In 2003 the BMJ, Lancet, and 40 other partners launched ICRAM, a global initiative that is committed to developing a new vision for academic medicine. This will focus on increasing the relevance to communities of institutions that educate doctors and other health professionals, conduct biomedical and health systems research, and care for patients.

Led by a core working party of medical academics representing 14 countries, ICRAM aims to redefine the core values of and establish an evidence base for academic medicine; develop strategy around reformed academic training; and stimulate a public debate on the future

The campaign arose because of a persistent concern that academic medicine is in crisis around the world.  At a time of increasing health burden, poverty, globalisation, and innovation, many have argued that academic medicine is nevertheless failing to realize its potential and global social responsibility.  

Through a series of stakeholder and regional consultations, systematic review of the available evidence, and future scenario building, ICRAM intends to produce a series of recommendations for reform in global academic medicine, including:

1. Developing a vision of how academic medicine should look in 2020

2. Recommending strategies for building capacity in academic medicine, including better career paths

3. Proposing how academic medicine improve its relationships with “customers,” including patients, policy makers, practitioners, and others.

At the centre of the campaign are:

1.  International working party of 20 medical academics from all over the world

2.  Regional advisory groups that are conducting consultations in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Pacific

3.  Stakeholder advisory groups representing the interests of academics, business groups, government representatives and policy makers, patients, professional associations, journal editors, and students and trainees

4.  Leader of the campaign, Peter Tugwell, from the Centre for Global Health at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

We want your participation!

Read more about the campaign’s work:

(1) Future scenario building – Feb 2005

In February 2005, ICRAM and the Nuffield Trust (UK) will host a workshop, facilitated by Philip Hadridge, aimed at describing a number of alternative future scenarios for academic medicine.  Previous scenario work can be found below:

Imagining futures for the NHS

The Madingley scenarios

The Simpsons scenarios

In preparation for this February workshop, advisors from all stakeholder and regional areas have submitted 1000 word articles on their “vision for academic medicine.”   

Submit Your Vision for Academic Medicine

(2) Activities of the ICRAM working party

(3) Theme issue on academic medicine

Papers by the ICRAM working party:

Agenda setting

Analysing the evidence

(4) Inaugural meeting and retreat

See pictures from the Inaugural meeting of the academic medicine campaign 14 June 2004

Read Peter Tugwell's welcoming address to the inaugural meeting of the campaign

Read agenda of inaugural meeting

Participants at inaugural meeting

Working party retreat members

Pictures of retreat

(5) Past content

Past articles about the campaign

Croatian Medical Journal’s forum on academic medicine

Read about the campaign leader

Read about the ideas of other nominees for the leader

BMJ collected resources on academic medicine
 

Contact us

For more information contact

Campaign leader:

Peter Tugwell
c/o Executive assistant Liz Lacasse
University of Ottawa
Institute of Population Health
1 Stewart St
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Phone: +1 613 562 5800 extension 1945
Fax: +1 613 562 5659
Email: elacasse{at}uottawa.ca  


Project manager:

Jocalyn Clark
Assistant editor
BMJ
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JR UK
Email

Project assistant:

Jil Beardmore

University of Ottawa
Institute of Population Health
1 Stewart St
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Phone: +1 613 562 5800 extension 2357
Fax: +1 613 562 5659
Email: jbeardmo{at}uottawa.ca

This page was updated 04 February  2005