The SOM Podcast

In this episode of Boardroom Brief, Dr Lara Shemtob speaks with Dr David Roomes, Chief Medical Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, about what work and health really mean inside global organisations.

From aerospace engineering to mining to biopharma, David shares insights from a remarkable career spanning multiple industries and continents — and explains how occupational health can create real organisational value beyond traditional ROI arguments. Together they explore:

• How leaders define workforce health and wellbeing
• The evolving role of occupational health in global business
• The link between organisational culture, leadership and employee health
• The growing influence of AI in workplace health services
• Why prevention, evidence, and credibility matter when speaking to boards
• What business leaders can do tomorrow to make work healthier and more productive

Key Topics Covered:
• Career journey across GSK, Rio Tinto, Rolls-Royce, and Bristol Myers Squibb
• Occupational health as a strategic business function
• Employer value proposition and workforce expectations
• Measuring the real cost of musculoskeletal and mental health conditions
• Evidence-based approaches to wellbeing programmes
• US vs UK healthcare and employer responsibility
• AI in occupational health practice
• Leadership as the most powerful driver of healthy workplace culture

Key Quote: “If you can create a culture of health and wellbeing at your organisation, that is probably the most powerful lever you have.”

About the Guest:
Dr David Roomes is Chief Medical Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads global workforce health strategy within a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical organisation focused on oncology and cell therapy.

He brings over 25 years of international experience in occupational medicine across pharmaceuticals, heavy industry, mining, aerospace, defence, and nuclear engineering. David began his career in the pharmaceutical sector at GlaxoSmithKline, joining shortly after the merger of SmithKline Beecham and Wellcome.

 Over a decade at GSK, he completed his occupational medicine training, served as a Medical Director, and gained extensive experience in both R&D and global manufacturing environments. In 2010, David relocated to Montreal to join Rio Tinto following its acquisition of Alcan, where he led the occupational health function within the aluminium business. This role gave him broad international exposure and experience navigating workforce health across diverse cultural and operational settings.

 In 2012, he was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Rolls-Royce PLC (aerospace, defence, and nuclear engineering). During his tenure, he later took on additional responsibility for Environmental Health & Safety and sustainability, working at the intersection of health, safety, engineering, and organisational leadership in high-risk industrial environments.

Three years ago, David returned to the life sciences sector, joining Bristol Myers Squibb as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, he focuses on linking employee health strategy to organisational performance, shaping benefits design, navigating complex healthcare systems in the US, and exploring the application of artificial intelligence in occupational health practice.

Across every industry he has served, David is recognised for advancing evidence-based workforce health strategies, building leadership accountability for wellbeing, and positioning occupational health as a driver of business value and organisational resilience.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.

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Links mentioned in the podcast:

AI Guidance for Occupational Health: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/AI_Guidance_for_OH_Jan_2026.pdf 

SOM Business Plan 2026: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/SOM_business_plan_2026.pdf

Expanded WorkWell scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expansion-of-support-scheme-to-help-thousands-of-people-back-into-work

Disablity Confident scheme overhaul: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/disability-confident-scheme-overhauled-to-boost-workplace-standards-for-disabled-people

Health and Wellbeing at Work event (book useing code SOM2026 for 10% discount): https://forms.reg.buzz/healthwellbeingwork-2026/?affiliate=5978e9ae0e423ba257be292da590b44cb28393b7fe6ee61d1cd92ba7c9321185

Medicinal cannabis at work, Tuesday 3rd March 1-2pm: https://www.som.org.uk/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D912%26reset%3D1

Clinical standards for OH reports sponsored by Orchid Live, Wednesday 4th March 1-2pm
https://www.som.org.uk/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D907%26reset%3D1

Leading with a Wellbeing Lens: what makes a successful programme, Wednesday 18th March 12-1pm: https://www.som.org.uk/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D897%26reset%3D1

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The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Richard Heron welcomes Dr. Ivan Ivanov — global leader in occupational and workers’ health — for a wide-ranging conversation recorded at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Dr. Ivanov reflects on his 40+ year journey from aspiring surgeon in Bulgaria to factory health inspector, national reformer, and ultimately Head of Workers’ Health at the World Health Organization.

