New BCAM Exam Wins Top Aesthetics Award

The British College of Aesthetic Medicine’s new examination was named Professional Initiative of the Year in the 2021 Aesthetics Awards, recognising BCAM’s aim to promote education, excellence and high professional standards.

The MBCAM examination is the culmination of more than two years’ work, led by consultant plastic and aesthetic surgeon Dalvi Humzah who chairs the BCAM Examination Board.

The Masters-level exam offers a progression pathway from Associate to Full Member of the College and features a multi-choice written paper and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Delegates are expected to use self-guided learning to attain the required standard.

The examination beat 10 other finalists to win the award at Friday’s glittering online ceremony. BCAM trustee Dr Catherine Fairris, who is responsible for education and events, said:

“We are delighted to win this award in the College’s 20^th anniversary year and would like to thank Aesthetics Journal for recognising the innovative nature of the new BCAM examination Mr Humzah has worked tirelessly on this project for over two years to create an exam drawn from a curriculum that is intended to rigorously and thoroughly test the knowledge of our examinees.

“BCAM is invested in ensuring its members remain at the forefront of evidence-based aesthetic medicine. Their expertise means the highest standards are delivered and that patient safety is the central focus of the treatments delivered.”

The first cohort of BCAM members will sit the multi-choice paper later this year, with the OSCE being introduced in 2022 when existing routes to Full Member status will be phased out.

Mr Humzah, who worked on the exam with education expert Elizabeth Raymond-Brown, said: “It was a great honour and pleasure to be awarded the Professional Initiative of the Year.

Working with Elizabeth and the BCAM team, we have produced a curriculum and examination that is based on the current requirements for aesthetic medical practitioners. This will enable standards to be set and maintained within the specialty of aesthetic medicine.”

Doctors and dentists practising aesthetic medicine must meet stringent criteria to join BCAM as Associate Members and can progress to Full Member status after two years, having to complete two Annual Clinical Reviews and take the MBCAM examination. The review is an important data collection tool that is used by the Department of Health and Social Care to inform decision-making and identify trends and innovations in aesthetic medicine.

The introduction of the MBCAM examination is aimed at raising standards and striving for aesthetic medicine to be recognised as a specialty in its own right.

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