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The SOM Podcast

The SOM Podcast

Society of Occupational Medicine 74 Episodes Jul 14, 2026

The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) is the UK organisation for healthcare professionals working in occupational health. This podcast covers topics relevant to occupational health practice, featuring discussions and insights from experts in the field. It is sponsored by Orchid Live, a specialist occupational health software provider.

Episodes

Exploring the Future of Occupational Health
Exploring the Future of Occupational Health Jul 14, 2026 1187 To mark SOM’s 90th anniversary Amy McKeown brings together a distinguished panel to explore what the future looks like for occupational health, the pressing need to modernize the specialty, and how to create deeper structural integration within UK workplaces.The conversation focuses heavily on shifting away from a reactive "medicalized model" toward proactive, upstream organizational support. The
SOM MINI CPD - Hearing Loss & Tinnitus: The Poor Relation of Health? with Clare Forshaw
SOM MINI CPD - Hearing Loss & Tinnitus: The Poor Relation of Health? with Clare Forshaw Jun 26, 2026 767 While safety in the workplace gets a massive amount of attention, long-term health risks (specifically exposure to loud noise) are frequently overlooked. In this episode, host Steve Randall is joined by Clare Forshaw, Professional Head of Health and Wellbeing at the RSSB and a Founder/Director of the UK Hearing Conservation Association.Clare challenges the common misconception that hearing loss is
SOM NEWS UPDATE - JUNE 2026
SOM NEWS UPDATE - JUNE 2026 Jun 18, 2026 323 Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.--Links mentioned in the podcast:SOM guide, Repositioning OH within the Employee Value Proposition (EVP)Employment support for disabled people: Disability at Work New WISE-QM: Quality Mark for Wellbeing Initiatives and Services for EmployeesWork Right: What is health surv
Future of Work, AI, and Occupational Health: Navigating Change and Uncertainty
Future of Work, AI, and Occupational Health: Navigating Change and Uncertainty Jun 11, 2026 1618 Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces and what occupational health professionals need to know to support organizations and employees through this evolving landscape. Dr. Lara Shemtob shares insights with Kat Barnard on the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for managing AI integration in the workplace.In this episode:The broad impact of AI beyond office roles, touch
SOM MINI CPD - Sleep Health & the Role of OH Professionals with Werner Stipp
SOM MINI CPD - Sleep Health & the Role of OH Professionals with Werner Stipp May 28, 2026 689 In this episode, Werner Stipp - Consultant in Occupational Health and member of the SOM Special Interest Group in Sleep - joins host Steve Randall to discuss the critical intersection of sleep health and workplace performance.Stipp outlines how OH professionals can utilize sleep assessments to improve worker wellbeing and mitigate safety risks, particularly in safety-critical roles like train driv
SPECIAL: Cold Stress, UV, and Community: Insights from an Arctic Research Trip
SPECIAL: Cold Stress, UV, and Community: Insights from an Arctic Research Trip May 21, 2026 978 In this episode, Steve Randall speaks with with Dr. Emma Wallace, a recipient of the SOM Golden Jubilee Award. Emma shares her journey from anaesthetics to occupational medicine and her recent research expedition to Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost permanent settlement.She discusses the physiological challenges of extreme cold, the hidden risks of UV exposure in icy climates, and how the uniqu
SOM NEWS UPDATE - MAY 2026
SOM NEWS UPDATE - MAY 2026 May 13, 2026 367 Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.--Links mentioned in the podcast:Prof Neil Greenberg Letter to the Editor in The Observer.Occupational Health Awareness Week 2026, 21st-27th Sept, brief here.Annual General Meeting of SOM 2026, 16th June 5.15-6.15pm - A draft agenda is here. SOM/FOM Conference: Occupation
SOM MINI CPD: Going Independent in Occupational Health with Lanre Ogunyemi
SOM MINI CPD: Going Independent in Occupational Health with Lanre Ogunyemi Apr 23, 2026 968 In this episode of the SOM Podcast, we welcome back Lanre Ogunyemi, independent occupational health physician and former president of the Society of Occupational Medicine, to explore what it really takes to build a successful independent career in occupational health.Lanre shares his personal journey from the NHS into independent practice, including how he managed the transition, the importance of
SOM NEWS UPDATE - APRIL 2026
SOM NEWS UPDATE - APRIL 2026 Apr 17, 2026 316 Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.--Links mentioned in the podcast:The Right to Disconnect: https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/media/ambs/content-assets/documents/news/right-to-disconnect-report.pdf Major cultural shift needed in workplace fertility support: https://www.som.org.uk/major-cultural-shi
Menopause, Work and What We’re Still Getting Wrong - with Carolyn Harris MP
Menopause, Work and What We’re Still Getting Wrong - with Carolyn Harris MP Apr 13, 2026 1154 In this special episode of The SOM Podcast, Amy McKeown speaks with Carolyn Harris MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Menopause, following an International Women’s Day event at the Houses of Parliament focused on keeping women in work.Carolyn shares the progress that has been made in raising awareness of menopause over the past five years — from improving access to hormone re
GLOBAL CMO PODCAST -  EP 2 - Workforce Health as a Strategic Asset with Dr Katherine Carandang Chua
GLOBAL CMO PODCAST - EP 2 - Workforce Health as a Strategic Asset with Dr Katherine Carandang Chua Mar 19, 2026 1157 In this episode of the SOM Podcast – Global CMO Series, host Dr Lara Shemtob speaks with Dr Katherine Carandang Chua, Chief Medical Officer for APAC at Pfizer, about the evolving role of occupational health and why workforce wellbeing must be viewed as a strategic business investment.Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in occupational medicine, Dr Chua shares how Pfizer delivers holistic,
SOM NEWS UPDATE - MARCH 2026
SOM NEWS UPDATE - MARCH 2026 Mar 13, 2026 495 Our monthly SOM News Update brings you the latest stories and insights from SOM and the wider OH world. Hosted by Steve Randall.--Links mentioned in the podcast:Precarious work risks: https://academic.oup.com/occmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/occmed/kqag006/8489195?login=false Mental health apps MHRA guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-issues-new-guidance-for-people-using-mental-hea

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