Dear Colleagues,

The field of doctors’ health has its origins in the 15^th century, with the first emergence of regulation and licensing of doctors and with it, some understanding of the concept of competence. It was not until the early 20^th century that grounds for de-registration on the basis of substance abuse emerged, this being subsequently broadened by the 1970s to include physical and mental illness, with the American Medical Association’s definition of practitioner impairment as:

the inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill & safety … by reason of physical or mental illness, including deterioration through the aging process, the loss of motor skills, or the excessive use or abuse of drugs, including alcohol.

Henceforth, the science of doctors’ health has burgeoned. Now, globally, in 2023, we have access to a range of data pertaining to mental health disorders in doctors as well as programmes to treat such. These issues have become more acute in the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing unprecedented stressors to the health system, and in particular, to medical professionals working in acute public hospital systems. In this Special Issue, ‘Innovations in doctors’ healthcare in acute public hospital systems’, we present commentaries, original research, short reports, and reviews on innovations in the science of doctors’ health to deal with the current challenges to medical students and doctors, training, and working in public health systems. It is envisioned that those working in doctors’ and student’ health; medical school and hospital executives; specialist colleges, medical regulatory bodies, policy specialists and policymakers, will find this Special Issue a useful resource and inspiration for novel solutions for what have become wicked problems in the health system.

The list of solicited papers include:

1. Operationalising professional wisdom in doctors: a Delphi consensus;
2. An observational study of access and characteristics of doctors referred to a doctor’s mental health service;
3. Group reflective practice in medical students: can it promote empathy, professionalism, and wellbeing?;
4. Practical approaches to dealing with disruptive or dysfunctional physicians in an acute hospital setting;
5. What do family friendly medical cultures look like: a Delphi consensus.

Prof. Dr. Carmelle Peisah
Guest Editor

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• doctors or physicians
• doctors health
• human rights