He shares how hands-on workplace experience shaped his approach to global health policy, why occupational health must remain rooted in real workplaces, and how the field is evolving from preventing harm to creating thriving, happy, and productive working lives.

The discussion explores shifting risk landscapes, the rise of psychosocial and digital-era hazards, the importance of evidence-based occupational health, universal health coverage, protecting healthcare workers, and the urgent need to redefine and better explain “occupational health” for future generations.

This episode is a celebration of leadership, curiosity, and a career built not on “work,” but on passion.

 Key Topics Discussed

• From surgery to public health: finding a calling in occupational health
• Early experiences as a factory health inspector in Bulgaria
• Transition from socialist systems to market economies and EU integration
• Building national and global workers’ health policies at WHO
• Why real workplace experience matters in occupational health
• Changing risk landscapes: physical, psychosocial, and digital-era risks
• From preventing disease to creating happy, healthy workplaces
• The business case for investing in workers’ health
• Combating “snake oil” and ensuring competence in occupational health services
• Integrating occupational health into primary healthcare
• Protecting healthcare workers and lessons from Ebola and COVID-19
• Challenges in defining and naming occupational health
• Advice to the next generation of occupational health leaders

Memorable Quotes

• “I was doing surgery — but on the social body, not the human body.”
• “Occupational health is extremely practical. If you cut ties with real workplaces, you fail.”
• “Nobody says thank you for the disease they didn’t get.”
• “Investing in good occupational health has enormous return on investment.”
• “I never worked a day — I only had fun, because I loved what I was doing.”

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this CPD-focused episode of the SOM Podcast, Steve Randall speaks with Fiona Day — former public health consultant, NHS medical director, chartered coaching psychologist, and leadership development specialist — about how coaching psychology is transforming leadership and mentoring in healthcare.  

Fiona shares insights from her 20+ year medical career, her transition into executive coaching, and her research into evidence-based leadership development. She explains the growing evidence that experiential learning, coaching, and mentoring are among the most effective methods for developing healthcare leaders — and why coaching psychology, in particular, creates sustained behavioural change by working at the “metacognitive” level.  

The conversation explores:

•  How coaching differs from traditional leadership training
•  Why mentors should learn to coach first
• How coaching improves wellbeing, confidence, and decision-making 
• The emerging evidence base, including systematic reviews and published outcome data 
• Practical advice for occupational health professionals who want to develop coaching and mentoring skills  

This episode provides a roadmap for listeners looking to enhance their leadership impact, improve mentoring practice, and professionalise coaching within healthcare.   

**Key Topics Discussed**  

• Evidence-based leadership development in healthcare 
• Coaching psychology vs traditional leadership training 
• Mentoring and coaching: when to advise and when to facilitate discovery 
• Developing metacognitive skills in leaders 
• Measuring coaching outcomes and wellbeing impact
• Published research on coaching effectiveness
• Professional accreditation and standards in coaching and mentoring 
• Practical steps to begin a coaching journey
• Resources for further learning

Fiona's Website:www.fionadayconsulting.co.uk 
Fiona's Podcast: Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders

Articles mentioned in the episode:

https://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/9/4/349

https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/services/bmj-leader-coaching-evidence-doctors-medical-public-health-leaders/





The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this episode of the SOM Podcast, host Steve Randall is joined by a panel of leading clinicians and occupational health experts to explore the realities of the UK Fit Note system.

The discussion covers how Fit Notes work in general practice, barriers to meaningful “maybe fit for work” recommendations, international comparisons from Guernsey’s healthcare system, and the growing call for stronger occupational health integration.

The panel reflects on GP workload pressures, patient expectations, policy reform, and the future of work-and-health collaboration.

