Attending the Association of Anaesthetists Winter Scientific Meeting from 15-16 January in London marked an important step forward in my medical career. It was my first opportunity to present my work at a national conference, both as a poster and an accompanying oral presentation, and it was an experience that proved both challenging and rewarding.
This project represented many months of dedicated work alongside colleagues whose support and collaboration I am deeply grateful for. Preparing research for presentation at a scientific meeting requires not only technical understanding but also the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely to a specialist audience. Presenting at this conference pushed me to refine those skills and helped build my confidence in taking the lead in discussions.
My presentation focused on reducing carbon emissions in healthcare by transitioning from traditional centralised, wall-mounted suction systems to on-demand suction ports. While suction is an essential component of anaesthetic and peri-operative care, it is often overlooked as a contributor to energy use and unnecessary emissions.
I was particularly grateful that this project was shortlisted for the Green Star Award, which recognises initiatives that promote environmental sustainability within healthcare. This acknowledgement reinforced the importance of embedding sustainability into everyday clinical practice and highlighted how clinicians can contribute to tackling climate change through innovation and system-level thinking.
Presenting this work to experts in the field of anaesthesia was valuable. The discussions that followed were insightful and constructive, allowing us to explore the future potential and scalability of the project across different clinical environments. Feedback from experienced clinicians helped shape my understanding of how Quality Improvement projects can evolve beyond their initial scope.
Beyond presenting my own work, the conference gave me the opportunity to attend a range of inspiring sessions showcasing advances in anaesthesia, patient safety, and peri-operative medicine. Hearing about diverse projects and innovations broadened my perspective and further sparked my interest in anaesthesia as a dynamic and forward-thinking speciality.
Overall, the Winter Scientific Meeting was a fantastic experience that strengthened my enthusiasm for research, sustainability, and collaborative clinical improvement. It reinforced the value of sharing ideas, learning from peers, and contributing to the wider medical community.
