British Association of Plastic Surgeons Program from another generation.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Medical Education
• Surgical History

Background:

• The British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPS) has a long history of educational meetings.
• Comparing historical meeting programs offers insights into the evolution of the specialty.
• The 1971 and 2008 BAPS summer programs represent distinct periods in plastic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the Association's summer programs of 1971 and 2008.
• To highlight the evolution of BAPS meetings over nearly four decades.

Main Methods:

• Direct comparison of the 1971 BAPS meeting program with the 2008 Provisional Program.
• Analysis of registration fees, program structure, and content.
• Qualitative assessment of the social and academic components of both meetings.

Main Results:

• Registration fees increased significantly from 10 pounds in 1971 to 500 pounds in 2008.
• The 1971 program included live cranio-facial surgery sessions and fewer academic papers (13) compared to 2008.
• Social elements differed, with formal attire required in 1971 versus business attire in 2008; the 1971 meeting had no poster sessions, panel discussions, or exhibits.

Conclusions:

• The 1971 BAPS meeting was markedly different from the 2008 program in both format and content.
• The comparison reveals a significant shift in the structure and focus of plastic surgery conferences over time.
• The 1971 meeting reflected an earlier era of surgical education and practice.