Guests

• Dr Toni Hazel – GP in North London with a portfolio in education
• Prof Neil Greenberg – Consultant Psychiatrist, President of the Society of Occupational Medicine
• Dr Lara Shemtob – GP and Occupational Health Physician
• Dr Bob Gallagher – GP, Occupational Health Doctor & Medical Advisor for Social Security, Guernsey

Key Topics Discussed

• How Fit Notes currently work in NHS general practice
• The shift from “sick notes” to “fit notes” and the intention behind “maybe fit for work”
• Why over 90% of Fit Notes are still issued as “not fit for work”
• GP time pressures and lack of occupational health training
• The doctor–patient relationship and challenges of difficult Fit Note conversations
• Guernsey’s alternative model for sickness certification and GP training
• The role of occupational health professionals in complex or chronic cases
• Inequality in access to occupational health support
• Policy hopes from the Keep Britain Working review
• What an ideal Fit Note system could look like in the future

Key Takeaways

• Fit Notes are still largely being used like traditional sick notes
• GPs face time, training, and system constraints
• Occupational health expertise is essential for complex work-health decisions
• Better integration between healthcare, employers, and OH services is needed
• Good work is good for health — when supported properly

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

As part of the Society of Occupational Medicine’s 90th anniversary, this fifth and final special Diamond Days episode explores how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of occupational health — from efficiency gains to ethical concerns and everything in between.

Hosts Amy McKeown and Anna Jones are joined by a panel of experts to unpack the realities of AI in OH today and where it’s heading next.

🎧 Guests

• Janet O’Neill – Chair, AI in Occupational Health Working Group
• Dr Jonathan Bear – Clinical Innovation Director
• Dr Lara Shemtob – Researcher in AI, healthcare & clinical practice

🔍 What’s Covered in This Episode

• How the AI in Occupational Health Working Group was formed and what their latest survey reveals
• Why AI uptake in OH remains low, despite growing interest
• Common fears around de-skilling, loss of critical thinking, and governance gaps
• Real-world examples of AI supporting:
  • Clinical documentation
  • Report writing
  • Workflow automation
• Why clinicians must stay “in the loop” when using AI tools
• The risks of fully autonomous AI in clinical decision-making
• AI’s potential role in mental health support, including CBT and access to care
• Ethical challenges, explainability, and patient safety concerns
• How AI could improve — or damage — collaboration across healthcare systems
• The broader role of occupational health in supporting workplaces through AI-driven change

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this CPD-focused episode of The SOM Podcast, host Steve Randall is joined by Mandy Murphy, an experienced Occupational Health Specialist, senior leader, and professional coach, to explore how coaching skills can enhance occupational health practice and career development.

Drawing on her extensive NHS leadership background and current coaching work, Mandy explains how coaching supports career transitions, leadership development, return-to-work conversations, and professional identity shifts — both for employees and for occupational health professionals themselves.

This episode offers practical insights into listening deeply, contracting effectively, and balancing expertise with curiosity in occupational health consultations.

What You’ll Learn

• What coaching really is — and what it is not
• How coaching can support career progression and career pivots
• Why high achievers often seek coaching after “ticking all the boxes”
• Supporting identity shifts after maternity leave, illness, or role change
• The tension between being an expert clinician and an enabling coach
• How deep listening improves trust and outcomes in OH consultations
• Why “taming your advice monster” matters in health and work conversations
• How contracting sets expectations and unlocks better conversations
• Practical ways OH professionals can integrate coaching skills into everyday practice

Key Takeaways

• Coaching is about helping people think for themselves, not telling them what to do
• Career uncertainty is normal — especially after success or life transitions
• Creating psychological safety is essential for meaningful conversations
• Coaching skills strengthen OH practice without undermining clinical credibility
• Ownership leads to better engagement and more sustainable outcomes

About the Guest

Mandy Murphy is an Occupational Health Specialist with a career spanning clinical practice, NHS leadership, education quality, and professional coaching. She has held senior roles at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the National School for Occupational Health, and now runs a coaching practice supporting professionals across industries. She specialises in:

• Career transitions and leadership development
• Return to work after absence or maternity leave
• Identity, confidence, and professional growth
• Health coaching skills for clinicians

🔗 Website: https://kutacoach.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Mandy Murphy

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this thought-provoking episode of SOM’s Diamond Days podcast series with Amy McKeon & Anna Jones, we sit down with Dr Charlie Vivian, occupational physician of 20+ years and current Chair of the SOM Council in South Wales and the West of England. 

