Getting the world excited about medicine since 2018
We’re on a global mission to spark excitement about medicine — celebrating innovation, sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation.
Through vibrant city-based festivals, MED showcases the very best of what medicine has to offer and brings the public into the heart of medicine.
Each festival brings together a diverse programme of experiences, exhibitions, talks and activities. From exclusive behind-the-scenes hospital tours and specially curated exhibitions to talks by world experts and hands-on technology demonstrations, there is something for every age and every curiosity.
MED is built with clinicians, researchers, healthcare organisations, universities, museums, innovators and community groups. Together, we make medicine something people can explore, question and experience — not just something they encounter when they are ill.
Our flagship programme is MED Festival Week: seven days of talks, exhibitions, tours, demonstrations, performances and hands-on experiences, alongside activity that keeps curiosity about medicine alive throughout the year.
Our objectives
What MED is here to do
- 01
Celebrate medicine
Create a focus for celebrating the people, places, ideas and discoveries that shape medicine.
- 02
Excite and educate
Give the public engaging ways to explore medicine through talks, exhibitions, tours, demonstrations and experiences.
- 03
Inspire future generations
Help people of all ages discover the possibilities of careers in medicine, healthcare and science.
- 04
Build connections
Bring organisations and communities together so collaboration can have a bigger and more lasting impact.
How MED works
Made with people who know medicine
MED is built through collaboration. Host organisations bring their expertise, venues and ideas; volunteers help make events happen; and partners help us reach wider audiences and create more ambitious experiences.
That means the programme can range from behind-the-scenes tours and public talks to exhibitions, health education, performances and demonstrations — all connected by a shared aim of making medicine engaging and accessible.
Our sustainability pledge
Making MED lighter on the planet
Climate change affects both our world and our health. MED’s existing sustainability pledge commits us to reducing unnecessary print and waste, avoiding single-use plastics wherever practical, prioritising venues that are accessible by public transport, and making sustainable travel options clearer for audiences.
Use less print
Reduce unnecessary printed guides, flyers and other disposable festival materials.
Reduce waste
Avoid single-use plastics and unnecessary waste wherever it is practical to do so.
Choose accessible venues
Prioritise venues that people can reach easily by public transport.
Support sustainable travel
Make public-transport and lower-impact travel options clear to people attending MED events.