What is the Medical academic conference?

The conference is the BMA’s policy forum for medical academics, organised annually by the BMA’s medical academic staff committee (MASC).

All doctors engaged in medical academic activities – research, education and training and innovation – who may be based in higher education institutions, in the NHS, in industry and beyond – are welcome, irrespective of the stage of career. Dental academics (at all stages of their career) are also welcome.  

Ensuring all can attend

We are keen to ensure that all medical academics are able to attend. To that end support for care for children and adult dependents is available for those who request it by Thursday 14 May 2026. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee to provide this facility if notice is given after this date.

Please contact Winifred Annan on [email protected] if you require further information on the childcare and adult dependent arrangements available at this event.

The theme and programme

The overall theme for the conference is medical academics: working for the future of healthcare, though we will also touch on many other issues. Attendees will hear about the work of MASC and be able to set key priorities and play an active role in determining the direction of the committee for 2026-27. There will also be opportunities to network with other participants at BMA House.

The programme will include:  

• key note presentations on the theme of the conference 
• Key note speakers including Professor Dame Jane Dacre Chair of phase 2 of the Medical Education and Training Review.
• reports from the co-chairs of MASC on their work over the last year
• reports from the chair of the joint academic trainees subcommittee and the WAM (women in academic medicine) group on their work.
• panel discussion on medical education
• workshops on specific issues of concern or interest
• opportunities to create, submit and debate policy motions on issues affecting medical academics, giving you the chance to influence the BMA’s work over the coming year
• participate in the election for the conference chair and members of the agenda committee for conference 2027.

The WAM group is also organising a breakfast meeting with the former president of the Medical Women’s Federation, Scarlett McNally OBE, before the start of the conference. Email [email protected] if you are interested in attending.

Who can attend?

All places are open for registration and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. There is room for both trained and trainee representatives from all universities with medical schools, and from all devolved nations in the UK and from all regions of England. You should indicate your academic institution or workplace on the registration form. MASC would like all parts of the medical academic sector to be represented. You can find out more information about your eligibility from the MASC secretariat at: [email protected]

Please contact BMA conferences on [email protected] if you are a non-member and would like information on how to register to attend the event.

Attendance is free to BMA members and costs £20 (including VAT) for non-members. Non-members are entitled to the BMA rate if they join the BMA when registering. For further information about this call BMA conferences on 0207 383 6111/ 6037. 

If for any reason after registering you should find yourself no longer able to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so your place can be allocated to someone else. 

Motions

The main way that the conference influences MASC (and hence BMA) policy is through debate on motions and then voting whether to support, amend or reject them. The conference informs the BMA’s ARM (annual representative meeting) agenda committee about the motions that are agreed, and where appropriate these can be debated further at the ARM and adopted as BMA policy and taken forward during the course of the 2026-27 session. 

Topical motions on events since the deadline for motions on 1 April may be submitted for consideration by the agenda committee via [email protected]

Useful advice on how to write a good motion (which should increase the chances of it being debated) can be found on the BMA website: Creating and developing BMA policy.

Travel costs

Reasonable standard class travel expenses will be reimbursed for representatives on production of receipts. You are asked to make every effort to book advance tickets and to make use of the cheap deals that are available. If in doubt, please contact [email protected] prior to making your travel arrangements.

Accommodation costs

The cost of overnight stays will normally only be met if it is necessary for representatives to leave home before 6.30am. Nonetheless you must gain advance approval for a claim of accommodation costs. If you require the BMA to cover the cost of your overnight accommodation or have queries about it, you must email your request in advance to: [email protected]

Accommodation expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £240 per night. Delegates will be expected to cover any difference themselves.

Registration

For BMA members, to register for this event, you will need to use your BMA account details to sign in via the registration page.

If you are not a member please contact: [email protected] for information on how to register.