BAA 2017 Conference: What can delegates expect?

BAA say there will be a strong clinical focusto the conference; sessions that covercurrent research and basic science willenable delegates to have a well-roundedexperience with new knowledge and skillsto take back to their departments andclinics. Key sessions will cover topics such as listeningfatigue, disruptive technologies, hearing and learningdisabilities, telehealth, improving effi ciency, buildingresilience in deaf children and middle ear implants.

The streamlined programme has 3 main paralleltracks that include early morning discussion groupsand workshops as well as the popular ‘All You Need to Know’ sessions. New for 2017 are a series of Backto Basics tutorials – a series of practical skills sessionsthat will cover a range of topics aimed at those wantingto refresh their knowledge or for those about to startin a new area of clinical work. Topics include hearingaid features, counselling skills, ear moulds, testingchildren on ENT clinics and tinnitus. There will also bea session for discussion of case studies, covering allaspects of clinical work delegates are invited to submitcases for discussion to facilitate problem solving,shared learning and examples of good practice.

Interview with Michelle Booth, BAA President

What are you personally looking forwardto most at conference?

My area of interest clinically is tinnitusso I look forward to hearing the inspirational words ofProfessor Dave Baguley as he talks about Tinnitus andOtotoxicity. I am currently studying for an MSc in HealthcareLeadership with the NHS Leadership Academy/BirminghamUniversity and one particular person in Audiology has beena constant source of encouragement and inspiration tome. I am therefore looking forward to hearing the lovelyRuth Thomsen talk about Leadership in Audiology. I willalso be keen to hear our CEO, Wendy Farrington Chadd,talk about her thoughts on the Strategic Direction of theNHS and Audiology. Wendy has been a tremendoussupport to me in my presidential year and has many yearsof experience in the NHS at a senior management level.She is a great asset to BAA and will hopefully help us todefine our strategic direction.

How has your 12-month Presidency been?

My presidency seems to have passed in a whirlwind.It only seems a minute ago I was taking the reins fromJagjit Sethi in November 2016 and here we are withonly a few weeks to go before I pass the baton to SueFalkingham in November 2017. Being President of BAAis something I could never have imagined when I startedmy career in Audiology in 1987 in Chesterfield, but it nowsits up there as one, if not ‘the’, greatest achievements inmy 30 years in the profession. I have had the opportunityto work with some wonderful people, both in Audiologyand beyond and hope that I have made some headwayin getting Audiology and Healthcare science on theradar. I couldn’t have done it without a number of others,who have been there every step of the way to help andsupport me – my BAA Board colleagues without whom none of it would have been possible, my manager backat Kings Mill Hospital and the rest of the team, who haveall but forgotten what I look like and my wonderful family.I hope I have made them all proud! I will be very sad for itto come to an end, but will continue to support the newpresident and the newly formed BAA Board in my roleas Immediate Past President.

What impact has the CEO, Wendy FarringtonChadd, had on BAA?

Wendy joined us as CEO in December 2016 witha key remit of increasing the role of BAA nationally andenabling us to influence the policy and direction of hearingcare and services. She has taken an active role in theHearing Alliance in order to achieve this. She has alsoplayed a key role in BAA’s work on workforce. However,one of Wendy’s biggest tasks to date has been a review ofhow BAA functions. She has helped us to rewrite the jobdescriptions of all Board directors. We need to developcontinuity which was a key factor in recruiting a CEO inthe first place, but a review of Board roles will also enableus to operate more effectively and efficiently. She hasalso undertaken the onerous task of rewriting the BAAConstitution – no mean feat!

How is the 2016-17 annual plan progressing, willyou achieve the four strategic goals?

Each year at the strategy meeting post-conference,we develop our annual plan for the coming year. Thiscentres round the 4 strategic goals. Within each strategicgoal, we develop objectives and aims which we then reviewat the end of the presidential year. I have been preparingthe annual report which will be presented as the AGM atConference and am pleased to say that, thanks to the hardwork and dedication of the BAA Board, its committees andteams, we can tick off many of our aims and objectives asachieved. We must remember that our Board, committeesand teams work voluntarily, giving their time freely for thegood of the profession, so being able to achieve many ofour objectives is something to be celebrated and the BAABoard intend to do that in Bournemouth in a few weeks.

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Read this in Audio Infos United Kingdom (#114).