Richard Smith has left the building

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7461.309-a

BMJ 2004;329:309 (7 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7461.309-a

News

Richard Smith has left the building

Deborah Cohen

BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Richard Smith's 13 years as editor of the BMJ and chief executiveof the BMJ Group finally drew to a close last Friday.

Dr Smith, who developed a fondness for Scotland after studyingmedicine at Edinburgh University, suggested a ceilidh for hisleaving party with journal staff. With characteristic good humour,he turned up not only kilted-out but wearing a garish orangewig, to be piped in to the sound of bagpipes.

"One thing I hate is pomposity. I've never liked the BMA's annualmeeting with all that prancing around in gowns—it's notme. I feel much more comfortable dressing up as a ludicrousScotsman or bedraggled in some way."

Dr Smith's decision to join the European arm of the privateUS 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 . . . [Full text of this article]

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