In the spotlight: Dr Andrew Herxheimer

On the occasion of his upcoming 80th birthday, HAI takes the opportunity to highlight briefly some of the many achievements of leading HAI member Dr Andrew Herxheimer.

Andrew was trained in clinical pharmacology in London, and was for many years the editor of the 'Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin' in the UK, an independent source of information about medicines that has had a massive influence on improving the quality of medicines' information and on the education of prescribers in Britain and the wider world. He helped to set up the International Society of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletins (ISDB), and after 'retirement' played an important part in promoting evidence-based medicine through the Cochrane Collaboration, (he is an Emeritus Fellow of the Cochrane Centre, Oxford). More recently he co-founded DiPEX (the U.K. Database of Individual Patient Experiences of Diseases), and is also involved in improving the quality of medicines' labelling as a member of the Medicines Labelling Group.

He has been an uncompromising critic of all those with responsibilities for the safety of consumers when their standards fall short. His broad knowledge and generous, humorous and energetic nature have won him a large circle of friends and colleagues throughout the world who have been - and continue to be - inspired by his values, example and support.

During the weekend of 4-6 November all these - and more - achievements will be highlighted on the occasion of his 80th birthday celebrations in London.

The purpose of the seminar – from 14.00 to 18.00 hrs – will be to review and discuss the highest, immediate priorities in relation to DRUGS, HEALTH AND COMMON SENSE. There will be three main topics in the afternoon session, corresponding to Andrew's main interests and concerns, on these 'big picture' themes:

1. THE WORKINGS OF DRUGS
What is effective prescribing and what are the factors that promote or impede it?
How significant is the difference between individual and collective drug response?
What of the relevance, quality and impact of national and international drug regulation?

2. THE QUALITY OF HEALTH
Health for All, or only for some? And what of the role of drugs in securing it?
What do drugs contribute to health, and what of the balance of benefits and harms?
How important are new drugs, for advancing personal and public health?

3. DRUG WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
What of the value of science and scientific integrity - and their limitations?
Is clean information compatible with effectiveness in communication?
What is the role of patients and consumers in helping drugs produce health?

The organisers want to mark this occasion by presenting Andrew with a compilation of contributions on these and related themes. With this in mind, we are asking you to contribute between 200 and 2000 words on any of the above themes, or on any related issue close to Andrew's primary concerns. Photos would be very welcome and please consider sending a video/DVD message if you are not able to come. We are also asking everyone who comes to submit just one question to Andrew – leaving him to wrap up the seminar with wise comments and answers on the best of them. Whether you are able to come or not, please send anything you can at the latest by Friday 7 October.

Contributions

• Seminar Highlights and Presentations
• List of Contributions
• List of Participants
• The Old Kitchen & Brew House Kenwood
• Seminar Programme