He qualified as a physician from Cambridge University in 1972, and completed his training in medical oncology at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London including laboratory research leading to a Ph.D. He emigrated to Toronto in 1985.
He has written many articles on various aspects of medicine and oncology, concentrating in the last ten years on doctor-patient communication and breaking bad news. He designed and teaches an undergraduate course in breaking bad news which was given the University of Toronto Aikins Teaching Award in 1989.
For the last twenty years he has also had a second career in communication and broadcasting, presenting television science-and-medicine programmes in Britain and then Canada. His latest series was Magic or Medicine? For which he won a Gemini award (the Canadian TV Industry equivalent of an Emmy). Since 1987 he has been hosting a weekly medical series on TVOntario called Vital Signs which featured TVO’s most widely-watched programme ever The Good Sex Guide.
In 1994 he was made Canadian Humanist of the year.
He has written nine books including I Don’t Know What to Say - How To Help And Support Someone who Is Dying (1988) a guide for friends and family, Magic or Medicine? an investigation into complementary medicine and How To Break Bad News a medical textbook for physicians and healthcare professionals. His book, entitled What You Really Need To Know About Cancer is a comprehensive guide for patients and their families, is published in Britain, Canada, the United States (in collaboration with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center). His latest release, Not Dead Yet, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Dr. Robert Buckman, tells the unusual story of his life so far.
Currently he writes and presents a series of medical information videos - called What You Really Need To Know About… - with the English actor and writer John Cleese. This series originated from an idea by John Cleese and gives the basic facts on video about a wide range of common medical conditions. Forty-five titles are completed and available so far.
He has just completed a set of CD-ROMS for healthcare professionals giving a comprehensive practical guide to communications skills – in particular a protocol for breaking bad news.
Dr. Buckman's numerous accomplishments prove his ability to speak authoritatively on a wide range of health care issues from either the serious or humorous perspective. Most importantly, he personalises every presentation, researching his topic and audience thoroughly.
| DLA | Speakers | Categories | Top Of Page |