Richard Smith has left the building
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
Richard Smith's 13 years as editor of the BMJ and chief executive of the BMJ Group finally drew to a close last Friday.
Dr Smith, who developed a fondness for Scotland after studying medicine at Edinburgh University, suggested a ceilidh for his leaving party with journal staff. With characteristic good humour, he turned up not only kilted-out but wearing a garish orange wig, to be piped in to the sound of bagpipes.
"One thing I hate is pomposity. I've never liked the BMA's annual meeting with all that prancing around in gowns—it's not me. I feel much more comfortable dressing up as a ludicrous Scotsman or bedraggled in some way."
Dr Smith's decision to join the European arm of the private US healthcare organisation UnitedHealth Group (29 May, p 1276) has drawn criticism from many quarters including close friends. But Dr Smith said: "The BMA is to some extent the private sector now—it's not the NHS." He added: "We're running a for-profit business here , and we're pretty concerned about the profits."
Way to go: Richard Smith with his daughter, Florence (left), and wife, Lin
Credit: MARK THOMAS
He added that the draw of the new job was the challenge it presented: "I think modernising the NHS is a hell of a business. It's a massive machine that you're trying to modernise. It gets very frustrating for the people at the top and the people who are in it. If you're putting in all this extra money then surely you want to get some results.
"The beauty, I'd say, from the NHS point of view, is that United can deliver the goods and be helpful. If it can't then they can tell them to bugger off. There are lots of people in the NHS who I'm sure would like to tell the BMA, the doctors, the trusts, and so on to go away, but you're stuck with them. They're not under any obligation to deliver. However, if United don't deliver, we'll be gone."
The BMJ's deputy editor, Kamran Abbasi, who will be acting editor until a formal appointment is made later this year, said:
"Richard was a visionary editor and chief executive who moved the BMJ to the cutting edge of medical publishing. His enthusiasm for his work was infectious and inspirational. He interacted with readers in a way that few editors are capable of.
"We'll miss Richard's kilt, orange wig, and wit, of course, but everyone at the journal wishes him well in his new challenge." (See also Dr Smith's editorial, 31 July, pp 242-3).(Deborah Cohen)
Dr Smith, who developed a fondness for Scotland after studying medicine at Edinburgh University, suggested a ceilidh for his leaving party with journal staff. With characteristic good humour, he turned up not only kilted-out but wearing a garish orange wig, to be piped in to the sound of bagpipes.
"One thing I hate is pomposity. I've never liked the BMA's annual meeting with all that prancing around in gowns—it's not me. I feel much more comfortable dressing up as a ludicrous Scotsman or bedraggled in some way."
Dr Smith's decision to join the European arm of the private US healthcare organisation UnitedHealth Group (29 May, p 1276) has drawn criticism from many quarters including close friends. But Dr Smith said: "The BMA is to some extent the private sector now—it's not the NHS." He added: "We're running a for-profit business here , and we're pretty concerned about the profits."
Way to go: Richard Smith with his daughter, Florence (left), and wife, Lin
Credit: MARK THOMAS
He added that the draw of the new job was the challenge it presented: "I think modernising the NHS is a hell of a business. It's a massive machine that you're trying to modernise. It gets very frustrating for the people at the top and the people who are in it. If you're putting in all this extra money then surely you want to get some results.
"The beauty, I'd say, from the NHS point of view, is that United can deliver the goods and be helpful. If it can't then they can tell them to bugger off. There are lots of people in the NHS who I'm sure would like to tell the BMA, the doctors, the trusts, and so on to go away, but you're stuck with them. They're not under any obligation to deliver. However, if United don't deliver, we'll be gone."
The BMJ's deputy editor, Kamran Abbasi, who will be acting editor until a formal appointment is made later this year, said:
"Richard was a visionary editor and chief executive who moved the BMJ to the cutting edge of medical publishing. His enthusiasm for his work was infectious and inspirational. He interacted with readers in a way that few editors are capable of.
"We'll miss Richard's kilt, orange wig, and wit, of course, but everyone at the journal wishes him well in his new challenge." (See also Dr Smith's editorial, 31 July, pp 242-3).(Deborah Cohen)