GOSH Conference 2023 - The Future: Where Next?

The conference not only delved into cutting-edge medical advancements but also featured a dynamic engagement hub, enhancing interaction for all delegates. With over 300 members of staff attending in-person or virtually, the conference themed The Future: Where Next?, offered delegates an all-round experience providing insight into the future of our staff, our building and clinical environment and our patients and care, showcasing the impact of GOSH in shaping the landscape of paediatric healthcare.

Keynote speakers set the stage for insightful discussions, with Sameera Kamran delivering an inspiring talk titled 'The future is us, The future is now’ followed by the Children's Cancer Centre group (Jason Dawson, Dr Emma Stockton, Liz Tait and Lucy Waller along with Sameera) who shed light on Creating buildings where great healthcare happens. Before moving to the parallel sessions, Mr Simon Blackburn delivered his address on Education at GOSH: Where next for the GLA?.

The parallel sessions were equally compelling, from GOSH experts who delved into topics such as Point of care 3D printing, Genomics: Where now and where next?, Video Enhanced Observation in teaching and learning and Health informatics at GOSH.

A notable feature of this year's event was the lunchtime engagement hub, providing delegates with a space to participate in virtual reality simulations, meet some of the Trusts therapy dogs as well as network with colleagues and groups within our organisation. Delegates also had the opportunity to view and discuss the poster abstracts submitted by GOSH staff around the themes of the day.

We then moved on to our oral abstract presentations where 8 of our highest scoring abstract submitters presented their work. With the support of our judges, 4 abstract submissions, between oral and poster presentations, were shortlisted and won a prize along with a people's choice award. All 69 abstract submissions will also be published in the BMJ Paediatrics Open.

As the GOSH Conference 2023 drew to a close, it left a lasting impact on AI in healthcare as Professor Ramani Moonesinghe shared her insights on the topic and whether this is an opportunity or threat.

We would like to again congratulate our Oral Presentation Winner Professor Stephen Marks and Runner-up Ofran Almossawi and Poster Presentation Winner Patrick Nurse and Runner-up Lorna O'Rourke. We would also like to congratulate our People’sChoice Award Winners Dr Cristine Sortica da Costa, Eilis Scully & Michaela Vozza as well as our FOAM Cup 2023 - Educational Film Competition winners Dr Jo O’Sullivan & Dr Anne Boulton.

Enormous thanks to all our speakers, abstract authors, planning, and hub staff for supporting GOSH conference this year and helping to make the day so engaging. The hybrid model, seamlessly blending the physical and digital realms, set a precedent for future conferences.

As GOSH continues to work towards advancements in paediatric healthcare, the 2023 conference served as a pivotal moment, to provide a collective focus on the future for our patients and our staff.