Crawford School of Public Policy

Why are so many of us unwell, despite our strides in technology and economic growth? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, we hear from Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns.

There’s more to wellbeing than the absence of injury or illness, and prevention is often more effective than a cure. Could these lessons about healthcare also apply to public policy? On this week’s podcast, hosts Martyn Pearce and Sue Regan chat with a man who has spent his career at the highest levels of public policy and public health. In a wide-ranging interview, Sir Harry Burns, Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer, discusses wellbeing, poverty, Brexit, refugees, machine learning, and the shortfalls of economic growth.

Listen to the podcast here.

Sir Harry Burns trained as a surgeon in Glasgow. He completed a Masters Degree in Public Health in 1990, became Director of Public Health for Greater Glasgow Health Board in 1994, and was Chief Medical Officer for Scotland from 2005 to 2014. He was knighted in 2011, and became Professor of Global Public Health at Strathclyde University in 2014.

Show notes:

The following were referred to in this episode:

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This post and podcast was first published on policyforum.net, Crawford School’s platform for public policy debate, analysis, views, and discussion.