Canadian Medical Association Journal Home

Table of Contents
Free eCMAJ TOC

Back issues
Supplements
Selected series

eLetters
About this journal
Info for authors

PubMed

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, BMA decides
CMAJ 2001;164(2):248 [PDF]


For the first time in its history, the salaried head of the British Medical Association is a lawyer. Jeremy Strachan, an executive director with Glaxo Wellcome, was named general secretary of the BMA in December. A physician has always filled the post, the highest unelected position in the 120 000-member association.

The Independent, one of England's leading papers, says "the appointment of a barrister is significant at a time when doctors are under fire from the government and public, and threatened with new regulations on their conduct and performance."

Strachan's selection may point to a general broadening of the skills being sought by medical organizations. The CMA, which is currently seeking a new secretary general–CEO (see CMAJ 2000;163[12]:1663), says the position requires an "MBA degree or equivalent experience," and either a medical degree, master's in health administration or master's in health science, plus association or administrative experience. — Patrick Sullivan, CMAJ

 

 

Copyright 2001 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors