Sirat Lodhi, FY2, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
The Association of Otolaryngologists in Training (AOT) Conference takes place once a year to discuss current issues and showcase research in ENT, with trainees of all grades being invited. The 2023 Conference was hosted in the vibrant and diverse city of Manchester.
This year, the social activity involved teams participating in the Crystal Maze LIVE Experience. This is an immersive attraction based on the iconic TV game show. The winning team collected sufficient tokens to score >180! The conference itself took place in the beautiful Bridgewater Hall, an international concert venue built to provide the best acoustic experience.
The conference was opened by founding AOT President (1989-90) Professor Anthony Narula, with current President Ms Tharsika Myuran. The programme consisted of a broad spectrum of talks, catering for those at various stages in their training.
Mr Samit Ghosh, ENT Consultant, spoke about training updates in otolaryngology. He explored the future of otolaryngology training and emphasised the importance of prioritising surgical skills development and effective trainer-trainee relationships.
Later on, an insightful discussion on ‘Perspectives from New ENT Consultants’ was chaired by Antonia Tse. Anastasha Herman chaired an important discussion on ‘Wellbeing in Surgery’. Based on audience involvement, this discussion was highly valued by all attendees.
Professor Shahed Quraishi, Director of ENT Masterclass, delivered a talk on the wonderful history of ENT Masterclass, and presented generous prizes for outstanding research. The Best Poster Prize was awarded to Sirat Lodhi (above left) for her project titled ‘COSNOE: Diagnostic Criteria and Core Outcome Set for Necrotising Otitis Externa: A Delphi Consensus Study’. The Best Oral Presentation Prize was awarded to Safdar Sarwar for his project titled ‘The Head and Neck Clinic Optimised for Patients and Trainees’.
The conference was followed by a black-tie dinner at the Revolution Manchester Gallery, featuring a stunning digital sculpture and video wall.
The 2023 conference was a huge educational success and well appreciated by all. The AOT looks forward to meeting again in 2024.
