The Alliance for
Global Women’s Medicine
A worldwide fellowship of health professionals working together to
promote, advocate for and enhance the Welfare of Women everywhere
An Educational Platform for FIGO
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David Bloomer is the President of The Global Library of Women’s Medicine. He founded the programme in 2006 and he and his wife funded its original development during its initial years. Subsequently, the programme has been largely funded by educational grants and donations plus the generosity of its many expert authors who have all contributed their input without any fee or other remuneration. Paula and David are deeply grateful for all this support. The programme is dedicated to their daughter, Abigail, who very sadly died at the age of 30
After studying law at Oxford and qualifying as a Barrister-at-law, David has spent nearly all his professional life in medical publishing, founding his first publishing company in 1969 – and later founding The Parthenon Publishing Group which, from its offices in London and New York, published peer review journals and medical textbooks ranged across the whole field of medicine but with a special focus on women’s health.
Since retiring from the business in 2004, David has tried to to make use of his long experience to explore new ways of sharing medical knowledge, particularly in those parts of the world where traditional methods of publishing are handicapped by distribution challenges and cost considerations. Thanks to his long-standing association and friendship with Professor Jack Sciarra of Northwestern University, Chicago the concept for The Global Library of Medicine was developed early in 2006 and the programme finally completed and launched in 2008.
Since its launch The Global Library of Women’s Medicine has grown rapidly and many distinguished clinicians have generously volunteered important additional contributions to the programme free of charge. Specially commissioned textbooks on postpartum hemorrhage, gynecology for less-resourced locations and preconceptional medicine have been added as well as skills training videos, educational films and many more resources. And now a major new series has been launched –The Continuous Textbook of Women’s Medicine.
David manages The Global Library of Women's Medicine from his base in the UK, supported by a very able team of editors and computer programmers. The project is being continuously expanded and increased emphasis is currently being given to the needs of less-resourced countries. Since the site is entirely free to all users, accepts no advertising and has no commercial objectives, David and Paula are continuing to look for supporters to assist in financing the Foundation so that it can maintain the site and expand this special initiative in global medical education.
David was made an Honorary Fellow of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist in 2006 and received an OBE from HM Queen Elizabeth in 2019
Paula Bloomer was the Financial Director of The Parthenon Publishing Group for twenty years and has had extensive experience of medical publishing both in Europe and North America. Having encountered the difficulties of distributing medical books and journals to many other parts of the world – and also their lack of affordability to many medical professionals in those areas – she sees The Global Library of Women’s Medicine as a way of addressing these issues.
She has also developed a special interest in the needs of less-resourced countries, especially in regard to the provision of practical medical information that appropriately reflects the differing circumstances that healthcare workers encounter in various local settings. But she believes firmly that to be of real value all material offered must meet the same peer-review standards employed throughout the site. Paula is actively involved in all aspects of The Global Library of Women’s Medicine including the management of its financial affairs.
Currently she is developing a special focus on the role of the social media and how it can be used to enhance the reach and impact of The Global Library’s resources.
When not working on this programme Paula also plays an active role in a number of other organisations and has a specific interest in supporting the Hospice movement.
Paula was honoured with a special FIGO Recognition Award, at The FIGO World Congress in 2015, for her services to women’s health
