Reem AlAbdulwahed, ST6 Otolaryngology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
I recently had the opportunity to attend the British Association of Paediatric Otolaryngology annual conference held over two days. (The BAPO Juniors Revision Course, was held on the Wednesday before the conference and is covered in a separate report below).
The conference was held in the beautiful Sir Charles Wilson Building, part of the historic University of Glasgow (above). Founded in 1451, the university is the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world and has produced some of the world’s greatest minds, including economist Adam Smith and physicist Lord Kelvin.
With a little under 200 delegates from around the world – including attendees from Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Australia – the conference was a vibrant international gathering of paediatric ENT professionals, budding residents and AHP’s and motivated students.
The meeting started with an opening speech from the BAPO president Haytham Kubba (above). Following a great introduction to the conference, Tash Kunanandam gave an excellent talk on simulation in training and how 3D printed paediatric tracheas are providing an invaluable experience for trainees on paediatric tracheostomies in a cost effective manner too.
The scientific programme was rich and varied, with 10 oral presentations, 43 posters, and numerous invited talks covering cutting-edge topics. Sessions ranged from new therapies and ENT clinical trials in the UK to global surgery challenges in airway care across the Caribbean and Scotland.
With plenty of awards up for grabs, Thomas Hampton (above) won the Susannah Leighton prize for his presentation on ‘The Efficacy of Frugal Bone Conduction Assistive Technology for School-Age Children with Hearing Impairment in Malawi’, and the Amged El-Hawrani prize was won by Michael Mather for his talk on ‘Nasal Immunity Across Infancy in Health and Disease.’
Miss Natalie Loundon presented the John Evans Lecture, discussing gene therapy in hearing loss in children. This provided an insight on a novel technique in managing quite a significant pathology in paediatric ENT. Lively panel discussions on various topics were particularly engaging and sparked interesting debate between an international panel of surgeons. The conference also included dedicated time for poster viewing and the Annual General Meeting.
A talk I found particularly useful was on vocal cord paralysis by Talal AlKhatib (above), which highlighted the difference in perception and acceptance of paediatric tracheostomies between the East and the West. In addition to management of bilateral cord paralysis without resorting to a tracheostomy (as appropriate).
The event was not only academically stimulating but also provided invaluable networking opportunities. The social highlight was Thursday night’s traditional ceilidh at Oran Mór, which welcomed attendees with a live piper on entry and featured a buffet, drinks and enthusiastic dancing that brought everyone together in true Scottish spirit.
The meeting was concluded by a token of appreciation to the conference organiser, Yasmine Kamhieh, for her efforts in ensuring a fantastic two days in addition to the recognition of the hard work of outgoing Treasurer Dan Tweedie and Honorary Secretary Ravi Thevasagayam. This was followed by the Presidential Handover to the incoming President, Miss Sujata De (below) of Alder Hey Hospital, and an invitation to the next BAPO conference in Liverpool. 
Overall, the BAPO 2025 conference was an inspiring, well-organised event that fostered knowledge exchange, collaboration and international friendship. I left with new insights, professional contacts, and a renewed enthusiasm for paediatric ENT.
The next BAPO conference will take place at The Spine, Liverpool, in September 2026.
BAPOJ Revision Day 2025
Zach Shellman, ENT ST5 North East
My experience of this year's BAPO Annual Meeting started with the Juniors’ Day, held one day prior to the meeting‘s official start. This was the second iteration after last a successful event last year. The course manages to condense the majority of the paediatric ENT curriculum into a single day, replete with high-yield insights for both exam-conscious trainees and practicing otolaryngologists alike.
The meeting took place within the prestigious Gilbert Scott Building in the University of Glasgow – a venerable stone venue that included a mounted stag’s head above the podium, which certainly added a touch of grandeur to proceedings! The day began with palpable enthusiasm and attendees were energised by a generous spread of lunch and coffee.
The day was broadly formatted into four thematic sessions: Airway, Head and Neck, Otology and Rhinology/Emergency, where a total of 20 presentations covered individual topics. All were of exceptional quality and set at a level suitable for the trainees though even the most experienced clinicians would be hard pressed not to find some take home learning points. Each talk brimmed with enthusiastic energy from an expert and highly experienced international faculty, many of whom served as keynote speakers at the subsequent conference.
Personal highlights included Soham Roy from Children’s Hospital Colorado discussing vocal cord immobility and endoscopic airway procedures; Ram Daniel from Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne on branchial abnormalities and subglottic stenosis; and Grace Khong from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Liverpool presenting on nasal dermoids. Some of the key learning points I took away from these talks include the BAPRAS standards of care on microtia and atresia, the classification of nasal dermoids and the work-up of unilateral vocal cord palsy. It was a privilege having such an esteemed panel of consultants on hand throughout the day.
High-yield insights, a stunning venue, and a world-class lineup of speakers made this year’s BAPO Juniors’ Day a resounding success. The day was an excellent complement to the BAPO annual meeting. On behalf of the trainees, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Kate Blackmore and the organising committee for their outstanding efforts.
