Exploring Future Health

The Richard Doll Society Conference 2022 considered ‘Future Health: Forecasts and Innovations for the Decades Ahead’ on Saturday 15 October 2022.

Richard Doll Society President Emily Morris reports:

‘Build back better’ – a sentiment expressed across the globe as countries target investments to boost post-COVID financial recovery. If the pandemic has taught us anything, however, it is that the health sector may be in greatest need of investment and innovation. Within a global landscape of aging populations and a rising burden from non-communicable disease, this year’s Richard Doll Society (RDS) conference considered forecasts and innovations for future health.

The day began with Professor Anders Sanberg posing the question: ‘Foresight and the Future of Medicine: how weird can we accept?’. From body hacking to strategies for cognitive enhancement, the dynamic address raised questions of personal autonomy and the limits of human longevity. Dr SanYuMay Tun then advocated for Planetary Health in Medical Education, in her talk addressing the Sustainable Healthcare Curriculum.

Multidisciplinary healthcare is an often-cited buzzword, but often used in reference to healthcare professionals alone. Sebastian Conran, an industrial designer, highlighted how solutions to the social care burden may in fact be found through adaptable, innovative design for the homes of the elderly.

With more than 100 million health-related google searches each year, Dr Elliot Carthy addressed the relationship between Social Media and Medicine in the conference’s keynote address. While the net impact of social media on health is yet to be determined, the medium is clearly here to stay. Healthcare professions must individually decide when and how to engage with their audience in a positive but honest way.

Are we human, bacteria or both? That was the question addressed by Dr Nicola Fawcett in her nuanced discussion of the role of our microbiome in health and disease. The themes of here and now, versus future care, then continued in our afternoon interdisciplinary panel. Expert panellists included the President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, CEO of Oxford University Hospitals and a WHO consultant. The spirited discussion addressed the workforce crisis, efficient operating practices and care collaboration amongst the rising pressures facing the NHS.

For the first time, the RDS hosted an oral poster competition. Students submitted abstracts related to the conference theme and two students were shortlisted to present. For her rigorous discussion of intrusive imagery in borderline personality disorder, Daniela Krouzkova was awarded the prize following an audience vote.

Each year the RDS is proud to welcome an audience of doctors, researchers, alumni and medical students – with this year’s conference no exception. It is always wonderful to bring together our diverse and engaged medical community!

Of course, the conference would not have been possible without fantastic support from both the college’s events and academic team. The RDS would especially like to thank Jamie Williams for his guidance throughout the year and the generous Annual Fund Donors who made the event possible.