MU12 exceeded even the high standard set by its predecessors. My highlights were the probing, continuously absorbing interview with Sebastian Faulks and the extremely timely, impassioned and richly informative debate on justice in health care. These two totally different events that had only their excellence in common illustrates what an extraordinarily rich and diverse experience MU is. Whatever happened to ‘The Problem of the Two Cultures’?. I had withdrawal symptoms after the meeting ended.
Ray Tallis
Medicine for heart, mind and soul.
Rhidian Brook
I’ve seldom spent an entire day being as stimulated and intellectually challenged as I was by Medicine Unboxed. If the idea is to make you think outside your particular box, it works brilliantly. It must be hard to assemble such a talented cast of speakers on such a wide range of themes, and make them all pertinent to the concerns of anyone who is seriously interested in health, but Sam Guglani has a magic touch.
Colin Leys
Attending Medicine Unboxed was one of the most intellectually stimulating experiences of my life. I was particularly impressed at the way Sam Gugliani, by interviewing a wide range of writers and practitioners, was able to weave disparate themes into a narrative we could all affirm and act upon.
Richard Holloway
Medicine Unboxed is an unexpected escape into a world of wonder, keenly argued, deeply engaged, and unashamedly enjoyable.
Richard Horton
Brilliantly organised, intellectually rich & with the potential to change how medicine is done.
Charles Fernyhough
Medicine Unboxed brilliantly proved that the medical community is not only paying attention to the fundamental healthcare issues that affect all of us but they're willing to challenge dogmas, embrace the ever-changing concerns of a modern society and encompass the philosophical, ethical and very real problems that universal and individual welfare creates. Fascinating, cerebral, genius. Thank You.
Marius Brill
Medicine Unboxed offers a seriously stimulating environment where ideas from very different disciplines can fizz together, reminding you how questions of medicines and healthcare take you right to the problem of who we are and what we are living for.
Tim Parks
Extraordinarily extraordinary. Like a university education up to PhD level in one-and-a-half days".
Jo Shapcott
There are very very few events I've been as proud to be involved with as Medicine Unboxed. Thought-provoking, inspiring, involving and important.
Adam Kay
It is pretty rare, in my experience, to have such a high level of discussion and it was a real privilege to take part. I've been to a TEDex event and was disappointed in the complete absence of debate and discussion. Your event is clearly much superior. I was also full of admiration for the level of organisation and imagination that went into the whole event.
Gabriel Scally
Thank you so much for inviting me to speak at Medicine Unboxed. It was a fascinating meeting of minds and disciplines. I particularly welcomed the chance to continue the debates, initiated on the stage, in the foyer and corridors.
Michael Arditti
A truly eye-opening and mind-broadening event, Medicine Unboxed achieves what it sets out to do: get us thinking and talking about medicine and how it is practiced through a wide range of perspectives and voices. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, the breadth of topics and approaches and the communal spirit of sharing and learning.
Havi Carel
The belief that new ideas emerge when people from different disciplines meet is usually wishful thinking. Occasionally, however, genuine cross-fertilisation occurs and Medicine Unboxed was one of those rare occasions. By the end of the day, I felt sorry for the Box sealing medicine off from society at large and our wider culture: it must have realised that its days were numbered.
Ray Tallis
Medicine Unboxed is indeed a rare event. I had never imagined that so many medics would have been open to hearing their vocation and practice discussed by people from very different professions. Yet clearly, the perspectives offered by presenters from the worlds of the arts, philosophy, spirituality and ethics opened windows into medicine and care which were enriching and welcome. No profession is sufficient on its own, and it is by honest conversation with sympathetic representatives of other disciplines that we not only 'see ourselves as others see us', but we also have our imagination enlivened by the world of knowledge rather than our chosen sub-section.
John Bell
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the conference. It was both a singular and stunning event. I cannot remember ever seeing medics so relaxed and non-defensive. It seemed as if the presentations were articulating what people wanted to hear spoken out loud without cant or adversarial debate.
John Bell
How rewarding it was to talk at Medicine Unboxed. It must be the most intelligent audience I have ever addressed, and it was a remarkable thing to find oneself surrounded by people who had dedicated their lives to helping others. We had some fascinating talks with audience members.
John Carey
Medicine Unboxed is a fascinating exploration of the interface between literature and medicine. It does justice to both of these great achievements of humanity and crosses the great (but wrong) cultural divide between the arts and science. A perfect complement to the Cheltenham Festival.
Raymond Tallis
As a novelist, sharing a platform with two admired poets, Dannie Abse and Jo Shapcott, and talking to a crowded audience of doctors, nurses, hospice worker, palliative care specialists and other interested parties was utterly engaging, illuminating and moving. The dialogue between medicine and arts is time-honoured. Medicine Unboxed is marvellous proof of its continuing value and currency.
Salley Vickers
A thrilling day, spent demolishing the fortresses wrongly erected around the disciplines of medicine and the arts.
Gabriel Weston
Medicine Unboxed is an inspiring showcase of innovation and an invigorating cross fertilisation of ideas.
Jane Wills
Two events from last year's Medicine Unboxed have lodged firmly in my mind, which is not bad as most of what happened to me last week has already disappeared. I very much liked Gabriel Weston's reading of her story and so bought her book, read it, and have since shared it with many. And Allan Kellehear's talk on the history of dying was arresting, insightful, and funny, a winning combination.
Richard Smith
Medicine Unboxed was moving, surprising, enlightening. The range of background and experience on the platform and off was breathtaking, from surgeon, to poet, to architect, and more. I for one came away fizzing with new perceptions, understanding and ideas.
Jo Shapcott
Curator Dr. Sam Guglani
sam@medicineunboxed.com
Advisors Dr. Sean Elyan, Dame Janet Trotter, Prof. Clair Chilvers
Patron Jo Shapcott
Administration Tanya Goodacre
tanya@medicineunboxed.com
Creative Director Peter Thomas
Web&Social Media MANIFESTO ★
peter.thomas@manifesto-group.com
Art Dr. Emma Collins
Exhibitions Niki Whitfield, Dr. Emma Collins
Medicine Unboxed is funded by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds Committee and the Wellcome Trust
Our thanks to
Atheda
Vicky Bell
Faber and Faber Ltd.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds Committee
Sally Johnson
Lisa Lambon
Lapidus
Paul Northup
Nick Reed
Parabola Arts Centre
Sandford Education Centre
Ray Tallis
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
Thinwhite
Waterstones
Wellcome Trust
Niki Whitfield
Image credits: The Wellcome Library, London.
