BAUS 2023 Birmingham

BAUS June 2022 was a very special meeting for me personally, as Tim O’Brien passed on the baton of Presidency. It was also a very special meeting for everyone who participated. The event felt so after two years of COVID, and also quite different as BAUS the organisation entered a new and exciting phase. 

We could see all the behind-the-scenes work on widening participation come to fruition with a real sense of community and belonging for everyone.

BAUS 2023 promises to be even more exciting and innovative. We have learned so much about the value of face-to face events and the types of sessions that flourish when we get together. The program put together by Ian Pearce, Joe Philip and our excellent events team of Harry Heald and Athene Madden, is incredibly varied and informative. Widening Participation continues to be central to all that we do, and our first session considers how we use language and the impact it has, closely followed by the intriguing topic of unexplained urological symptoms. Each morning the first hour showcases one plenary session where we can all share important topics before moving to multiple rooms for more in depth topics.

Part of widening participation is regional engagement. It has been my pleasure to join so many of the regional meetings over the last 6 months and to see the very high standards of presentations. Thank you for making me so welcome. Delighted that we can showcase the best papers from every region in our TUF-BAUS Best Regional Paper session. Thank you to TUF for sponsoring and providing a prize for the overall champion. Great to see the “Poster from every unit” back again. 

BAUS is a community for UK Urology, however, we are also a very outward looking organisation with partnerships and collaborations around the globe. I am delighted to welcome so many leaders of Urology from around the world. Our international guests will contribute to many sessions with their subspecialist expertise and a lively look at the politics of urology. The theme of global urology runs through the whole meeting. Our BAUS community is compact enough for everyone to meet, interact with and debate the nuances of urology with all our key opinion leaders. Come and be part of the conversation.

All of our specialty sections are delivering cutting edge science and debate, addressing the controversies and myths which are currently topical. BSoT and BURST are once again delivering some exciting and novel sessions that are likely to attract many of us, trainee or not. Our SAS@BAUS group will welcome myself and Neil Mortenson, President of the RCS England, to their session discussing the way ahead.

Throughout the last 2 years, one colleague has never ceased to inspire me. Mo Belal (pictured right) is an incredible example to us all in how to face adversity, and I am delighted that he will give this year’s BAUS Lecture – this is one of those sessions you will talk about for years.

The BAUS medals are being awarded to an amazing group of people. Its always a tough ask to select from such a high calibre field – I am sure you will agree that all are very well-deserved. It is my honour to bestow the medals to such an outstanding group of colleagues. Congratulations to James N’Dow, Rajeev TP, Abhay Rane, Grant Stewart, Suzanne Biers, Charles Reynolds. Join us at the Library of Birmingham to celebrate their achievements as you meet up with old and new friends.

I am enormously grateful to all those who have worked hard to deliver another incredible meeting. Once again, our sponsors are hugely supportive to BAUS. We are very lucky to have such warm and collaborative relationships. The provision of lunch in the Exhibition Hall gives us plenty of opportunity to talk to our industry partners. I reserve a particular mention to Ian Pearce who has worked tirelessly for BAUS as our Honorary Secretary over the last 2 years. It’s not goodbye to Ian, however, because he continues as BAUS Vice-President.

A final message to you all, is that we really do welcome suggestions for sessions at our Annual Scientific Meeting for 2024. Please do talk with us early if you have ideas, as the program is often fairly well developed by September for the following June.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Birmingham ...