2020 was marked by the unanimous feeling that the world was ablaze. Life comprised of Zoom classes and daily doses of devastating news – climbing counts of COVID-19, the senseless killing of George Floyd, the unrelenting Australian bushfires, and divisive 2020 United States presidential election. Reflecting on these events, I was drawn to […]
Latest articles
People behind numbers, people behind their disease: Using art as an additional healthcare perspective. By Hilde Buiting and Gabe Sonke
The number of arty exhibitions about and from people suffering with cancer is rising. At the same time, during the last couple of years, (science in) medicine is using art increasingly too. The present contribution in Lancet Oncology1 is such an example. Using art in the scientific literature, provides new opportunities […]
Greener Leader Blog Series: Going Greener in General Practice. By Vasumathy Sivarajasingam
Although GPs may well be aware that the climate emergency is also a health emergency, many may not make the connection with what they can do in clinical practice to reduce general practice’s carbon footprint. As GPs and primary care teams, we are on the frontline, and already encountering some of the resulting health impacts […]
Achieving Menstrual Equity: A Call for the Inclusion of South Asian Diasporic Experiences. By Prema Vyas, Ruta Sachin Uttarkar, Shilpa Darivemula
Across the world, an estimated 1.9 billion people menstruate, and yet about 500 million people experience substandard access, safety, and autonomy to manage their cycles—an epidemic of menstrual equity (1,2). In the United States, two-thirds of the 16.9 million menstruating people living in poverty could not afford menstrual products, with half of this population needing […]
When it’s time to go, is there anywhere for me to go? By Sue Holden
Leadership within the NHS has never been more critical. The need to support staff, remain resilient to the ongoing operational challenges create space to develop services which are locally responsive and inclusive are all pre-requisites for organisational success. However, for every leader there is also the need to know when it is time to move […]
In conversation with Dr Ming-Ka Chan
To watch this interview, please follow this link Hello I’m Domhnall MacAuley and welcome to this BMJLeader conversation. Today I’m speaking to Ming-Ka Chan. Ming-Ka, you’ve had a very interesting career. Tell me about your professional and leadership career. Ming-Ka: I’ve been a pediatrician since 1999 here on Treaty 1 Territory and homeland of […]
Greener Leader Blog Series: Where Are All the Bees? By Matthew Lee
That familiar spring and summer buzz seems quieter this year. Even compared to last year, there seem to be fewer bees and other flying insects in my small town-garden and the birdsong feels more reserved. And where is all the rain? My lawn makes a dry crunch underfoot and has the brownish tinge you would […]
Greener Leader Blog Series: The Planetary Health Report Card – Student Leadership driving Educational Reform and inspiring a generation of Health Professional Climate Action Leaders. By Hannah Chase and Isabel Waters
Students often express scepticism towards their potential to create meaningful change, but the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) initiative is a fantastic example as to why this is simply not true. Not only has effective student leadership enabled the success of shifting medical education towards increasing inclusion of planetary health and sustainable healthcare, but it […]
Greener Leader Blog Series: Gaining support for climate policies through a health narrative: A way forward by Anandita Pattnaik
Although public concern about climate change has grown in recent years and is being shown to pose a serious threat to public health, many policy recommendations and calls from experts, including health professionals, appear to fail to receive the necessary political backing and support. Policies and possible solutions the public may be willing to consider […]
Greener Leader Blog Series: Leadership on the climate emergency must extend beyond NHS sustainability
Consciousness and concern about the climate emergency are growing across society – the evident impact on the health and wellbeing of global populations is acknowledged by healthcare institutions underscored by robust evidence. Articles about the response to the threats we face feature with increasing frequency across medical literature and this is to be welcomed. However, […]