BCAM Leads The Way With Second Virtual Conference Celebrating 20th Anniversary Year

The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) staged its second Virtual Annual Conference last week (10-11 September), celebrating its milestone 20^th anniversary and attracting even more delegates to explore innovation and key topics in Aesthetic Medicine with 23 world-class speakers over two days.

BCAM led the way in 2020 as the first association to stage a virtual conference during lockdown and opted for another online event this year to offer maximum flexibility to delegates, with the choice of watching live or catching up on sessions over the following two weeks.

This year’s Conference addressed four central themes - skincare, fat reduction/muscle toning, skin tightening and injectable innovations – plus topical panel discussions on Covid vaccine complications and regulation of the Aesthetic Medicine sector.

Delegates heard how BCAM’s new Regulatory, Ethics and Professional Standards Committee had formulated an updated definition of Aesthetic Medicine and would be drawing up a revised Code of Conduct for members. An expert panel of speakers also explored the latest information about Covid vaccine complications.

BCAM continued its commitment to members’ wellbeing with lunchtime mindfulness sessions provided by advanced nurse practitioner Slee Parrish who led practical relaxation exercises.

Dr Catherine Fairris, BCAM Trustee and Conference Director, said: “This year’s Conference was a huge success, with the second highest number of delegates ever registered and some of the best evidence-based presentations we have seen from world-class speakers.

“We are grateful to our wonderful sponsors AestheticSource, Allergan, Church Pharmacy, Galderma, Healthxchange, InMode, Lynton Lasers, Novo Nordisk, Relife and Wigmore Medical, without whom we couldn’t make it happen.

“We have already received amazing feedback from some of those who attended and we look forward to planning an even bigger and better conference next year, perhaps as a hybrid event with similar flexibility for delegates.”

BCAM President Dr Uliana Gout said: “BCAM led the way throughout the pandemic, offering ‘fact not opinion’ advice to members and staging the first virtual conference in the Aesthetic Medicine sector.

“This year’s Conference built on last year’s success, improving connectivity with our members and addressing key sector issues with in-depth panel discussions. We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and other stakeholders, using the Annual Clinical Review of members’ activity to gather data and inform government decision-making.

“In our 20^th anniversary year BCAM’s new committee has revised the definition of Aesthetic Medicine and is working on a new Code of Conduct for members. BCAM is proud to be pioneering the Aesthetic Medicine sector and striving to raise standards and improve public safety.”

TV doctor and long-time BCAM member Dr Hilary Jones said membership of the College had been invaluable during the pandemic, and attending the Conference helped him stay abreast of new developments in Aesthetic Medicine.

“I felt a little bit isolated during this time in my clinic and seeing patients, I think we all did, and being a member of BCAM means I can talk to people all the time about how we have adjusted our clinics and made alterations so we can see people safely. It’s been invaluable.

“That feeling of a collegiate group of people doing the same work, for me that’s the most important thing about being a BCAM member and attending the Conference – and of course learning about new techniques and exciting innovations,” he said.

Another delegate and long-time BCAM member, Dr Steve Harris, agreed that connectivity with colleagues in the field was important.

“The value of BCAM has been enormous, it’s really an honour and a privilege to be a member of such a highly recognised and regarded organisation with such talented and esteemed colleagues and friends.

“It’s the connection and connectivity which is so important, especially during this time, and the organisation gives us a fantastic platform to connect, to teach, to learn, to be appraised and to be a voice for good medical practice leading with facts not opinions,” he said.

For full details of all speakers and sessions, please visit the BCAM Conference website here.

Regulation panel discussion chaired by Dr John Curran with JCCP Chair Professor David Sines, Dr Tapan Patel and Dr Tahera Bhojani-Lynch.

View other News