Charlie reflects on how occupational medicine has evolved throughout his career, from the early adoption of the biopsychosocial model to today’s rising challenge: a rapidly increasing proportion of the population unable to work due to long-term health conditions. We explore why traditional approaches may no longer be enough — and why occupational health must broaden its focus to include economic hazards and the societal structures that drive ill health and absence from work.

Key Discussion Points

🚀 Charlie’s path to SOM Council Chair & why leadership matters
🧠 The rise and limitations of the **biopsychosocial model** in practice *
📈 The dramatic increase in incapacity benefits since the 1980s — and what it reveals *
🏢 How neoliberal working structures, inequality, low-paid work and job insecurity are impacting workforce health *
🔄 The future role of occupational medicine — from managing absence to influencing national policy *
💡 Why OH must begin addressing **economic determinants of health** *
🩺 Fit notes, self-responsibility, prevention & where the NHS and employers overlap  

Charlie leaves us with a powerful cliff-hanger: Are current systems for workplace health fundamentally flawed? And what bold new direction should occupational medicine take?

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this landmark episode of SOM’s Diamond Days — celebrating the Society of Occupational Medicine’s 90th anniversary — host Amy McEwen and sits down with Dame Carol Black, patron of SOM and one of the most influential voices in UK work and health.

Dame Carol discusses why she believes occupational health must “rebirth” itself for the future — broadening scope, embracing prevention and psychosocial issues, and reshaping services to meet the real challenges faced by workers today.

From mental health and menopause to financial stress, bullying, and returning from long-term sickness — she explores how OH can adapt to support modern working lives and contribute to keeping Britain working. A must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of workplace health, policy, and the evolving role of the OH profession.
Key Topics

• Why Dame Carol believes OH needs a strategic reinvention
• Aligning OH training and services with the realities of the 2025 workplace
• The importance of de-medicalising health and work conversations
• Integrating clinical and non-clinical approaches (e.g. domestic abuse, bereavement, caring responsibilities)
• Supporting people back into employment — insights from her benefits work
• Collaboration between government, employers, health systems, and new workforce wellbeing models
• “If not now, when?” — the urgency of transformation

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In this thought-provoking episode, host Steve Randall is joined by Professor Kim Burton, freelance occupational health researcher and former Professor of Occupational Health Care at the University of Huddersfield, and Janet O’Neill, Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health.

Nearly two decades after Burton co-authored the influential 2006 report “Is Work Good for Your Health and Well-being?”, the panel explores what has—and hasn’t—changed in the relationship between work, health, and employer practice.

Together, they unpack:

• Why the application of evidence in occupational health has lagged behind the research
• The difference between the “what” and the “how” of workplace health interventions
• Why line managers (not OH) should often be the first point of health-related conversations
• The persistent cultural and knowledge-transfer gaps that block progress
• The role of training, including the Society of Occupational Medicine’s new Work & Health Conversation programmes
• How organizations can move beyond tick-box exercises to real behavioural change
• The importance of good work, organisational culture, and internal capacity before bringing in external services
• Practical ways employers can measure success—from retention data to wellbeing metrics and qualitative feedback

This episode is full of insight for OH professionals, HR leaders, line managers, and anyone responsible for workforce health and wellbeing.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Evidence isn’t the problem—implementation is Kim argues that we’ve lost sight of what OH should deliver, focusing instead on processes rather than content.
🔹 The “work and health conversation” is still missing Despite strong evidence, consistent messaging across OH, HR, line managers, and healthcare is still lacking.
🔹 Line managers should be empowered Janet highlights that early conversations about health at work should start with line managers—not only with OH.
🔹 Training is essential for cultural change SOM’s upcoming training programmes aim to equip non-health professionals to have effective work-and-health conversations.
🔹 Behaviour change requires more than awareness Consistency, employer commitment, and clear frameworks are needed to avoid tick-box approaches.
🔹 Measure what matters Retention, sickness absence, presenteeism, stress risk assessments, employee surveys, and qualitative feedback are all part of tracking real progress.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.