2 mins
Happy anniversary
2021 was the 20th anniversary of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine. We recap the important work the College has done over the past 12 months
BCAM started the year with the launch of its 20th Anniversary Mindfulness and Wellbeing Initiative to support members who had been impacted by the pandemic. Partnering with independent think tank The Mindfulness Initiative, the project provided live lunchtime sessions offering advice and practical exercises. The initiative continued throughout 2021 and a whole suite of resources is now available in the members area of the BCAM website.
In June, BCAM unveiled its new logo and website after an extensive development programme, working with a leading web design company with experience in building medical sites. The College now has a modern, informative and educational website where members can find all their information and handle annual subscriptions, event bookings and CPD certificates all in one place.
Following the success of Laura Trott MP’s Private Members Bill that successfully banned toxin and filler treatments for under 18s, in August BCAM created the Regulatory, Ethics and Professional Standards Committee under the chairmanship of Dr John Curran to focus on this important area of the College’s work.
September saw the first sitting of the new BCAM examination – the culmination of more than two years’ work led by consultant plastic and aesthetic surgeon Mr Dalvi Humzah, who chairs the BCAM Examination Board. The exam is set at Masters level and seeks to establish the standard for aesthetic medicine in the UK.
BCAM’s 2021 Conference also took place in September and attracted a record number of delegates who had the option to watch either live or online via a dedicated web portal, with sessions over two days featuring key sector topics such as regulation and transgender considerations in modern-day aesthetic treatments.
In November, BCAM announced a new international collaboration with an organisation representing associations in 32 countries across the globe. The initiative sees the College spearheading international engagement by working with UIME (Union Internationale de Médecine Esthétique), furthering its aims of pioneering patient safety, promoting public education and growing the aesthetic medicine community.
BCAM also forged new collaborations in the UK with stakeholders through Board Trustee Dr John Elder, who sits on the committee of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) on the College’s behalf.
The College continued its virtual education programme throughout 2021 with a programme of breakfast and lunchtime educational Zoom events covering a variety of topics from VAT and doctors’ appraisals to complications and treating skin of colour.
Most recently, BCAM carried out its Annual Clinical Review for the ninth consecutive year (see this issue’s news pages), collating members’ clinical data about patients, treatments and complications to provide a detailed insight into aesthetic medicine in the UK. This is the only audit of its kind in the UK and is shared with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to inform and guide government thinking.
Commenting on the year in review, Dr Gout said: “As we reach the end of our 20th anniversary year, we are keen to celebrate the successes and build on the strong base that we have created, continuing to develop relationships with stakeholders, pressing ahead with international collaborations and campaigning for better regulation of the aesthetic medicine sector.
“BCAM was formed by some of the pioneers of aesthetic medicine in the UK to establish a professional body for this new specialism and we are proud of its heritage. Many of the founders are still members today, offering mentorship and sharing their expertise and experience, and their contribution is highly valued.”