Ofuchi Egbuji, otolaryngology registrar, Sandwell & West Birmingham
Hospitals, UK. Kimberely Ssewannyana, otolaryngology F2, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals, UK
It was remarkable how much the inaugural ENT UK SAS Conference achieved in just 48 hours. The programme combined rich clinical content with an emphasis on recognising individual value, nurturing autonomy and empowering doctors to build fulfilling careers reflecting their diverse backgrounds, circumstances and aspirations.
The clinical programme brought together patient selection, service provision and advances in treatment across ENT. Amr Abdelhamid addressed patient selection in septorhinoplasty; Rajeev Advani and John de Carpentier explored allergy services and eustachian tube balloon dilatation, respectively; and Anita Sonsale and Neil Tolley discussed advances in laryngology and thyroid disease.
As an F2 doctor aspiring to pursue a career in otolaryngology, Kimberley left inspired by the clinical programme. A highlight was Ekpemi Irune’s introduction to robotic surgery in ENT, exploring its applications in transoral thyroid procedures and offering a glimpse into the future of surgical practice. The vestibular masterclass, delivered by Professor Soumit Dasgupta and Amy Lennox-Bowley, reinforced the importance of thorough history-taking to guide investigations, an approach Kimberley hopes to incorporate into her future practice as an ENT SHO.
Professor Soumit – vestibular masterclass
The Portfolio Pathway sessions, led by Lisha McClelland and supported by an expert panel, provided practical guidance on portfolio development. Ofuchi reflected on how assessments of whole clinics, operating lists or on-call periods could demonstrate several capabilities, moving beyond collecting individual cases to evidencing development towards independent practice.
Kola Tytler drew several transferable lessons from the business world for medicine, challenging delegates to critically evaluate healthcare innovations. He emphasised that good ideas alone are insufficient without a genuine unmet need and a realistic route to implementation. His talk encouraged us to reflect on how understanding risk appetite and capacity, alongside using objective measures to track progress, could inform our future career decisions.
A personal highlight for Ofuchi was the conference dinner and informal conversations during breaks, which provided opportunities to engage with speakers, faculty and fellow delegates. She particularly valued the openness with which everyone shared their experiences and career journeys, creating a genuine sense of community.
At the conference dinner
The prize for Best Oral Presentation was awarded to Diego Conti for his work on ‘New Chronic Rhinosinusitis Control Tests: Development and Validation’. Elliot Quay was also recognised, receiving the prize for best poster presentation.
The openness and generosity of speakers and delegates brought the conference’s themes to life: fulfilling careers take many forms, driven by clinicians’ initiative, with organisations responsible for providing recognition, resources and practical support.
