BMJ Group announces its shortlists for awards
BMJ 2009; 339 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b5552 (Published 30 December 2009) Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b5552
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Dear David
I agree whole heartedly with your sentiment.
Some of the most talented, caring and humble doctors I know are GP's,
quietly
getting on with the task at hand.
I guess the 'lifetime achievement award" depends on what you define
as, and
how you measure, achievement.
Perhaps the BMJ should have an unsung hero award next year? I'm sure
we could
all think of a few candidates.
Best New Years Wishes
David
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
The nominations for lifetime achievement all have names that begin
with "Professor". Does this mean only professors achieve anything
worthwhile in life? I suspect that the doctor who has achieved most in
life is probably an unknown GP who has been quietly improving the life and
health of the population of a heartsink estate in a heartsink town. Such
people do not become rich, and do not figure in the New Year Honours list.
Most professors have more than enough honours in their lives, the BMJ
should do better than this.
Competing interests:
I am not a professor.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Re: Award only for Professors?
We shouldn't begrudge awards for the deserving professors,but there
is one group of doctors who seem to have been overlooked in this process
:unassuming doctors in all grades and branches of medicine who are
dedicated to their communities and are publicity-shy.Doctors in remote
country or island practices and hospices are two such examples.
BMJ : why not modify the qualification criteria for these awards ,if
only in the name of justice to the forgotten "heroes " ?
Keeping the awards' bar too high and keep out these servants of
humanityimplicitly negates the signal of excellent professional service
to which the BMJ has always aspired.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests