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. —
Signature
Patrick Sullivan
CMAJ