David Scheller-Kreinsen: Why Gastein works – despite session sponsorship.

At the recent European Health Forum Gastein, a group of “young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of the blogs are on the BMJ blogsite. Tessa Richards, assistant editor, BMJ, also attended the conference. You can read her blog and introduction to the “young Gasteiners” here. Being a researcher you are, by the […]

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Tessa Richards: Run a lot, laugh a lot, and sometimes go hungry

In the mountain resort of Bad Hofgastein in Austria, exercise is King. In early October the power walkers head for the mountains and noticeably less fit conference goers head for the European Health Forum Gastein. Attending conferences which start early, finish late, and include lunchtime workshops as well as a smorgasbord of parallel sessions, can […]

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Muza Gondwe on expanding the African Science Café network

Magical, subversive, and democratic are the words that Dr.Daniel Glaser, head of  special projects in public engagement at the Wellcome Trust, used to describe the charm of science cafes in mediating dialogue between scientists and the public. He said this during a two day workshop on African Science cafes held in Nairobi, Kenya last month. […]

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Martin McShane: Yes Minister

I used to love Yes Minister.  The civil service is full of very clever and erudite people who are hugely creative. Their brilliance shines through in the guidance just issued to PCTs and clinical commissioning groups on strategies to achieve cost-effective prescribing.  As it says in the widely circulated Chief Executive’s Bulletin, “This guidance reflects […]

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Richard Lehman’s journal review – 11 October 2010

JAMA  6 Oct 2010  Vol 304 1447   “In 2005, because our evaluation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Arizona revealed dismal outcomes, we established a statewide program aimed at improving survival.” I like the way the chief investigator uses the word dismal: I like his name, which is Bentley Bobrow: and I like his study too, […]

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Domhnall MacAuley: RCGP Annual Primary Care Conference 2010

Leadership. Today’s trendy word, endlessly abused, was back on stage at the 4th RCGP annual meeting in Harrogate. Tanni Grey-Thompson multiple Paralympic gold medallist told us of the pain and pleasure of achievement at the highest level, the grind of training, the setbacks, the importance of goal setting, the ecstasy of winning and the glory of victory. Both […]

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