Behind the scenes at The BMJ: reflections from UCL GBSH Impact Fellows

UCL Global Business School for Health Impact Fellows Catherine Etseoghena Khanoba and Hintsa G. Gebremariam recently visited The BMJ’s London office for a behind-the-scenes insight into the editorial work that supports one of the world’s most influential medical publications. 

Hosted by Dr Jocalyn Clark, International Editor and Head of Scholarly Comment at The BMJ, the visit offered an opportunity to observe how health ideas, evidence and debate move from editorial discussion to published content. The Fellows joined two key meetings: the weekly manuscript meeting of the Analysis team and the wider weekly planning meeting, which brings together colleagues working across different areas of the publication.

The BMJ has played a central role in medical and public health communication for nearly two centuries. Today, it continues to contribute to global health debate by publishing research, analysis, commentary, education and journalism for clinicians, researchers, policymakers and wider health audiences. For the Fellows, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to see how this work is organised in practice, and how editorial teams balance timeliness, rigour, clarity and relevance.

During the Analysis team meeting, the Fellows observed how editors assess and refine potential articles on clinical, scientific, ethical and policy issues. The discussion highlighted the importance of editorial judgement: identifying questions that matter, ensuring arguments are balanced, strengthening key messages, and considering how published pieces can inform debate beyond academia.

The wider planning meeting provided a broader view of The BMJ’s editorial operation. Staff from across different sections discussed upcoming content, emerging issues, publication timelines and audience engagement. The meeting demonstrated the level of coordination required to produce timely, accessible and high-quality health journalism and scholarly commentary across print and digital platforms.

Reflections from the Impact Fellows

Reflecting on the visit, Catherine Etseoghena Khanoba said she was particularly struck by The BMJ’s willingness to engage with difficult and politically sensitive questions in global health.

“As an early-career researcher from the Global South whose work sits at the intersection of health systems and geopolitics, I found the visit both validating and inspiring. It deepened my appreciation of what it means to communicate evidence responsibly, especially when addressing issues that require honesty, courage and attention to voices that are often under-represented.”

She also reflected on the role of editorial leadership in creating space for critical debate. The visit highlighted how journals can do more than publish evidence: they can shape conversations, challenge assumptions and encourage more inclusive forms of knowledge production.

For Hintsa G. Gebremariam, the visit emphasised the importance of translating evidence into clear and timely communication for wider audiences.

“It was inspiring to see the level of thought, care and coordination that sits behind each published piece. The visit deepened my appreciation of the role of health journalism and scholarly commentary in shaping debate, informing practice and connecting evidence to wider public and policy conversations.”

He added that the experience was particularly relevant to early-career researchers working in health systems and policy, where influence depends not only on producing strong evidence, but also on communicating it clearly, responsibly and at the right time.

Why this matters for the Fellows as early-career researchers?

The visit was closely aligned with the Fellows’ work at UCL GBSH, where they are involved in projects focused on health systems, global health policy, learning health systems, and evidence-informed decision-making. It reinforced the importance of building researchers’ skills not only in analysis and evidence generation, but also in writing, communication and public engagement.

For early-career researchers, opportunities to engage directly with institutions such as The BMJ can help bridge the gap between research and influence. They provide insight into how evidence is interpreted, edited and communicated for different audiences, and how academic work can contribute more effectively to public and policy debate.

The Fellows expressed their sincere thanks to Dr Jocalyn Clark and colleagues at The BMJ for generously hosting the visit and sharing their time, experience and reflections.

Funding Acknowledgement 

The Impact Fellowship receives support from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).