BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF HEAD & NECK ONCOLOGISTS
BAHNO Strategy 2017 – 2020
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This document summarises the British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists’ strategy for the period 2017 – 2020.
Educational activities
· From 2019, the Annual Scientific Meeting will be expanded to a 2 day meeting with instructional courses, and with a dinner or networking event on the evening of the first day. We will explore rotating it around the country annually. We will commission Aesculap Foundation to run the Annual Scientific Meeting.
· We will also set up a group for badging of conferences and meetings. This may develop into a CPD awarding body.
· We will establish an online webcast lecture series run in collaboration with our sister organisations. We will also explore an online repository of recorded talks with talks to be done by invitation and only after we have explored the quality assurance aspects of the proposal. Furthermore, we will explore setting up podcasts for trainees.
· We will set up an Education Committee to run the different educational activities.
· We also aspire to have an international fellowship travel grant, possibly in collaboration with the other organisations, to allow a candidate from developing countries to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting and a two week visit to a department in the UK. This would be only explored once the financial situation is improved.
· We will also explore establishing a joint MDT travelling fellowship, between the different organisations, to allow several members (e.g. 5) from the MDT, including at least 2 AHPs to attend a conference or visit a department.
Research activities
· BAHNO will apply to become an NIHR recognised body for funding.
· We will assess and support research applications where appropriate.
· We will set up joint research grants with the other organisations to undertake multidisciplinary research. Proposals would have to include at least 2 researchers from different specialties.
Functioning of Council and BAHNO
· We will undertake four meetings a year, two of which will be done by teleconferences. Days will continue to be rotated. The telecons will be done at lunchtime.
Fundraising
· We will constitute a fundraising committee to explore the following options:
1. Approach head and neck cancer charities for one off donations, e.g., Get Ahead, Oracle, Saving Faces.
2. Industry companies for unrestricted educational grants.
3. Increased company sponsorship of the Annual Scientific Meeting through the engagement of Aesculap Foundation.
4. Industry support of the MDT travel grant.
Increasing relevance and engagement
· We wish to engage the membership through an expanded committee structure, especially committees for fundraising, education, website, and public engagement, as well as groups for website management and course badging. We already have a Research Committee; membership of this may be expanded. These committees would be open to the membership to apply with a CV and a covering letter. The committees may be initially be chaired by members of Councils. The website committee will be run by the trainee representative and a group of trainees.
· To engage membership, we will also undertake a survey of new ideas and services to gauge interest from membership, once we have established a strategy and the new structure is in place and developed some momentum.
· We also wish to engage with the other bodies, on public awareness and public facing activities, especially the Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week and aligning it to the other head and neck awareness activities in the UK. We will set up a Public Engagement Committee and we will seek a Chair, who will also Chair the HNC awareness week. We will encourage a campaign around “every patient in a study”.
· We will also establish an International Collaboration Committee that will work to engender collaborations and co-operation with relevant bodies and organisations worldwide engaged in the management and care of head and neck cancer. The Committee will also work with the Education Committee to explore setting up an international fellowship.
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