or fail on their own abilities.